Ateneo workers on full-blown strike but classes continue

Ateneo de Manila University workers' protest over labor issues has turned  into a full-blown strike on Thursday after talks on negotiated salary adjustments have failed.

But an Ateneo Employees and Workers Union (AEWU) leader assured the students there will be no disruption of classes as the strike only affects non-academic personnel.

In a report on Super Radyo dzBB's "Dobol B sa News TV" a leader of AEWU said, "Tuloy-tuoy ang klase dahil hindi naman namin hinaharang ang pagpasok ng mga estudyante, at lahat ng mga teacher at propesor ay hindi kasali sa welga."

Ilang mga empleyado ng Ateneo de Manila, nagpoprotesta matapos hindi magkasundo sa kanilang hiling na dagdag-sweldo; klase sa paaralan, tuloy pa rin. | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/i7OEQo2A1K

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 21, 2018

On Wednesday, disgruntled workers began holding  protest actions after negotiations with the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) administration failed to reach a resolution regarding disputes over some terms of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

In his letter to the community, ADMU President Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J. said that talks between the union and the administration "did not result in a resolution at the last negotiation supervised by the Regional Conciliation and Mediation Board on 20 February 2018."

READ: @ADMUSanggu issues memo to LS students on reminders during the strike. "We cannot remain unbothered and unaffected by the results of the negotiations," the Sanggunian said. pic.twitter.com/XDNZb9KnoB

— The GUIDON (@TheGUIDON) February 21, 2018

LOOK: Ateneo issues “Protest and Demonstration Guidelines” in light of AEWU's strike. These posters were found in the Rizal Library. pic.twitter.com/z76SAAe5Wa

— The GUIDON (@TheGUIDON) February 21, 2018

In a January 10 article in The Guidon, Ateneo's official student publication,  the ADMU said that the union has been conducting protest actions  since January after reaching a deadlock with the school administration.

The agreement on the CBA was supposed to reach its completion on November 30 last year. A 30-day "cooling-off period" was then agreed upon by both parties where "negotiation and communication shall continue in order to come to an agreement."

The  union claimed that "[Ateneo] has drastically reduced its offer to the union [with] a general increase of P275 per month and merit increase (maximum) of P925 per month, down from 3.5% per month and 3% per month, respectively, with a minimum guaranteed increase of P1,300 per month."

The CBA of administration panel responded to the AEWU in an open letter dated January 5, saying that "The University reiterates that it has been negotiating in good faith."

Fr. Villarin reassured students that classes will continue, university services will not be disrupted, and contingency plans have been prepared. —LBG, GMA News