SU and SUSA ink new CBA
(Left to right) Jade Ragay, SUSA member; Alvin Corda, SUSA member; Godswill Cariño, SUSA member, Karissa Tolentino-Maxino, legal counsel; Atty. Richard Catacutan (back), legal counsel; Dr. Lourdes Angela F. Piñero, Organizational Development & Human Resource Management chief; Reu Ismil (back), SUSA; Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel L. Villordon, interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and concurrent College of Arts and Sciences dean; Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, SU president; Mikee Dianne D. Lim, SUSA secretary; Vcpierre S. Calunsag, SUSA president; Atty. Ebenezer Y. Lim, interim chief finance officer; Azil E. Apla-on, SUSA vice president; Bonita M. Silva, SUSA member; Dr. Margaret Helen U. Alvarez, interim vice president for Academic Affairs and Research; Lani M. Placencia, SUSA member; Marly D. Quilario, SUSA member; Jae Ryl M. Moncada, SUSA executive board; Carmille C. Ramos, chief accountant; and Dr. Warlito S. Caturay Jr., Office of Media and Public Affairs chief, pose after the signing of the CBA.
Silliman University (SU) and the Silliman University Staff Association (SUSA) formalized a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on October 8, 2024 at the Silliman Hall, securing improved economic benefits for the union’s members.
The CBA, covering a period of two years from 2024-2026, includes the following key items: salary increase, rice subsidy, signing bonus, salary differential adjustment, and toxic chemical and wildlife handling risk pay. Other items negotiated will be referred to the Labor Management Council.
According to Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel L. Villordon, interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and SU’s chief negotiator, the Administration and SUSA negotiation panels successfully concluded the CBA discussions on September 30, 2024, following a three-month extensive and intensive deliberations.
Dr. Betty Cernol McCann (center-right), SU president, together with Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel L. Villordon (left), interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and SU’s chief negotiator, shakes hands with Vcpierre S. Calunsag (right-left), SUSA president. Next to him is Dr. Lourdes Angela F. Piñero, Organizational Development & Human Resource Management chief.
Jae Ryl M. Moncada, a SUSA officer and member of the negotiating panel, said, “The decision to finalize the deal between our Union and the Administration emerged from a collaborative and respectful negotiation process rooted in shared values.”
She admitted that there were days that made the SUSA panel members confused or even disappointed with the outcome of the negotiation, but along the way, many lessons were learned.
Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel L. Villordon (center), interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and SU’s chief negotiator, together with Dr. Betty Cernol McCann (left), shakes hands with Vcpierre S. Calunsag (right), SUSA president.
“Initially, we presented our proposal with the hope of addressing our staff’s needs. However, the [initial] counter-offer we received felt misaligned with our expectations,” Moncada revealed.
Through the negotiations, SUSA was able to explain its position clearly, and a mutual understanding was reached.
Moncada said, “The Administration made a genuine effort to meet our needs and provided us with a counter-offer that exceeded our initial requests…. I believe the results of the collective bargaining agreement will have a positive impact on the Union’s members.”
Members of the SU administration and SUSA sign the CBA.
