Hunger and Job Insecurity at O’Higgins University: 1,800 Workers Without Pay

Original article: Hambre y precariedad en la Universidad de O’Higgins: 1.800 trabajadores sin sueldo

A malfunctioning platform and neglect from the administration leave teachers choosing between eating or paying for transportation to teach classes.

The academic community at O’Higgins University (UOH), located in Rancagua, is experiencing weeks of heightened administrative tension. According to the Labor Union of Honorary Workers (SITRAHUOH), a significant portion of the agreements set to begin in early 2026 remain unpaid, a situation worsened this month by the absence of salaries for March. In an interview with El Ciudadano, one affected educator and union leader, who wishes to remain anonymous, explained that after not receiving income, many professionals now struggle with basic costs, even for traveling to the institution.

The critical issue for the 1,800 affected workers lies in the implementation of a new digital payment and signing system. While the university announced the processes in December, workers claim the platform has flaws that hinder effective communication. The union states that the «window» for submitting reports and payment slips was less than 12 hours on April 8, preventing compliance due to technical rejections from the site.

Adding to this scenario are administrative adjustments that the workers describe as unilateral. According to the educator, the new agreements include clauses allowing the university to delay payments by up to 15 business days without prior consultation. Furthermore, the union criticizes the reduction of March’s payment to «half a payment,» promising the distribution of the remaining balance over the following months.

This situation occurs amidst a fiscal evaluation following the Final Report No. 760 from the Comptroller’s Office, which uncovered irregularities in the management of 2024, notably a payment of $71 million to an external advisor for recovering guarantee policies. The regulatory body questioned this expenditure and warned that there was no supporting documentation detailing the actions taken to justify such an amount.

The university’s administration indicated that the observations from the Comptroller’s Office are part of regular improvement processes and that they have already provided necessary details. Regarding the honorariums, UOH attributed the delays to adjustments in the new agreement system and assured that they are addressing pending cases individually. However, the union asserts that the lack of concrete responses is impacting the mental health of those involved.

The leadership of SITRAHUOH has scheduled a meeting with Rector Fernanda Kri for April 17, where they hope to obtain solutions with clear deadlines. “We have been working for over a month, we have courses assigned and students,” the concerned educator emphasizes. The union warns that if there are no advances in resolving salary issues, they do not rule out initiating strikes or other actions to protect the dignity of their work.

Financial uncertainty even permeates the classroom, where the union member reports gestures of support from students in light of the displayed precariousness. For many of these professionals, the income from UOH represents their only source of livelihood, so the lack of a fixed payment date in the agreements exacerbates the economic situation for 1,800 families.

In conclusion, they emphasize that the university’s heavy reliance on honorary contracts demands much more rigorous and empathetic management. While the institution aims for modernization processes, workers stress that no technological upgrade can justify compromising the basic incomes of those who sustain regional academic activity.

We invite you to review the union’s statement:

El Ciudadano