UPLB Teachers Decry Union Busting by Chancellor

More than 147 casual and temporary teachers from various departments and colleges at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) were shocked that they were given  one-semester contracts by UPLB Chancellor Wilfredo David instead of the one-year contract recommended by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Instruction. The All-UP Academic Employees Union says that this is one form of union-busting.

BY DENNIS ESPADA
Bulatlat

LOS BAñOS, Laguna -Teachers and student groups at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) campus here are rising in protest over the school administration's new policy of reducing teaching contracts to just one semester. They said this policy would lead to the further deterioration of the quality of education at U.P. 

Last June and July, more than 147 casual and temporary teachers from various departments and colleges of UPLB received their appointment papers from the Office of Chancellor Wilfredo David. 

"The teachers were shocked when they received one-semester contracts even if the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Instruction recommended that they be given one-year contracts," said a female instructor, of UPLB's College of Arts and Sciences, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

"When one of our colleagues asked the reason for the decision, the Chancellor merely replied that 'We want to be flawless'," the source added. 

Local journalists visited the Chancellor’s office twice for an interview, but Chancellor David refused. He merely gave them a copy of his Memorandum Order No. 079 dated July 12, which states that the selection and appointment, renewal of appointment, promotion and other personnel actions are "policy matters that are addressed to the sound discretion of the appointing authority." 

Citing Article XIV Section 52 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Chancellor David invoked his "academic freedom" to choose who should comprise the faculty.

Union busting

As of 2000, UPLB has a total of 860 faculty members, 39 of whom are members of the All-UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU). There are also 524 research and extension personnel and staff (REPS). 

Patrick McDivith, AUPAEU president, explained that all those accepted to teach in UPLB are re-evaluated and recommended by the Academic Personnel Committee (APC) and Academic Personnel Board (APB), which are composed of highly competent and respected colleagues in the university. Based on the recommendation, the Chancellor makes the appointment.

McDivith added that the creation of both the APC and APB is within the bounds of the university policy, in adherence to the democratic character of UP and to avoid the bias of the Chancellor. 

McDivith said that many teachers, especially those who have been in the university for three years and more, "felt demoralized" after receiving their reduced contracts. Many of them, according to McDivith, are now considering attractive offers to teach in other colleges and universities. 

He explained that the policy of granting one-semester contracts violates the security of tenure of teachers and hampers their intellectual growth.  Affected teachers will feel demoralized and will be easy to repress for fear of being terminated.  Eventually, this policy will result in a decline in the quality of education at the university as it will result in a fast turnover of teachers.

McDivith added that in exercising the institution's academic freedom, as mandated by the Constitution, the university has set its own process and set of guidelines regarding the employment and renewal of its faculty and employees. In the 1,017th meeting of the Board of Regents, held last Dec. 8, 1988, the Board agreed that contracts should at least be one year. 

"We don't know the basis of Chancellor David for granting one-semester contracts. We think that this is his way of union busting," McDivith said. "In our study, this policy is consistent with the trend towards the contractualization of employee positions." 

According to McDivith, the AUPAEU submitted an open letter of inquiry to the Chancellor. But Chancellor David issued a memorandum stating that he does not recognize the AUPAEU's mandate to speak in behalf of the university's academic employees. 

"The attempt of the Chancellor to discredit the union is futile...if legal papers are the Chancellor's only basis for not recognizing the AUPAEU, then we recommend that the Chancellor do his homework again. The AUPAEU is recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment under Certificate number 1167 dated Oct. 15, 2002," the AUPAEU said in a statement. 

Repressive policies

Meanwhile, a protest action was held by the UPLB-University Student Council (USC), together with the League of Filipino Students (LFS), Student Christian Movement (SCM), Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan or Sakbayan (Organization of the Youth for the Nation), and other student groups, last July 22 in front of the Administration Building to demand for a dialogue with the Chancellor. Their request was not granted, according to Mary Ann Batas, USC vice-chair. 

"Sa loob ng term namin, hindi siya nakikipagdayalog. Actually, 'yung budget proposal ng USC, to think na tatlong linggo na lang kami, hindi pa rin aprubado. 'Yung gastusin namin, galing sa sarili naming bulsa. Wala siyang karapatang i-hold ang pera ng estudyante” (During our term, he refused to dialogue with the students. Actually, the budget proposal of the USC has not yet been approved, to think that we have only three weeks left. We pay for our expenses from our own pockets. He has no right to withhold the students' money), Batas lamented. 

Aside from sympathizing with their teachers' plight, Batas and his colleagues at the USC are also protesting against the repressive policies being implemented by the Chancellor.  According to Batas, the Chancellor is now requiring that plans for activities of student organizations be submitted to him for approval. 

Students said that David has practically "killed" two militant traditions in UPLB.  According to Batas, he disapproved the holding of an annual student activity, the “February Fair”.  He also disallowed the display of the "Serve The People" banner during graduation rites last May. 

Student and teachers' groups warned that if Chancellor David persists in abusing his discretionary powers, he will have to face bigger militant demonstrations until his term ends. Bulatlat

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