USAEU-FFW strike area faces demolition
The strike area of the dismissed officers of the University of San Agustin Employees Union-Federation of Free Workers (USAEU-FFW) who have been camping out in front of the University of San Agustin campus for nearly two years faces demolition today, Monday, from the City Engineer's Office (CEO) as ordered by City Legal Office (CLO) chief Atty. Edgar Gil.
This after the striking former USA employees failed to dismantle their streamers and vacate the place yesterday, Sunday, the deadline set by Gil for them to clear the area.
Theodore Neil Lasola, president of the USAEU-FFW, told The News Today over the weekend that they did not clear nor vacate the area since there was no written order with regard to the said move of the city government.
Lasola said, Gil merely gave the verbal order when he passed by the strike area Thursday last week.
Lasola added, they are questioning Gil's order for them to vacate the are since their side was not heard during a supposed meeting at the CLO last November 14.
Atty. Sabino Padilla, Jr., USA's legal counsel, through a letter addressed to Gil and City Mayor Jerry Treñas asked the city government to clear the strike area following the Supreme Court (SC) resolution dated October 4, 2006 denying with finality the Motion for Reconsideration filed by USAEU-FFW and directing that no further pleadings shall be entertained in the case.
"Instead of inviting us to hear our side relative to Padilla's request, Atty. Gil invited us to converse for the peaceful removal of streamers and other structures in the strike area," said Lasola.
Lasola claimed that Gil or the city government does not have the right to force them to vacate the area.
"(Atty.) Padilla could have went to the Department of Labor and Employment and ask for the issuance of the writ of execution for us to vacate," Lasola said.
Lasola further cited that Gil could not even invoke that they are obstructing the pathway fronting the university as they let people pass by the strike area.
"Gil could have focused on removing the sidewalk vendors and other obstructions in the city's major thoroughfares first," Lasola said.
Lasola warned that they will file cases against the city government in the event the latter insists on removing them from the area.
Lasola insisted that the recent SC resolution pertains only to their September 19, 2003 strike which was declared illegal.
Said ruling did not answer their question on the manner of termination of union officers last April 5, 2005, said Lasola.
Lasola added such issue is still pending with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) docketed as SRAB Case No. VI-09-50326-06.
Meanwhile, the USA administration in its November 10, 2006 statement said: "The instant labor dispute, as far as the University of San Agustin is concerned, has been written finis by the Honorable Supreme Court. The dismissed union officers headed by Theodore Neil Lasola, Atty. Mae Gellecanao-Laserna, and the current leadership of the Federation of Free Workers, in particular Atty. Jose Sonny G. Matula and Ms. Grace D. Savella should now accept this defeat and act accordingly for the benefit of the employees of the University of San Agustin."
To note, a total of 22 union officers and members, who were all faculty members of the university's different colleges, were automatically dismissed by the university as a result of the September 19, 2003 strike. However, seven of them were given by the university administration the chance to be reinstated.
The remaining fifteen led by Lasola sustained their cause camping out in front of the campus.