State workers prepare for battle in 2009

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 01/08/2009 - 05:21.

Manila, January 8, 2009—With a huge crisis to hit the Philippine economy this year, the militant center for government employees, Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) says that State workers are now preparing to strategically and effectively counter its effect against their STK—Sahod (Wages), Trabaho (Jobs), and Karapantan (Rights).

 

In the special edition of the weekly Kapihan sa Cypress in Treehouse Restaurant in Quezon City, COURAGE National President Ferdinand R. Gaite said, they’ve already anticipated more brutal attacks against the state workers’ rights to job, economy and freedom to organize and collectively bargain for benefits.

 

“That is why, the national center is launching a massive education and unification campaigns, aiming to strengthen further its memberships in order to effectively counter the blows of the economic crisis as well as the anti-people, anti-state workers policies that the administration will implement,” he said.

 

In 2008, the Macapagal-Arroyo government had intensified the implementation of Executive Order No. 366, or the Rationalization Plan, which intends to slash off more than 30 percent of the entire government workforce, which translates to 450,000 jobs.

 

“More than 2,000 employees of the National Food Authority (NFA) are affected due to rationalization. If not delayed due to series of protests and continuous lobbying with Congressmen, more than 1,000 employees of Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation, could have been jobless last year,” he said. The National Parks and Development Committee which administers the Luneta Park is set to lay-off and retire its more than 400 employees.

 

“Due to the intensifying crisis, we expect more axing of employees this year,” he added. This early, at least 30 employees of the Intramuros Administration were no longer renewed, hence laid-off. They are set to set up a picket line early next week as a sign of protests.

 

While rationalization plans in agencies are ongoing, so do the transfers that according to Gaite, also claims jobs as well as vital services to the people.

 

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Office of the Secretary’s transfer is expected to consummate this January, while there are no news yet about the planned transfer of the Departments of Education, Agrarian Reform, and Tourism that will be relocated to Bicol, Davao City and Cebu City respectively.

 

“The Region IV office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, are for transfer too. In Mindoro and Laguna. It was being rushed last year,” Gaite said.

 

On the fight for wages and benefits, the militant leader said, that they’re still fighting for the P3,000 increment on the minimum salary while pressing the government to review the impending Salary Standardization Law 3 proposals of Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. and Speaker Prospero Nograles.

 

“We’ll be very busy this year,” Gaite told the media.

 

Gaite also said that the upcoming campaigns also will focus on privatization and transfer of government offices due to selling of lands where the offices are located.

 

“We are to intensify the campaign against the Malacañang, QC Government and World Bank-backed QC Central Business District that will result to massive demolition, dislocation of urban poor communities, and also, retrenchment,” he said. (Press Release/January 8, 2009)