Press ReleaseBukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)-PMT (Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon)
August 17, 2010
Coinciding with the scheduled preventive mediation hearing, workers belonging to the militant labor organization, BMP (Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino) and PMT (Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Tranportasyon (PMT) trooped in front of the office of the Department of Labor and Employment and held a picket in support to the beleaguered workers from FASAP (Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines).
FASAP, a union mostly composed of flight attendants and stewards has threatened to go on strike last month and is set to file a notice of strike with the Department of Labor and Employment. The preventive mediation hearing was meant to conciliate with the workers to avert the looming strike. Issues on job security were laid down as the basis of why FASAP is keen on pursuing such drastic move.
Leody De Guzman, BMP President pointed out in his speech during the picket rally that “Today’s labor dispute at PAL is reminiscent of the 1998 debacle where the Management pursued a 10-year CBA moratorium. For three years now, FASAP is indeed negotiating of what they believed as a threat to their job security as contained in their CBA, the lowering of retirement age of 40 from the mandated law requirement age of 60. Even if stipulated in the CBA, the workers can still question what has agreed upon for as long as such agreement clearly violates the rule of law and at the expense of the workers’ rights and welfare”.
The workers firmly believed that the issue is beyond job security and that the PAL Management is not only keen on implementing the policy of contractualization but a conscious effort to ultimately destroy the unionized workers at PAL. The plan to retrench 2,600 ground crew workers was part of such grand design.
Dante Lagman, PMT Secretary General for his part articulated that “The government should be made responsible in case the issues of the workers will be left untouched. We cannot think of possible government takeover, not even the perceived change of management to resolve the on-going labor dispute for as long as the workers’ rights are indeed being violated. The government must intervene to ensure that the workers truly enjoy full protection of law.”
In a related development, Goldilocks workers castigated corrupt officials in a picket held in front of the office of the DoLE-NCR for what they described as truly unthinkable move of the department. Despite the order from the court to hold a certification of election, these officials are deliberately delaying the process. For two weeks now, they kept on saying that they have already sent communication to the parties concerned but until now the workers is yet to receive the said document. The workers were totally dismayed of the wrongdoings of these officials, an irony to what P-Noy stood for in his crusade to cleanse the government of corrupt officials.
“P-noy may have stopped the “Wangwangs” but not the many “Kalawangs” that dwell in the Department of Labor and Employment.” Joel Lachica, Goldilocks Union President stressed during the picket.
The group vowed to step up its campaign against the crooks and corrupt officials in the labor department and is set to hold series of mass mobilizations and actions. (30)
August 17, 2010
Militants held simultaneous pickets at DoLE offices
Coinciding with the scheduled preventive mediation hearing, workers belonging to the militant labor organization, BMP (Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino) and PMT (Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Tranportasyon (PMT) trooped in front of the office of the Department of Labor and Employment and held a picket in support to the beleaguered workers from FASAP (Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines).
FASAP, a union mostly composed of flight attendants and stewards has threatened to go on strike last month and is set to file a notice of strike with the Department of Labor and Employment. The preventive mediation hearing was meant to conciliate with the workers to avert the looming strike. Issues on job security were laid down as the basis of why FASAP is keen on pursuing such drastic move.
Leody De Guzman, BMP President pointed out in his speech during the picket rally that “Today’s labor dispute at PAL is reminiscent of the 1998 debacle where the Management pursued a 10-year CBA moratorium. For three years now, FASAP is indeed negotiating of what they believed as a threat to their job security as contained in their CBA, the lowering of retirement age of 40 from the mandated law requirement age of 60. Even if stipulated in the CBA, the workers can still question what has agreed upon for as long as such agreement clearly violates the rule of law and at the expense of the workers’ rights and welfare”.
The workers firmly believed that the issue is beyond job security and that the PAL Management is not only keen on implementing the policy of contractualization but a conscious effort to ultimately destroy the unionized workers at PAL. The plan to retrench 2,600 ground crew workers was part of such grand design.
Dante Lagman, PMT Secretary General for his part articulated that “The government should be made responsible in case the issues of the workers will be left untouched. We cannot think of possible government takeover, not even the perceived change of management to resolve the on-going labor dispute for as long as the workers’ rights are indeed being violated. The government must intervene to ensure that the workers truly enjoy full protection of law.”
In a related development, Goldilocks workers castigated corrupt officials in a picket held in front of the office of the DoLE-NCR for what they described as truly unthinkable move of the department. Despite the order from the court to hold a certification of election, these officials are deliberately delaying the process. For two weeks now, they kept on saying that they have already sent communication to the parties concerned but until now the workers is yet to receive the said document. The workers were totally dismayed of the wrongdoings of these officials, an irony to what P-Noy stood for in his crusade to cleanse the government of corrupt officials.
“P-noy may have stopped the “Wangwangs” but not the many “Kalawangs” that dwell in the Department of Labor and Employment.” Joel Lachica, Goldilocks Union President stressed during the picket.
The group vowed to step up its campaign against the crooks and corrupt officials in the labor department and is set to hold series of mass mobilizations and actions. (30)
