Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Speak out: Workers’ plight By Agwwas
We, the members and affiliates of the nationwide Alliance of Government Workers in the Water Sector (AGWWAS), strongly condemn the dismissal of union members and leaders of Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Davao City Water District (NAMADACWAD).
This is a clear indication that Philippines has become one of those countries where unionized workers are prevented from peacefully fighting for security of tenure and trade union rights.
The management, instead of heeding the demands of the workers to go back to the negotiating table and discuss the contents of the collective negotiation agreement, resorted to systematic repression and harassment against the leaders and members of NAMADACWAD. The use of intimidation, baseless charges, and termination of services of employees constitute a pattern of political repression of the rights and welfare of the employees.
The issue that we have right now is an issue of economy culled by political authority within the water district.
Surely, the pain to privatize the water district is evident. Privatization, despite being highly criticized by various government and institutions globally, including the World Bank, is being vigorously pursued by the Arroyo regime.
We would like to remind those who are involved in this all-out attack against the ranks of the workers that the water district was mainly created to attend to the needs of the consumers and should be treated as such and not like a private corporation.
The situation experienced by the leaders and members of NAMADACWAD calls for us to rise above the occasion and lobby behind their struggle. Their struggle is the struggle of the Filipino people to oppose repression and violation of human rights.
Their struggle is a struggle against corporations and their lackeys planning to transform water as a social service into a business.
