PIER STRIKE ENTERS THIRD WEEK ON IMPASSE

COMMENTARY STRIKE OCT 2

PIER STRIKE ENTERS THIRD WEEK
WITH NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT …..
SIX MILLION PESOS DAILY LOSES

Unless the labor secretary or the PPA takes over the pier operations and implement its back to work order, the general public will be the ultimate loser . the pier operation is losing some P6million pesos a week from lost revenues in cargo handling, and marketing.

As of Monday, the striking union of ALU TUCP has again filed a new case in the RTC which seeks to nullify the contract between PPA and the Prudential Customs Br0kerage Services. Inc, and seek an injunction to cease and desist from further taking over the new arrastre.

The grounds of ALU TUCP is that the PPA terms of reference or TOR, prior to the bidding enjoins whoever is given the arrastre will employ and utilize existing workers under pertinent provisions of the labor code.

However, in the contract between wiinning bidder Prudential and PPA, the new cargo handler went further by saying that they will employ and utilize existing workers as needed, and subject to the policies of the cargo handler which is Prudential.

These two provisions seem to run in conflict with each other, in that the ALU TUCP coordinator Felizardo Piling Calimpong admitted that the crucial ISSUE now will be whether or not the inclusion of specific conditions in the absorption of old union members of CISAI is a violation of the Labor Code.

The terms of reference of PPA is the condition giving by PPA to whoever wins a new arrastre that they absorb and retain all existing union employees but only under the provisions o the Labor Code. This means that if their retention is not in consonance with the Labor Code provisions, then their retention becomes illegal.

The strike at the pier now enters its third week with no solution on sight. Cargo handling is now transferred at the private pier at DUCOMi in BAcong and those in Tampi Amlan and Sibulan ports.

We urge all pier stakeholders not just to be fence sitters but do something concrete and positive but, without prejudging the merits and demerits of the case under the pain of sub judice. P[--0o---)