La Gloria's Skullduggery

October 26, 2007

PerryScope

by: Perry Diaz

The recent bombing in Glorietta 2, Makati last October 19 has unleashed another shock wave across the country. The bombing killed 11 people and injured more than 120. According to police sources, traces of C4 plastic explosives were found at the site. What is odd is that no terrorist organization claimed the bombing. What is odder is that a lot of people are now pointing their fingers at the Arroyo administration for the bombing. And what is intriguing is that it happened following the bribery scandal and the filing of impeachment against President Arroyo in the House of Representatives.

The bribery scandal came to light when Gov. Fr. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga, in a press conference, claimed that he received P500,000 during a Malacanang meeting hosted by President Arroyo for governors. Three other governors also claimed that they received money from presidential aides. On the same day, Arroyo also hosted a separate breakfast meeting for some 190 congressmen and women. Manila Congressman Bienvenido Abante, a preacher, who attended the breakfast, echoed the claim of Gov. Fr. Panlilio -- he too received P500,000 from a presidential aide.

It is interesting to note that Arroyo was not around when the "pampadulas" (grease money) were distributed by her aides. Nobody would really expect her to be present during the distribution, after all she would not dirty her hands with "grease." In my opinion, the reason for the bribery was to derail the impeachment petition which is now in Congress. If it is defeated, Arroyo would be immune for one year from another impeachment attempt.

So it is not surprising that President Arroyo invited -- "summoned" was the word used by another journalist --the governors and members of Congress to Malacanang. Assuming that all of the 190 members of Congress who were greased would reject the impeachment petition, their number is more than enough to defeat the impeachment petition. But instead of fixing a potential problem, it backfired and created a bigger problem -- a bribery scandal -- that could ignite another people power revolt and force Arroyo to resign.

Just hours before the Glorietta blast, several Catholic bishops called for her resignation and cited "moral bankruptcy" of the government. In addition, Speaker De Venecia urged Arroyo to lead a "moral revolution" and eradicate corruption in the government. But does she have the moral right to lead a "moral revolution" when members of her own family were implicated to a multitude of corruption scandals?

It would not then be surprising if Arroyo would play her last ace to pre-empt any attempt to dislodge her. There were rumors that the Glorietta explosion may have been the handiwork of people associated with Arroyo. If so, could it be a diversionary tactic --the tail wagging the dog -- to buttress her shaky position? Or could it be the precursor to a martial law? Interestingly, with the enactment of the Human Security Act, Arroyo has immense power at her disposal.

We need to remember that La Gloria is a master -- nay, a grand master -- of skullduggery. Remember the "Hello Garci" election cheating scandal two years ago? On the brink of total collapse, she promised former President Fidel V. Ramos, who came to her rescue, that she would support a Charter change to a parliamentary system and would step down when it is approved. Speaker De Venecia, a strong advocate for parliamentary system also came out to her defense. As a result, her political life was given a respite.

But as soon as she consolidated her power, she reneged. However, she did call for a Charter change but on her own terms: political power beyond 2010. She was able to get enough signatures for a people's initiative in support of the custom-made- for-Arroyo Charter change. She could have gotten it her way had the Supreme Court not reject the flawed people's initiative.

Was it then an accident that Arroyo's Charter change proposal coincided with the bribery scandal? What is baffling is her timetable for the proposed Charter change. She calls it the "roadmap to federalism by 2012." The question is: why 2012? What will happen between 2010 and 2012? Is she going to hold on to the presidency until 2012? And then what? As Rep. Satur Ocampo said, "the bribery scandal is linked to the President's move to revive Cha-cha… she is literally buying her way beyond 2010, again on board her Cha-cha train."

It is interesting to note that she has chosen a federal system of government for her Cha-cha revival. Federalism is very popular in Mindanao -- particularly Muslim Mindanao -- and in the Visayas where a lot of Visayans resented the "Imperial Manila" central government. By gaining the loyalty of Mindanao and the Visayas, Arroyo could become the first President or Prime Minister of a federal government. As a matter of fact, during the 2004 elections, she did well in Mindanao and the Visayas. In the 2007 mid-term elections, she proved her strength in Mindanao and the Visayas including the populous Cebu. Does it surprise anyone that after winning the 2004 election, she had her inauguration in Cebu?

As a politician once said, "In politics, nothing happens by accident." It then becomes apparent that Arroyo could have been working on a scenario that would perpetuate her in power beyond 2010. Today, there in nothing on earth that could stop her; however, things could change tomorrow.

