Public school teachers are eyeing to stage a synchronized one-day absence if the Department of Education (DepEd) fails to immediately release the overtime pay for the overtime work public teachers rendered for 87 days.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) gave DepEd until Oct. 5 to give public school teachers their OT pay which allegedly costs P23,605.71 and 87 days' worth of service credits "before they claim it themselves."
"Just how ironic it is that our teachers must beg for their overtime pay on National Teachers' Month?," ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said.
Basilio warned that if DepEd fails to fulfill the ultimatum, public school teachers all over the country will "claim" their OT pay and will stage a synchronized one-day of absence.
"Our teachers have been far too patient and understanding despite the struggles they have had to endure due to government abandonment, but all they have gotten in return is negligence of their welfare. We are putting our foot down, and we say enough!" Basilio said.
He added that ACT will commemorate National Teachers' Month by exposing the "grim" situation of teachers as "overworked, underpaid, and under-supported."
ACT called on the Duterte administration to provide immediate and "ample" solutions to teachers' woes such as the promised upgrading of teachers' salaries substantial and timely benefits, adequate mobile and Internet allowance, as well as the approval of and preparation for the safe reopening of schools.
"We will collect what is due us and demand accountability for the criminal negligence of the Duterte-Briones tandem. There is no better way to honor and bring dignity to education frontliners this teachers' month than to protest and seek accountability for the torment and severe abandonment of the Duterte regime and the education sector," Basilio ended.
On Monday, a week before the official opening of classes for the school year 2021-2022, ACT held a picket protest at DepEd to demand the issuance of public school teachers' overtime pay.