Teachers union calls for pay increase

CEBU, Philippines - On the opening of classes on June 2, members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers–7 will wear black arm bands to protest the meager salary of educators and call for higher salary and more benefits for teachers and non-teaching personnel nationwide.

The group’s vice president, Bernabe Sabejon, said they are also eyeing at initiating a massive leave should President Benigno Aquino fail to mention during his State of the Nation Address on July 22.

“Manawagan mi sa gobyerno na pataasan ang sweldo sa mga manunudlo lukop nasod,” Sabejon said.

The group is still completing its accreditation to be the exclusive representative of teachers in the region and union president Antonia Lim yesterday called on teachers who have not signed the petition for accreditation to do so.

“We appeal to all teachers of different Divisions of DepEd Region-7 to join us in our crusade to organize public school teachers in order for us to have a decent way of living,” Lim said.

The group needs at least 20,000 signatures to get the accreditation.

Lim said the union generally aims to address the basic economics and political benefits that each public school teachers deserve.

Ernesto Areja, the group’s auditor, also raised the concern about the rehabilitation of school buildings in the region.

“Magsugod na ang klase pero more than 40 pa ang wala’y mga classrooms,” Areja said. —/JMO (FREEMAN)