The Associated Press reported that "military elements were angry over the scandals rocking the Arroyo administration while troops were laying down their lives battling Abu Sayyaf bandits down south in Basilan and armed forces chief Esperon admitting 'there was no money for the increase in battle pay recently promised by President Arroyo'." Recently, the Commandant of the Marines, Major General Ben Dolorfino, said that the corruption scandals were affecting his troops and warned that another coup attempt could ignite a civil war. Clearly, these are red flags that signals potential trouble for Arroyo.

Arroyo should know that the loyalty of the military is paramount to her political survival. After all, had the military top brass in 2001 not abandon then President Joseph Estrada, Arroyo would still be a low-keyed Vice President assigned to ribbon-cutting ceremonies around the country. If there is one thing that would give her a nightmare is the thought of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Gen. Dolorfino, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, and Gen. Danilo Lim banding together.

(PerryDiaz@gmail. com)

Mga Mahal Naming Kasamang Kawani ng UP Manila at ng PGH

Mainit Na Pagbati!

Malugod po naming ipinapaalam sa inyo na ang mga pagpupunyagi natin sa nakalipas na mga araw ay nagbunga ng pinakamataas na kalamangan sa botohan sa lahat na Campus at sa buong kasaysayan ng Certification Elections (CE) sa UP, na umabot sa 1,129 boto sa buong UP Manila:

Ang resulta pong ito ay malinaw na mandato ng Unyon at magiging dala-dala po natin sa buong panahon ng ating pagiging “bukod tanging kinatawan ng lahat na mga rank-and-file na administratibong kawani ng UP.”

Lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa lahat nating mga kasamang kawani! Subalit, ang tunay na hamon sa ating lahat ay kung papaano na ang mandatong ito ay maisakatuparan sa dagdag na benepisyo at karapatan, hindi lamang para sa ating lahat bilang kawani ng UP at ng PGH, kungdi maging ng Sambayanang Pilipino na pinagsisilbihan natin.

Muli po kaming kumakatok sa inyong mga puso’t isipan, huwag po tayong tumigil hanggang sa pagboto lamang, hayaan nating ang mandatong ito ay madala natin para sa kampanya ng pagbabago – maging sa lipunang ating ginagalawan. Isang kampanya na hindi nakatuon sa pansariling interes lamang bilang kawani kundi maging sa interes ng Sambayanan, dahil bilang kawani ng UP at ng PGH tangan-tangan din natin ang kinabukasan ng edukasyon at serbisyong pangkalusugan ng ating bayan.

Sisimulan natin ito dito mismo sa ating bakuran. Ang mga naiwang benepisyong hindi pa naipatupad sa ilalim ng RA 7305 (Magna Carta of Public Health Workers) ay dapat maipatupad na. Ito ang 5% Longevity Pay, Free Hospitalization at Overtime Pay. Gayundin ang iba pang mga kasalukuyang kampanya natin. Isusunod natin ang kampanya laban sa pagtataas ng singilin sa charity hospital services. Ang kalusugan ay isang batayang karapatan, huwag natin itong hayaang pagkakitaan ng mismong pamahalaan na dapat siyang nangangalaga nito. Na samantalang ang mga lider pulitiko sa pangunguna ng Presidente ay nagpapakasasa sa kaban ng bayan, dumarami sa mga kababayan natin ang namamatay sa sakit dahil sa kakulangan ng serbisyong pangkalusugan - ng serbisyong hindi abot kaya at laan sa mamamayan.

Ang nabinbin na negosasyon sa CNA dahil sa CE ay itutuloy natin pagkatapos ng opisyal na deklarasyon ng Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR - DOLE). Ang mangunguna nito ay ang mismong Pangulo ng Chapter na si G. Jossel Ebesate bilang Chairman ng Negotiation Panel ng Unyon. Ngayon higit na kailangan natin ang inyong pakiki-isa para makuha natin ang pinakamataas na mga benepisyo para sa ating lahat.

Sa panghuli, muli, ang kalagayan natin sa UP at PGH ay sumasalamin lamang sa kalagayan ng ating lipunan. Habang tayo ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga Tagapangasiwa sa pagsaayos ng kalagayan natin bilang kawani ng UP at ng PGH, sabay-sabay din tayong lumahok sa mga isyu ng mamamayan at ng bayan!

Mabuhay ang All UP Workers Union! Mabuhay ang mga Kawani ng UP at ng PGH!

All U.P. Workers Union Na Sa Oktubre 24, 2007

Mahalaga na sa pagboto natin sa ika-24 ng Oktubre 2007 para piliin ang bukod-tanging Unyon na maging kinatawan ng mga kawani ay maibigay ang pinakamataas na mayoriya upang mas malakas na maisulong sa Administrasyon ang mas makabuluhang bagong Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) - na magtatakda sa marami nating mga karapatan at benepisyo bilang kawani ng UP at ng PGH, sa susunod na limang taon.

