NEWS | All UP Workers Alliance aired concerns on UP Administration’s actions during pandemic
By The News Team
The All University of the Philippines (UP) Workers Alliance held Ikot Unyon, an online conference, which tackled the slow action and self-serving leadership of the UP administration in time of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the conference, the alliance raised their concerns regarding employee promotions, pays, regularization, and the University’s readiness for the new normal caused by the current pandemic.
Secure proper compensation
One of the issues that were exposed was the Sagad Awards and productivity incentive. According to the alliance, every staff member of the University should at least be given an incentive, especially now that a lot are suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last September 2, UP Staff Regent Mylah Pedrasa filed the concerns on Sagad Awards and productivity incentive to the 1353rd meeting of the Board of Regents. According to her report, President Danilo L. Concepcion (PDLC) commented that there are legal problems with both the Sagad Awards and the productivity incentive. He added that to be able to acquire the award and the incentive, UP must have a justification for the legal basis of the award as well as a funding source.
Additionally, there were also concerns regarding hazard pays and risk allowances for Philippine General Hospital (PGH) employees. UP Vice President for Administration Nestor Yunque sent the Department of Budget Management (DBM) an email requesting the compensation for PGH employees. As of press time, PDLC said that they still did not receive any feedback from DBM.
Secure promotions and regularizations
Pedrasa presented the issue on the promotion of UP employees and the regularization of the UP non-contractual workers. In response, PDLC assured that the promotions will be granted once the approved list of employees to be promoted are released.
During the Ikot Unyon conference, Pedrasa mentioned that one faulty aspect in the creation of the guidelines for promotion is that it is anchored to the DBM’s Civil Service Circular, which states that only the upper 5% of the employees can be promoted with a maximum promotion of only 2 steps higher from their current rank.
Furthermore, Pedrasa added that issues and concerns regarding the merit promotions always boil down to the unfilled items, such as signatures of the authorities, in the file for promotions. She further exclaimed that there was a problem in the transparency of the process as she was not given a copy of the list of employees to be promoted, or even the exact number of the candidates for promotion. Another batch of candidates for promotion will not be accommodated as long as there are still unfilled items.
“Pinapahaba, pinapatagal, alam naman natin kung gaano ka-importante ang merit promotion lalong lalo na sa mga empleyado na due for retirement,” Pedrasa questioned. “Kaya niyong i-articulate ‘yan kung gugustuhin niyo.”
UP contractual workers also raised concerns regarding the current guidelines of UP as it was created without the knowledge of all employees. It is mandated that these contractual workers cannot be promoted along with those who have undergone promotional transfer, moving to another job and in a higher classification.
The workers also mentioned that the creation of the guidelines must be consultative, claiming that they were left out in decision-making and were not prioritized. They also emphasized that they should be treated with the same respect along with other workers, reminding the UP administration that they also contribute to the continuous development of UP rankings.
Moreover, Pedrasa commented that the current issue with UP is that they focus on business and not compassion even in this time of pandemic.
“Ano ba ang importante? Buhay at kapakanan ng mga kawani o ang pananatiling maayos ang estado ng pamantasan?” Pedrasa conveyed.
