UST: 137 profs, not 17, to get P500k back pay

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) has clarified its stance on the distribution of backpay adjustments exceeding P500,000 for faculty members, refuting claims by the UST Faculty Union (USTFU) that only 17 professors would benefit from the tuition hike shares.

In a statement released on April 5, UST emphasized that 137 teaching personnel, from ranks Professor 1 to 5 as of March 31, would receive adjustments from the tuition increase proceeds for academic years 2020 to 2024. The university said that claims suggesting only 17 professors would qualify for backpay of nearly half a million pesos are “misleading” and “inaccurate.”

“Claims that only 17 out of nearly 2,000 academic staff will receive more than P500,000.00 in adjustments are misleading, inaccurate, and based on outdated information,” it said.

The university clarified that the distribution of the backpay adjustments is based on various factors such as rank, tenure, classification, and workload. The adjustments will range from P314,000 for Instructor I to P570,000 for Professor 5.

"The university’s approach recognizes and rewards academic growth, service length, and performance," UST explained. "A uniform distribution, regardless of these distinctions, would not lead to an equitable outcome."

USTFU previously asserted that only 17 professors with the rank of Professor IV would receive the backpay, with the majority of faculty members set to receive significantly smaller amounts.

The university stressed that the adjustments and the distribution method are based on a signed and ratified CBA, which has been the foundation for faculty benefits distribution for years.

Moreover, UST reiterated that the adjustments are necessary due to the delayed CBA and the fact that they stem from the proceeds of tuition hikes that occurred between 2020 and 2024.

Amid the ongoing dispute, UST has filed a petition for assumption of jurisdiction, seeking intervention from the labor secretary to prevent any work stoppages.

The university reaffirmed its commitment to providing a “just and equitable distribution of benefits,” emphasizing its openness to constructive dialogue in the best interests of the entire Thomasian community.