Wednesday, April 09, 2008 Trinidad joins appeal for leniency from DCWD
AFTER the appeal of Davao City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte and her brother Councilor Paolo Duterte, Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad has joined the call for the management of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to reconsider its decision terminating three workers and suspending 37 others.
In a statement, Trinidad expressed support for the workers of DCWD, saying "the human side of the situation is urging her more to be participative in the struggles of the DCWD workers for their rights and the interests of the city's water consumers."
"As a public servant whose bias is always on the side of the people, not only for the women and children of Davao City, I am concerned by the process that has necessitated the termination and suspension orders on 49 regular and casual employees of DCWD," Trinidad said.
The councilor said the charges against the dismissed employees were based on "weak allegations."
"The management could have probed the case more before arriving at such crucial decision," Trinidad said.
"I believe it is unfair for the workers to be given such sanction on mere basis that they have expressed their oppositions to the stand of the management on certain labor and public concerns," she added.
Trinidad said the DCWD management decision must not just be based on the authority of those who are in the position but also on public interests and welfare.
"As far as the declaration of basic policy under the Labor Code of the Philippines is concerned, the state assures the rights of workers to self-organization, collective bargaining, security of tenure, and just and humane conditions of work," Trinidad said.
"The law is clear in protecting these labor rights and the managers of DCWD are bound to uphold these rights," she added.
Trinidad urged the DCWD management "to reconsider its termination and suspension orders on its employees."
"Not only is there a need to do so on legal bases, the future of the workers and their families should make us all more considerate and rational in this situation," she ended.
DCWD general manager Dora Gamboa, however, said they are standing by with their decision unless the terminated employees present better argument in their motion for reconsideration.
She said the employees have other venues for grievances if they are not satisfied with the DCWD decision like the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and even the court.
Gamboa assured the councilors though that their decision was reached by following the due process. (BOT)
