DOLE employees score Sto. Tomas for union busting
Members of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Employees Union on Wednesday held a picket in front of the St. Clement's Church in Iloilo City to protest the refusal of Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas to comply with the economic provisions in their Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).
The group accused Sto. Tomas of union busting by sitting down on their proposal to implement the economic provisions of the CNA that would pave way for the release of P61 million savings for the employees benefits.
The P61 million savings resulted from austerity measures implemented by the said government agency.
William Dungog, president of DOLE-EU in the region, said the savings belong to the employees as stated in the Resolution No. 4 of the Public Sector Labor Management Council (PSLMC) which provides that 80 percent of the agency's savings be utilized for employees benefits. Therefore, he said, there is no reason for Sto. Tomas not to release it.
By refusing to sign their can, Dungog said, Sto. Tomas must be trying to destroy their group as she is planning to install her favored union in Davao City. He refused to elaborate on the matter but he pointed to it as the reason for the present conflict.
"What happened to us is very ironic since (the DOLE) is supposed to protect the interest of workers," Dungog said.
Dungog said Wednesday's protest action was simultaneously held nationwide in all the regional offices of DOLE.
He said they will not stop until Sto. Tomas grants their appeal.
DOLE employees nationwide will wear black shirts every Friday to symbolize their protest.
DOLE EU in the region is composed of about 72 rank and file employees.
The DOLE EU (Courage) reportedly filed mandamus case at the Manila Regional Trial Court against Sto. Tomas to implement their Cost of Living Allowance (Cola).
The group also filed an administrative case of union busting against Sto. Tomas at the Civil Service Commission.