A LABOR group expressed Saturday its readiness to help professional cagers of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) organize a union in a bid to protect themselves from possible abuses from team officials.
In a statement, Associated Labor Unions (ALU) Spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said their group is willing to offer help to the PBA players after learning that some of them had their signed contracts invalidated.
"They can get in touch with us here in ALU in Quezon City. The first thing the players need is an orientation about unionism and we'll take it from there," Tanjusay said.
He said they have a battery of seasoned union organizers who are willing to help players organize themselves to form players' union and, in effect, get the best terms of the deal of their contracts.
"We encourage them to form players' union because they are professional, first class athletes, and not commodities. Basketball players are just like any other ordinary blue collared worker who is vulnerable to abuse," said Tanjusay.
Philippine law is allowing formation of unions and it is being encouraged by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), said Tanjusay.
Earlier, reports came out that forward Alex Nuyles had his newly signed contract voided after the change in the management when the player made the switch from Kia Carnival to Mahindra Enforcer.
In addition, former Kia player Michael Burtscher claimed that he has yet to receive his salaries since being injured in a practice game back in May.
Also, ex-Kia coach Glenn Capacio said that he has yet to receive his salary from the management after his contract was bought out when he was replaced as bench tactician.
To note, the PBA has a long-dormant players' association, with its last president being Franz Pumaren, who retired in the mid-1990s. (Sunnex)