UACh and the Teachers’ Union signed a collective bargaining agreement

UACh Communications.- This Saturday, August 27, the signing of the Collective Labor Agreement between the Austral University of Chile and the Teachers’ Union was carried out, after knowing the result of the vote of the academics, who approved accepting the last proposal of the employer.

According to what was reported by the Teachers’ Union, of the total number of members authorized to vote (710), 445 (62.68%) voted to accept the University’s proposal, while 179 (25.21%) voted for keep up the strike.

The signing of this agreement was carried out in the offices of the Central House of the Austral University of Chile, with the participation of the two negotiating commissions. Present on behalf of the UACh were the Rector, Dr. Hans Richter, the Academic Vice-Rector, Dr. María Angélica Hidalgo, the Vice-Rector for Economic and Administrative Management, Dr. Felipe Zúñiga, the Dean of the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources, Dr. Alfredo Aguilera, the Personnel Director, Raúl Pilquiman and the Legal Director, Alejandro Durán.

Representing the Sindoc were its President, Dr. Sandor Mulsow, along with teachers María Angélica Gutiérrez, Sergio Argomedo, Leandro Ortiz and Geovana Casanova. Advisors Patricio Miranda, Joel Asenjo and Mario Gutiérrez also attended.

The Rector of the UACh, Dr. Hans Richter, pointed out that “in particular, this agreement with the Teachers’ Union constitutes a great effort that exceeds the budgetary frameworks that the Institution can currently support. This implies a high cost, which will affect our institutional development in the coming years, but its essential objective is to respond to the need to prioritize the well-being of our community of teachers and their respective families. From this situation, our central administration team of the University will have to focus soon on the management of alternative ways of additional income of resources, to face the special situation that affects the corporation, circumstances that we must assume responsibly as a university community ” .

In turn, the President of the Teachers’ Union, Dr. Sandor Mulsow, emphasized that “our feelings are bittersweet, understanding what is happening at the University with the current economic crisis. We seek in this negotiation not to lose. I want the partners to value that we also won other things that are important and that in 2024 we will be negotiating again”.

Benefits

The new collective bargaining agreement will be in force from August 27, 2022 to August 26, 2024, both dates inclusive.

It establishes, among other aspects, improvements in the assessment of academic activity -considering incentives in teaching, research and links with the environment-, benefits in matters of well-being, health, work environment, compensation for years of service upon retirement (retirement), and a special bonus for the end of this negotiation.

Likewise, a bipartite commission will be implemented that will be in charge of monitoring the status of progress and compliance with the points established in this document.

Regarding readjustment, this collective agreement ensures that the University teachers will maintain all of their purchasing power in an agreed formula that satisfies the parties in the current macroeconomic context.

Return to academic activities

The Academic Vice Chancellor, Dr. María Angélica Hidalgo, valued this agreement indicating that it allows progress in the rescheduling of academic activities, which will be planned and informed in a timely manner to the students.

“This important milestone constitutes an essential step to start the rescheduling of the academic calendar, taking into consideration the issues raised in meetings held with the Student Federation, in terms of giving time for them to return and finish pending activities and start the second semester,” said Dr. Hidalgo.

In relation to the negotiation that takes place in parallel with the National Workers’ Union No. 1, it should be noted that on Friday, the Rectory delivered the final proposal to be socialized with its assembly and voted on promptly.