Friday, March 28, 2008 Mayor's son intervenes in DCWD, union dispute By Grace L. Plata and Carlo P. Mallo
DAVAO CITY Councilor Paolo Duterte has requested the management of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to reconsider the termination of three regular employees and the two-month suspension of 37 others.
This request is contained in a resolution filed by Duterte and approved under suspended rules by the City Council in Wednesday's special session.
Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa DCWD (Namadacwad) president Rodrigo Aranjuez, who was called to participate in the discussion prior to approval of the resolution, explained to the body the circumstances that caused the issuance of termination and suspension order by the DCWD management.
"Nag protesta mi mahitungod sa mga issue pero wala mi nag violate sa ilang mga guidelines maong natingala mi nga nagpagawas sila ana nga order. Isa pa, maski pa man nga naga-protesta mi, dili na sakto nga basehan para kulban mi nola ug kaldero. Unsaon na lang among mga pamilya. Maglisud pa man gani ang naay trabaho, unsa pa kaha ang wala maong magpatabang mi sa inyo," Aranjuez said. (We held a protest over an issue but we did not violate DCWD guidelines. We were surprised by the release of the order. What will happen to our families now?)
"Nalipay gyud mi ug nagpasalamat sa City Council nga ila ming gisuportahan. Hinaut unta nga positive ang response sa DCWD this time kay katung unang request ni Vice-Mayor Sara Duterte nga i-renew ang maong kauban nga 9 nga casual, ila mang gi-reject," Aranjuez said after the resolution was approved. (We are grateful to the City Council for helping us. I hope the DCWD will have a favorable response to the council's request.)
He added that if DCWD would not listen to their plea, they will be forced to elevate the issue to the courts or the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Meanwhile, the human resources manager of Davao City Water District cited violations of the rules set forth by the Civil Service Commission as the primary reason in the non-renewal of the contracts of the nine casual employees.
Roberto delos Reyes, DCWD human resources and training director, told Sun.Star Davao Wednesday that the contracts of the nine casual employees expired last December and was supposed to be renewed by January.
However, the nine casual employees were involved in a mass action conducted by the union last November 9, he added.
"The investigation was still on going last January, so the renewal of their contracts were held in abeyance," delos Reyes said.
"What they did last November during the anniversary of the water district violated the rules on concerted activities and mass actions as provided under the Civil Service," delos Reyes added.
According to delos Reyes, though the employees, union members or not, are allowed to air their grievances, they can only do so after office hours.
"But they conducted their activity during the anniversary celebration, which was still within office hours," delos Reyes said.
Due to the incident, the DCWD management conducted a thorough investigation.
"The investigation was only finished last March 25," delos Reyes said.
However, not all hopes for the nine casual employees to be reinstated are lost. "It will still be the general manager who will decide," delos Reyes said.
