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Sunday, December 02, 2007
Lawmakers seek House help in Davao labor dispute
DAVAO CITY -- Militant party-list representatives have filed a resolution urging Congress to probe the questionable closure of Davao Integrated Transport Facilities, Inc. (Ditfi), a Dole-Stanfilco subsidiary.
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Around 200 workers were displaced as a result of the said closure.
House Resolution No. 300 called on the House Committee on Labor and Employment to investigate the "illegal lock-out and illegal dismissal of the workers."
The problem between Ditfi and the workers happened when the management announced it was shutting down its operations last October 9.
The announcement came while the workers, under the union Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Ditfi (United Workers of Ditfi, Namaditfi) and the management, were in the middle of an ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
"The announcement of closure is arbitrary and violates legally-mandated provisions of the labor code concerning closure and termination of employees. The company never posted legal notices beforehand," said the resolution filed by Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran, Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño, and Gabriela's Liza Maza and Luz Ilagan.
House Resolution No. 300 also particularly scored the alleged collusion between the management and the military to suppress the workers.
"The illegal lockout and termination of Ditfi workers and ongoing labor dispute between the labor and the management, including Dole-Stanfilco and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ intervention in the labor dispute must be investigated as soon as possible," it stated.
Union President Noel Morales said the resolution "marks a step towards attaining justice against the most inhuman capitalist ploy of depriving us of our only means of living."
"We welcome the initiative of our progressive party-lists in calling for an investigation of our case. We believe that there is a need to make public the schemes of Dole-Stanfilco in attacking our rights to job security," he said.
Morales also appealed to the House Labor Committee chaired by Congressman Magtanggol Gunigundo to fast track the investigation because their case "mirrors what majority, if not all, of the workers face in the workplace."
Almost two months since the closure, union members are still picketing the entrance of the company's container yard. On top of their demands now is to take their jobs back.
Romualdo Basilio, chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region, said the resolution, apart from declaring Ditfi’s closure as illegal, shall put into legislative discussion some of the major problems of workers.
"We are hoping that the resolution will push through, as this will put into light capitalist anti-labor practices and the military's vilification campaign against genuine unions," Basilio said.
He added: "We have also recommended the House's investigation on the collusion of capitalists and some courts. It is distressing that court should allow itself to be used by capitalist greed on the expense of workers' rights."
While on the picket line, the workers' and their families' barricade has been served with two temporary restraining orders (TRO) from civil courts that, according to Morales, have no jurisdiction to the case since it is a labor dispute.
House Resolution No. 300 also seeks to investigate "the widespread labor-only contracting practices of employers, intervention of military in labor disputes and to recommend measures to aid workers." (JMT/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex) For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (December 2, 2007 issue)
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