Sa nakaraang anim na taon mula ng madeklara ang All U.P. Workers Union (ika-8 ng Agosto 2001) bilang bukod tanging kinatawan ng mga kawani, pinatunayan na ang mga maari nating magagawa batay sa sama-samang pagkilos.

Mga Nagawa

Ang pagkilala ng UP sa karapatan nating magwelga ayon sa batas bilang pangunahing batayang prinsipyo ng CNA (2002-2007), at ng ating pakikipagtalastasan sa Administrasyon ay wala ng makakahigit pa. Ito ay sa harap ng sinimulang dating CNA ng ONAPUP na isinuko ang karapatang magwelga o manguna ng anumang pagkilos o protesta sa mga polisiya o programa ng Administrasyon kapalit sa pagkilala sa kanila bilang bukod tanging kinatawan ng mga kawani mula Nobyembre 1994 hanggang Disyembre 2000.

Mula sa batayang karapatan na ito, mula sa wala ay napagtagumpayan natin ang magkaroon ng tig-dadalawang sako ng rice subsidy taon-taon. Nagawa ring maging regular na tig-P10,000 kada taon ang ating year-end incentive, at mula noong 2005 ay ibinibigay ito ng tig-P5,000 (Agosto at Disyembre) ayon na rin sa kahilingan ng Unyon. Nandidiyan rin ang karagdagang 3 araw na special privilege leave (SPL) at sickness leave at ang P1,000 Christmas Grocery Allowance kada taon.

Dito sa atin sa UP Manila at PGH, nakumbinsi natin ang Administrasyon na maresolba na ang maraming nakabinbing kasong administratibo, marami nito ay mahigit sampung (10) taon nang “pending.” Ito ay umabot noong 2003 sa halos 600 mga kaso. Sa ngayon ito ay wala pang isandaan. Malaking tulong rito ang pagkumbinsi natin sa Office of Legal Services ng UP System na bigyang pansin ang mga maling prosesong nangyayari sa UP Manila lalo na sa PGH, kung saan reklamo pa lang na nakarating sa Legal Office ay kinukonsidera na agad na “pending.” Makumbinsi rin natin ang Administrasyon ng UP Manila at PGH na ipadaan ang initial investigation ng lahat na reklamo (maliban sa pilferage) sa mga Unit APC-PERC bago ito iparating sa Legal Office - at kung talagang may batayan ang reklamo. Sa mga APC-PERC, halos 50% ng mga reklamo’t hinaing ay nareresolba agad.

Ang Unit APC/PERC na binuo hanggang sa Division o Cluster Level ay nagpalawak sa partisipasyon ng mga rank-and-file sa halos lahat na aspeto ng personnel actions (hiring, promotion, transfers, scholarship, rewards and recognition, performance evaluation, mga apela sa evaluation, conflict resolutions at maging sa fact-finding investigations). Nabuo ito mula sa tuloy-tuloy na paggiit ng Unyon sa UP Manila at PGH Administration at sa tulong ng mga bukas sa pagbabagong mga kasama natin sa Personnel Office (HRDO na ngayon) ng UP Manila at ng PGH.

Nakamit din sa panunungkulan ng All UP Workers Union ang Hazard Pay, Subsistence at Laundry Allowance ng UP Manila CAD, Academic Units at NIH (sa ilalim ng Magna Carta of Public Health Workers o RA 7305). Ito ay nagmula sa sertipikasyon ng DOH na ibinigay sa UP Manila bilang “Health Sciences Center” (kaya lahat na mga kawani nito ay mga public health workers) na nakuha natin dahil na rin sa sama-samang pagkilos ng Unyon at malaking pagsisikap ni Dr. Marita Reyes noong siya pa ang pangulo ng ating chapter at magkasama pa ang mga academic at mga administratibong kawani sa iisang Unyon.

Benepisyong Nasa Negosasyon Pa

Sa harap ng mga tagumpay, mayroon pa tayong hindi pa natatapos na mga isyu at nasa kainitan ng negosasyon sa level na ng UP Manila. Ito ang 5% Longevity Pay, Free Hospitalization, at Overtime Pay sa ilalim ng RA 7305, gayundin ang exemption mula sa AO 103 s. 2004 para mapunuan ang maraming bakanteng item ng Utility Workers at iba pang mga administratibong kawani.

