MANILA - Over 20 teachers gathered outside the the Imus Institute of Science and Technology (IIST), formerly Imus Institute, on Wednesday, Teachers' Day.

It was not, however, to celebrate their special day, but to explain why they went on strike amid an impending "termination of employment" after years of service rendered to the school.

One of the teachers who joined the strike is Ferdinand Papa, who has been teaching there for 21 years.

Papa and his co-teachers are members of the Imus Institute Employees Union (IIEU), which entered into a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Imus Institute.

The agreement promises benefits and security of tenure not only for the teachers, but also for all the school's employees.

It is supposedly binding until 2020. But IIST insists that the corporate term "Imus Institute" has already expired.

Because of that, school administrators won't honor the agreement it entered into with the teachers.

"The corporate term of Imus Institute (II) expired. Imus Institute ceased to exist. As such, its rights and contractual obligations also ceased to exist," IIST explained in a Facebook post.

'NOT UNFAIR' LABOR PRACTICE

Placards carried by Imus Institute teachers who went on strike to demand full recognition of a collective bargaining agreement with the school. Photo courtesy: Mark Rowell Garcia

IIST believes its refusal to acknowledge the agreement it had under its old name and its refusal to acknowledge the existence of the union of the employees is "not unfair labor practice."

"IIEU bargained collectively with Imus Institute, not Imus Institute of Science and Technology, Inc.

"IIST cannot recognize the demands of individuals who are not its employees and the labor organization who is not the duly authorized bargaining agent of its employees," it said.

Teacher Fernando Papa, a member of the union, said that while it is true that the name of the school has changed, the people leading under the new corporation are the same.

"Parang ikaw 'yung anak tapos tinanggalan ka bigla ng karapatan mo bilang anak. Ganoon kasakit," he told ABS-CBN News on Thursday, the second day of their strike.

Teacher Ferdinand Papa, one of the employees who went on strike to demand full recognition of an agreement with the school. Photo courtesy: Mark Rowell Garcia

Papa said they have already talked to the IIST administrators, and they are being told that the school will recognize the CBA but only "under liquidation."

IIST, meanwhile, is now offering new employment contracts to teachers, staff and employees to those who worked under its expired corporate name.

"Any employee who fails or refuses to sign the contract with IIST will not be allowed to serve under this new institution. In the absence of employment contract, a person will not be allowed to teach or serve in IIST. Without this contract, there is no employer-employee relationship between IIST and the individual," the school added.

THE STRIKE OF 'THE FEW'

Imus Institute teachers went on strike to demand full recognition of a collective bargaining agreement with the school. Photo courtesy: Mark Rowell Garcia

Only a few employees joined the strike. Papa said he understands why not many employees joined, but he explained that what they are doing will benefit all of them.

He also admitted that they cannot hold a full-blown strike with their number, but they are willing to do it anyway to demand the full recognition of the CBA.

There may have been only over 20 teachers who joined the rally, but he said they are not alone. Support from the students and alumni of Imus Institute are coming in for them.

"I'm supporting them fully po, sa cause nila. It pains me to see that our most respected teachers, whom we held in high regard, ay nagra-rally, nakaupo sa kalsada, para lang pakinggan sila sa ipinaglalaban nila. Nakaupo sa sidewalk, naiinitan, nahihirapan," said alumnus Mark Rowell Garcia who visited his former mentors on Teachers' Day.

"Some of them po, malapit na sa may edad, pero nandun parin po. Mabigat sa loob naming mga estudyante at alumni, na umabot sila sa ganung point na they needed to rally para lang pakinggan sila," he added.

Other current and former Imus Institute students are also voicing out their support for their teachers online using the hashtag #savetheIIVeterans.

*Yakap kay Sir Rodriguez* "Paalam na, aalis na kami" Ang sakit marinig. #SaveTheIIVeterans — og esteban (@OleeneGene) September 21, 2016

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY 💘

Andito lang po kami para sa inyo. Sama sama tayong lalaban. We love you. #SaveTheIIVeterans pic.twitter.com/JP9soRcHe4 — 🐺 (@cjeicc) October 6, 2016

Papa said the teachers on strike have no words to describe how thankful they are to the students and alumni who supports them.

He said they are ready to do whatever it takes for the IIST to fully recognize the agreement.

The writer tried to reach IIST on Thursday, but no official was available for an interview at the moment.