Labor groups back PACE on Capitol budget stand

TWO major labor organizations in the province expressed support on the plight and sentiments of Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) over the non-approval of the provincial budget for this year that caused the non-release of the last tranche of the employees' salary increase and additional bonus.

Ruben Diamante, president of PACE, said that he has been contacted by various labor groups, both from the public and private sectors.

The General Alliance of Workers’ Assembly (Gawa) led by Wennie Sancho, in a Statement of Support dated March 18, stated, "The inefficiency of most Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) members in delaying or withholding the approval of additional budget intended for the salary increases and other benefits of the workers had already created havoc on the lives of the PACE members and their families.”

"Why are you trying to prolong their agony? Isn't it injustice to deprive them of what is due them as mandated by law?” GAWA asked.

It also pointed out that "all workers are entitled to their share which is the fruits of their labor. The delay in the resolution of this issue, the statement said, added to the problem of the workers. "It is an injustice," the group said.

They also called on organized labor to support and rally behind the cause being fought by Pace.

Gawa, along with its 18 member organizations, said it is their "moral duty to assist and support other labor organizations in our fight for social justice."

Diamante said that they expect more labor groups will support their call for the immediate approval of the proposed 2013 budget where the additional P20,000 bonus and last trance of their salary increases are contained.

Another group, the Philippine Independent Public Sector Employees Association ( PIPSEA), an umbrella organization of the public sector labor unions composed on national government agency , local government units, government owned and controlled corporations and state colleges and universities in the country, has also issued a statement of support for PACE.

Diamante also bared that the Bacolod City Government Employees Union (BCGEU), the Confederation of Independent Unions in the Philippines (CIU), the Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN), the Local Government Unions of the Philippines (LGUP) and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) are set to issue their statements of support for PACE.

This shows that what we are fighting for is for the rank-and-file employees and not for any vested employees, Diamante said.

It has given us the encouragement to fight for what we believe is right, he added.

These groups are set to join our actions in the next few days to show that our force lies within the unity of the working class, he pointed out.

The SP failed to hold its regular session yesterday for lack of quorum. The budget is still with the Committee on Finance chaired by Board Member Salvador Escalante. (TDE)