UP Academic Employees clinch First CNA, Workers get their third
http://bulatlat.com/main/2008/12/13/up-academic-employees-clinch-first-cna-workers-get-their-third/

BY RONALYN V. OLEA
LABOR WATCH
Bulatlat

Academic employees of the University of the Philippines (UP) were able
to clinch their first ever Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) with
the UP administration just before the University's Centennial
celebration ended.

The All-UP Workers Union (AUWU) also signed their third CNA with the
UP administration since 2001.

Officers and members of both the All-UP Academic Employees Union
(AUAEA) and the AUWU from UP campuses in Diliman, Manila, Los Baños and Baguio witnessed the simultaneous signing of the two Collective Negotiation Agreements (CNA), December 12 at the Quezon Hall in UP Diliman.

Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, head of the AUAEA negotiation panel, national vice
chairperson for faculty of the union, and newly-elected faculty
regent, said the signing of the first CNA is a victory for the
faculty, Research, Extension and Professional Staff (REPS) and other
academic personnel of the university.

Dr. Ermelinda Roman, UP president and Dr. Erlinda Castro-Palaganas,
national president of the AUAEA, led the signing of the CNA.

Dr. Ermelinda Roman (R) and Dr. Erlinda Castro-Palaganas sign the
Collective Negotiation Agreement. (Photo by R. Olea)

Other members of the union's negotiation panel include Dr. Leticia
Tojos, Dr. Melania Lagahit-Abad, Dr. Teodora Mendoza, Prof. Roland
Simbulan, Dr. Ramon Guillermo, Ms. Guillermina Panizales and Dr.
Simplicio Medina.

The UP administration panel is headed by Prof. Theodore Te, vice
president for legal affairs and Dr. Arlene Samaniego. Other members
are Dr. Orlino Talens and Dr. Roberto Rañola.

Workers

The AUWU signed their 3rd CNA with the UP administration. Arnulfo
Anoos, national president of the AUWU and Dr. Roman led the signing of the CNA.

Other members of the union's negotiation panel include Jossel Ebesate, Alexis Mejia, Benjamin Santos Jr., Florendo Sambrano, Francisca Vera Cruz, Clodualdo Cabrera, Rolando Golondrina and Jesusa Besido.

Anoos thanked the union members for their support. He said, "Sana'y
maisabuhay nang buong-buo ang nilalaman ng CNA. Sana'y madagdagan pa [ang mga benepisyo] sa pana-panahong negosasyon."
(I hope that the CNA will be fully implemented. I also hope that the
workers would receive more benefits in the next negotiations.)

Principles, benefits

The new CNA upholds the rights of workers, REPS and faculty members to a living wage, security of tenure, career development, good working conditions, free movement and right to organization, right to strike, right against any form of discrimination and the right to be consulted on matters affecting the rank-and-file workers and academic personnel.

Economic benefits include three sacks of rice per year at P1,500 per
sack ($31.178 at the current exchange rate of $1=P48.11); P 1,000
($20.785) grocery allowance and P10,000 ($207.856) CNA incentive or
signing bonus.

Committees were also formed to look into the implementation of the
hazard pay and the provision on comprehensive medical insurance.

Rank-and-file faculty, REPS and workers are also entitled to three (3)
days sick leave and a maximum of six (6) days of special leave
privileges every year. Nursing mothers are also entitled to a two-day
leave.

Centennial

Roman said the signing of the two CNA has made the celebration of the
UP Centennial more meaningful and historical.

She said she considers the faculty and staff as the most important
assets of the university. "Natutuwa ako, kahit may nagra-rally dito sa
Quezon Hall buwan-buwan, tayo naman ay nagkakasundo. Kung nakikita nating dapat lamang, hinahanapan natin ng paraan." (I am happy that even if there is a rally here at Quezon Hall every month, we manage to arrive at an agreement. If we see that it is right, we find the means to fulfill it.)

Militant unionism

Palaganas said it took them one-and-a half years to clinch the CNA
with the UP administration. "Napatunayan nating muli na walang hindi
maaatim sa sama-samang pagkilos," (We have proven once again that
nothing is impossible to achieve when we are united.) she said.

Anoos said, "Kung hindi sa patuloy na pagkilos, hindi ito magtatagumpay. Nasa kamay ng mga kawani, mga faculty at REPS ang kahihinatnan ng ating CNA." (If not for our continuous action, we
would not have succeeded. What would come out of the CNA is in the
hands of the employees, faculty and REPs.)

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Gaite, national president of the Confederation
for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees
(COURAGE) said the CNA of the two UP unions is a success of the sector of government workers.

Gaite said, "The COURAGE is in solidarity with the workers, faculty
and REPS of UP and rest assured, we will continue to monitor the
implementation of the two CNAs."

Antonio Tinio, national chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned
Teachers (ACT) also witnessed the signing of the two CNAs. He welcomed the signing of the CNA between the All-UP Academic Employees Union and the UP administration. "For so long, the academic employees have been lagging behind. That has already been corrected. Their CNA can be considered as among the most advanced in the country."

Tinio added, "Ito ay mahalagang ambag sa pagpapalakas ng unyonismo sa hanay ng akademya sa buong bansa." (This is a significant contribution to the strengthening of unionism within the ranks of the academe in the whole country.)(Bulatlat.com)