Sunday, March 30, 2008 DCWD to terminate workers despite plea By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Davao City Water District (DCWD) is standing by its earlier decision to terminate three of its regular employees and suspend 37 others.
This despite the request of City Councilor Paolo Duterte that was contained in a resolution he filed and approved under suspended rules by the City Council in Wednesday's special session.
In a telephone interview, DCWD board president Ed Bangayan said the board will respect whatever decision the management makes for as long as due process was observed.
"Considering that the management has the sole authority to deal with its employees in matters relating to their employment, we are leaving the matter to the management. Let the wheels of justice grind," Bangayan said.
Another board of director said that they will "let all administrative remedies be followed, exhausted and respected."
Bangayan said due process was observed when the management decided to terminate Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa DCWD (Namadacwad) president Rodrigo Aranjuez along with two other employees and suspend 37 others.
He said the terminated employees can, however, still appeal their case before the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and the courts if need be.
Bangayan maintained that the DCWD management decision is legal and justifiable.
Councilor Duterte on Wednesday appealed to the DCWD to reconsider their decision.
Aranjuez warned that if DCWD would not listen to their plea, they would be forced to elevate the issue to the courts or the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Unconfirmed reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that unidentified people constantly harassed the general manager of DCWD, Dora Gamboa.
Her vehicle's tire was flattened several times.
Earlier, nine casual employees were not renewed by the DCWD management.
The human resources manager of DCWD cited violations of the rules set forth by the CSC as the primary reason in the non-renewal of the contracts of the nine.
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.
He said 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.
The DCWD management conducted a thorough investigation, which was completed on March 25.