Ang pagpalit ng pangalan mula Nursing Attendant II tungo sa Midwife I ng may 52 na Nursing Attendant ay nasa level na rin ng DBM pero nangangailangan pa ng karagdagang mga batayan bago ito maaprubahan. Malaking bahagi sa tagumpay na ito ng mga kasamahan nating mga NA, ang kasigasigan ng dating Pangulo ng PGH Nursing Attendants Association na si Emma Añas. Siya ang nagbigay ng halos lahat na mga datos sa Unyon at sa PGH Nursing Service kung kaya’t napadali ang pagkumbinsi natin sa Administrasyon ng UP Manila at UP System na ituloy ang kahilingan ng mga NA hanggang sa DBM.

Mga Panukala Para Sa Bagong CNA

Bago ang petisyon para sa Certification Election (CE) ng ONAPUP, tayo sa All UP Workers Union ay may naisumite nang panukala para sa panibagong Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) noong ika-14 ng Pebrero 2007. Katunayan, naka-apat na pag-uusap na tayo sa UP Administrasyon bago natigil dahil sa CE. Kasama sa ating mga panukala ang mga sumusunod:

•Sa Deklarasyon ng mga Prinsipyo, itataas ang partisipasyon ng Unyon, mula “consultation” tungo sa “involvement” sa lahat na aspeto ng paggawa ng mga polisiya, plano at programa para sa mga karapatan, kagalingan at mga benepisyo ng mga kawani;

•Dagdag na 15 araw na Menstrual Leave at Breastfeeding Leave;

•Libreng bakuna at booster ng mga kawani at malalapit na kamag-anak laban sa TB, Flu, at Hepatitis;

•Rehabilitation Leave for Job Related Sickness (bukod sa job related injuries sa ilalim ng CSC Memorandum);

•15 araw na SPL mula sa kasalukuyang anim (6);

•Probisyon ng housing sa lahat na sektor ng UP;

•Free Legal Services para sa mga kawaning nademanda dahil sa paggampan ng kanilang trabaho;

•Isang buwan na pagsasaayos sa retirement papers na hindi ibabawas sa leave credits ng mga magreretiro.

•Fitness and wellness center sa lahat na mga Kampus;

•50% discount sa pagpapa-ospital ng mga retiradong kawani sa PGH at lahat na UP Infirmary;

•Apat (4) na sakong bigas na di bababa sa 50 Kgs. bawat isa, taon-taon;

•P2,000 na Loyalty Pay bawat taon ng serbisyo;

•Merit Incentive Grant na di bababa sa P10,000/year

•P10,000 Merit Award sa mga “sagad na”

•P2,500 na Christmas Grocery Allowance taon-taon

•P5,000 Medical Assistance kada taon

•P20,000 na Retirement Bonus

•P20,000 na Signing Bonus o CNA Incentive

Lahat ito ay mga panukala pa lang. Para ito lubos na maisakatuparan, kinakailangan ng subok na, at mas matibay na kinatawan ng mga kawani. Magtiwala na at bumoto sa All U.P. Workers Union sa CE sa darating na ika-24 ng Oktubre 2007.

Dagdag pa, sa UP Manila at PGH, ay may mga kampanya din na ating ipaglalaban kapag naaprubahan na ng Kalihim ng DOH ang amyenda sa IRR ng RA 7305 kung saan nakapaloob ang mga pagtataas sa ating Hazard Pay, Subsistence at Laundry Allowance sa ilalim ng RA 7305. Gayundin ang pagpapatupad ng Section 32 ng Nursing Act of 2002 para sa pagtaas ng basic pay ng mga nurses sa SG 15. Ang isyung ito ay dinala na natin sa Board of Nursing, DBM at DOH simula pa noong 2004.

Pinakamalakas na mandato para sa mas makabuluhang CNA!
Mag-All U.P. na! ###

UP Workers Union Pushes for Cash, Fringe Benefits

By Angelo Muniz

Philippine Collegian, March 12th, 2007

The All-UP Workers Union (AUPWU) is pushing for additional financial benefits and rights for administrative employees in UP through its proposed Collective Negotiations Agreement (CNA) forwarded to the UP administration on February 14.

The proposed agreement, which is an amendment of the existing CNA, was drafted after a series of conferences conducted by the AUPWU chapters in Diliman, Los Baños, and Manila. AUPWU, a 5000-strong labor organization, is the official union that represents all administrative employees in UP.

The existing negotiations agreement signed in 2002 expires on April 19, and the amended CNA, if approved, shall take effect until 2011.

Workers’ benefits

Among the demands contained in the proposed CNA is a P20,000 incentive for every worker once the new CNA is signed. In 2002, the first CNA provided for a P5,000 signing incentive.

The proposed CNA includes an additional annual subsidy of two sacks of rice, from only two sacks in the old CNA, as well as a centennial bonus not less than P20,000, P5,000 for medical assistance, and retirement benefits amounting to P20,000.

