So, last December 27, 2008, the UFESLU and the SLU met to discuss the problem about our taxes. By the way, if we refer to SLU , this would refer to Atty. Arnulfo Soriano, Mrs. Evangeline Trinidad, Dr. Noel De Leon and sometimes Ms. Geraldine Sanil. During this meeting, while SLU was represented by a CPA (Mrs. Trinidad) and a lawyer (Atty. Soriano), the UFESLU was also represented by Ms. Alice Lerma, Mr. Edwin Valencia (CPA), Atty. Rigoberto Gallardo (CPA), and Mrs. Elvira Dacayo (CPA) (o di ba!?). With overwhelming proofs and evidences that the UFESLU presented, the SLU Administration was open on the "reclassification" of the economic package as "rice subsidy." With this reclassification, the 12,000 rice susbsidy would be non-taxable. On the scholarship program of an employee, the tuition fee is also non-taxable provided the employee signs a contract with the Administration agreeing on an equivalent number of years for every year of service.
On the tuition fees of our dependents, the UFESLU presented a similar case at De La Salle Unversity (DLSU) where its dependents are considered as scholars and consequently, the tuition fees of their dependents are non-taxable. All these proposals were submitted to the SLU Administration for its consideration. The UFESLU believes that, with all our proposals supported with BIR Rulings, the SLU Administration decides in favor of the employees. Now, what if the SLU Administration refuses to consider as a scholarship grant the educational benefit of our dependents despite a clear BIR Ruling in our favor? Are the 1,400 union members willing to voice their disagreement outside of their work places?
ON THE PHILHEALTH
Upon a check with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), the individual contributions of all SLU employees were last updated in March 2006. So for nearly two years, our individual contributions were not updated. However, SLU regularly remitted our contributions to Philhealth in "bulk." Ibig sabihin, lahat ng pera na binayad natin eh ibinayad ng SLU sa Philhealth pero hindi sila nag-submit ng listahan sa Philhealth kung sino yung mga nagbayad. In a clearing meeting about this issue, the SLU Administration blamed the employees for not doing the initiative in checking the status of their contributions with Philhealth. So tayo daw ang may kasalanan. SLU never admitted any lapses because of this unfortunate incident. The solution? Some individuals are planning to file a "class suit" with Philhealth to determine the culpability of SLU. Para sana hindi na maulit eto...interested to join?
DELOADING OF SOME IPR FACULTY MEMBERS
A certain faculty member of the Institute of Philosophy and Religion (IPR) was not re-hired "allegedly" because of the end of his contract. He has been with the University for three (3) continuous years. This faculty member filed a case with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) which decided the case in his favor. Nanalo siya. In the decision, he may be actually reinstated or reinstated merely on payrol. Ang ginawa ng SLU, he was actually reinstated by giving him a load of 24 units. Ang problema, seven (7) IPR faculty members were deloaded and their loads were given to him. The UFESLU cried foul over this action. SLU ang may kasalanan na tinanggal nila yung teacher tapos nung ma-reinstate eh babawasan ng load yung iba?
In a Clearing Meeting, the SLU Administration believes that its action is legal. So, the case will surely go outside of SLU para malaman kung sino talaga ang tama. Napapansin ninyo, dumarami ang mga kaso laban sa SLU? Hindi sana eto mangyayari kung aaminin "nila" ang kanilang mga pagkakamali. Sino ba naman tayo para hindi marunong magpatawad.
