DILIMAN, Quezon City โ The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the ATI Employees Association, Inc. (ATIEA) formally signed the 2026 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) in a ceremonial event that marked a significant milestone in strengthening labor-management relations within the Institute.
The CNA represents a binding three-year framework that safeguards the rights of rank-and-file employees while reinforcing ATI managementโs strategic prerogatives. More than an administrative formality, the agreement activates a comprehensive suite of programs and benefits mutually agreed upon during negotiations, designed to maximize public service efficiency and elevate employee welfare.
Among the highlights of the agreement are CNA incentive activation from the cost-cutting measures and systems improvement, labor harmony and stability, and legal and regulatory compliance. The CNA also guarantees a robust package of benefits covering financial support, workplace welfare, and health and safety provisions.ย
The ceremonial signing was led by ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter, representing the Management Negotiating Panel, and ATIEA President Lyka B. Mercader, representing the Employees Association Negotiating Panel. They were joined by Assistant Director Antonieta J. Arceo, alongside ATIEA Vice President Emerson Deรฑado and ATIEA Officers Joshua Ace Marcos, Kevin Pardo, Jennifer Taruc, Rolaine Ruzelle Francisco, Wilma Lopez, and Diane Marie Salvania, who served as witnesses.ย
Their signatures officially commenced the three-year effectivity period, allowing ATIโs workforce to benefit from the provisions of the agreement immediately.ย
The 2026 Collective Negotiation Agreement stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit between ATI management and ATIEA. It balances the Instituteโs mandate to deliver excellent agricultural extension services with the state-guaranteed rights of workers to humane conditions, a living wage, and active participation in policy-making.
