UP workers get big bonus

Employees of the University of the Philippines campuses all over the country received more than what they expected – or have demanded – from the university administration after the latter gave a P10,000 Christmas bonus for each UP worker.

"Masaya na ang Pasko namin (We really will have a Merry Christmas)," said All UP Workers Union President Buboy Cabrera.

Some 13,000 UP employees received half of the bonus last week. The remaining half was released yesterday, Cabrera added.

The union president said the employees’ unity and persistent call for a higher Christmas bonus this year have paid off.

Last month, system-wide protests were staged by UP workers as they demanded for a P7,000 Christmas bonus from the UP administration and the release of the back payments of their Emergency Cost of Living Allowance (ECOLA).

According to Cabrera, President Arroyo’s Executive Order (EO) allowing the release of the bonus made the increased Yuletide pay possible. However, Cabrera found the EO’s specific guidelines unfair with its Dec. 14 cut-off.– Nikko Dizon