CBA Bulletin 2

On Thursday, 16 February 2023, the University administration received a Notice of Strike (NOS) filed by the Ateneo Employees Workers Union (AEWU), sending the ongoing negotiations for the last two years of the 2019-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to conciliation before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Since the initial meeting of the Admin Panel and Union Panel on 30 August 2022 to discuss the Ground Rules for the CBA negotiations, the following transpired:

• The negotiations commenced after the Ground Rules were approved by both parties on 7 September 2022. Most provisions in the CBA were  resolved because of a give-and-take stance on the part of both parties.
• The AEWU declared a deadlock on 4 January 2023 and ADMU received a NoS from the AEWU and a Notice of Conference from the DOLE-RCMB on 18 January 2023.
• On 24 January 2023, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) terminated the NoS filed by the AEWU. Both parties agreed to go through preventive mediation.
• In the conference at DOLE on 15 February 2023, the Admin and Union Panels failed to agree on the remaining provisions in the CBA. The Union Panel moved to terminate the negotiations.

DOLE’s National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) set a conference between the University and AEWU on 22 February 2023.

The Notice of Strike is an unfortunate development in the ongoing CBA negotiations. The University administration maintains that its proposals are fair and equitable, and take into account the current economic realities we all face. The Administration's proposals also take into account the long-term financial viability and sustainability of the entire University, keeping in mind its core mission as an educational and research institution focused on the common good.

University operations, meanwhile, will not be affected or hampered by this NOS.

The Administration believes that with the assistance of the NCMB we will eventually be able to reach a sustainable and just agreement with the AEWU that is beneficial for the entire University.

We ask for everyone's prayers so that the negotiations may resolve favorably, and that everyone involved in the talks be blessed with clarity of thought, openness, fairness, and honesty.

Noong Huwebes, 16 Pebrero 2023, nakatanggap ang administrasyon ng Pamantasan ng Notice of Strike (NoS) na inihain ng Ateneo Employees and Workers Union (AEWU). Naiangat ng NoS sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang patuloy na negosasyon para mapagkasunduan ang huling dalawang taon ng 2019-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Mula sa unang pulong ng Admin Panel at Union Panel noong 30 Agosto 2022, na tinalakay ang Ground Rules para sa CBA negotiation, nangyari ang mga sumusunod:

• Nagsimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos aprubahan ng dalawang partido ang Ground Rules noong 7 Setyembre 2022. Nalutas ang karamihan sa probisyon ng CBA gawa ng pagbibigayan ng magkabilang panig.
• Noong 4 Enero 2023, nagdeklara ng deadlock ang AEWU. Natanggap ng Ateneo de Manila ang NoS mula sa AEWU at Notice of Conference mula sa DOLE-RCMB noong 18 Enero 2023.
• Noong 24 Enero 2023 ipinatigil ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang NoS na hinain ng AEWU. Pumayag ang kapwa partido na dumaan sa preventive mediation.
• Sa pulong sa DOLE noong 15 Pebrero 2023, nabigo ang mga panel ng Administrasyon at Unyon na magkasundo sa natitirang probisyon ng CBA. Dahil dito, nagpasya ang panig ng Unyon na itigil ang negosasyon.
• Noong 22 Pebrero 2023, nagtakda ng pulong ang National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) ng DOLE sa pagitan ng Pamantasan at AEWU.

Kahina-hinayang na pangyayari ang Notice of Strike sa pag-usad negosasyon ng CBA. Patuloy na naninindigan ang administrasyon ng Pamantasan na makatarungan at patas ang alok nito sa negosasyon.. Isinasaalang-alang nito ang realidad ng ekonomiya na hinaharap nating lahat. Isinasaalang-alang din ng alok ng Administrasyon ang pangmatagalang kakayahang pinansyal at ang pagpapanatili ng buong Pamantasan. Isinasaalang-alang din ang pangunahing misyon nito bilang institusyong pang-edukasyon at pananaliksik, na nakatuon sa kabutihan ng lahat.

Samantala, hindi maaapektuhan o mahahadlangan ng NoS ang operasyon ng Pamantasan.

Naniniwala ang Administrasyon na sa tulong ng NCMB, makakamit din natin ang matibay at makatarungang kasunduan sa AEWU, na kapaki-pakinabang para sa buong Pamantasan.

Hinihiling namin ang panalangin ninyong lahat upang malutas nang maayos ang negosasyon, at na lahat ng kabilang sa usapan, mabasbasan ng linaw ng pag-iisip, at ng pagiging bukas, patas, at tapat.