City backtracks on plan to clear USAEU-FFW strike area
The city government would not touch the strike area of the University of San Agustin Employees Union-Federation of Free Workers (USAEU-FFW) located in front of the university contrary to the earlier warning made by City Legal Office (CLO) chief Atty. Edgar Gil.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said they would still consult with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regarding the status of the case.
Gil last week gave the strikers until Sunday to remove their streamers and other structures in front of the University of San Agustin (USA) otherwise personnel from the city government would have the area cleared the following day.
The strikers did not vacate nor clear the strike area as ordered by Gil but nobody dared demolish it.
As of Tuesday afternoon the USAEU-FFW's strike area in front of the university remained and was even added with a newly-painted long streamer printed with "We are on strike!".
The News Today (TNT) tried to reach Gil yesterday for his reaction on the mayor's contrary position with regard to the clearing of the strike area but he was on a meeting with the Bids and Awards Committee.
Theodore Neil Lasola, president of USAEU-FFW, in an earlier interview told TNT that it was the university's lawyer Atty. Sabino Padilla who sought the assistance of the city government for the clearing of the strike area following the latest decision of the Supreme Court which is in favor of the school's administration.
Lasola said, Gil personally ordered the clearing of the area Thursday last week but they defied the warning contending that they still have a pending case with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
Lasola also noted that Gil did not issue any written order with regard to the supposed clearing of their strike area.
Had the clearing was made, Lasola warned of possible Ombudsman cases versus city government officials.
Despite the recent SC ruling denying with finality their Motion for Reconsideration, Lasola insisted that their fight is not yet over as they are questioning with the NLRC the the manner of termination of union officers last April 5, 2005.
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.