Aside from financial incentives, the amended CNA also advances additional non-financial benefits for UP employees like safeguards against gender discrimination and additional sickness leaves especially for women employees. The proposed CNA also recognizes the right of the union to directly represent employees in cases of employee movement like reorganization.

Meanwhile, Vice President for Legal Affairs Marvic Leonen, the chief negotiating officer of the UP administration on the CNA, refused to give his opinion on the substance of the CNA as he is still waiting for the outcome of the negotiation.

The UP administration and its employees first entered into a CNA in 1995. Governing the relationship of UP and its administrative employees, the CNA determines the employees’ rights and other benefits except for the salary, which is subject to the Salary Standardization Law.

Election of official representative union

Clodualdo Cabrera, president of AUPWU, expressed fear that the CNA will not be approved until the middle of 2008 due to a petition for Certification Election being pushed by an unknown group in UP. “This petition seeks to challenge the mandate of the AUPWU to represent UP workers in the CNA negotiations,” Cabrera said.

A certification election determines the official labor union that may negotiate with the administration through voting among UP employees. The AUPWU won in a certification election against the Organization of Non-Academic Personnel in UP in 2001.

Cabrera also said that workers are being misled by the anonymous group to believe that UP will not release the P20,000 signing incentive if a certification election is not held.

“The signing incentive is provided for in the CNA and will be given to the workers with or without the certification election. In fact, an election at this time will only delay the release of the incentive and the approval of the CNA,” he added.

Cabrera said that AUPWU will file with the Bureau of Labor Relations a petition for retraction should the anonymous group holding a signature campaign file a petition for certification election.

With an earlier agreement that negotiations should last for four months, AUPWU and the UP administration met again on March 13 and set the ground rules for the CNA negotiation. The union also expects that formal negotiations on the substance of the CNA will open on the same day. #

Note: Ang artikulo na ito ng Philippine Collegian noon pang ika-12 ng Marso 2007 ay ating nilimbag (publish) sa ating Web Log upang lalo pang bigyang pansin ang mga nagawa na ng All UP Workers Union kaugnay sa ating mga benepisyo at upang pabulaanan ang mga panlilito na ipinakalat ng kabilang unyon (ONAPUP) na kung ang All UP ang mananalo sa Certification Election sa ika-24 ng Oktubre 2007 ay walang signing bonus at o mabale-wala ang ating mga boto.

Plataporma at mga Nagawa: Ito ang Tunay na Isyu ng Kampanya

Ang kampanya sa Certification Election na gaganapin sa ika-24 ng Oktubre 2007 ay nagsimula na noong ika-13 ng Setyembre 2007. Kaagad-agad ang unyon ay nagpalabas ng mga poster para hikayatin ang ating mga kasamahan na iboto ang All UP Workers Union para pag-ibayuhin ang mga nakamit na tagumpay.

Malinaw sa nakalipas na limang taon ang plataporma ng unyon: Ipaglaban ang Sahod, Benipisyo at Karapatan sa mga Kawani ng U.P., ng Buong Pampublikong Sektor at ang Kapakanan ng Sambayanang Pilipino.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit sa usapin ng P3,000.00 na dagdag sahod sa pampublikong kawani at back pay ng COLA ay dinadala natin hanggang sa Malakanyang at Kongreso dahil isyu ito ng buong pampublikong sektor at hindi lamang ng UP o ng PGH. Lumalahok din tayo sa kampanya para itaas ang budget ng pamahalaan para sa kalusugan at edukasyon dahil ito ay mga batayang serbisyo na sinasabi mismo ng ating Konstitusyon na responsibilidad ng pamahalaan at dapat binibigyang prayoridad. Ang UP at PGH ay kabahagi din sa isyung ito kaya dapat lamang na manguna tayo para igiit ito sa ating pamahalaan. Suma total, ang isyu ng bayan para sa maayos na serbisyong panlipunan at matinong pamahalaan ay isyu din natin sa UP at PGH dahil tayo ay sumasalamin lamang sa malawak na lipunan. Hindi tayo isang isla na hiwalay sa pangkalahatan.

Nais din nating ipaala-ala sa ating mga kasamahan na ang ating Collective Negotiation Agreement na pinirmahan nooong ika-19 ng Abril 2002 ay isa sa pinakamaunlad sa buong pampublikong sektor, at nais natin itong pagyamanin pa sa susunod na pakikipag-usap natin sa UP. Katunayan, ang CNA proposal na isinumite noong Pebrero 2007 sa UP Administration ay naglalaman ng mga panukalang itaas ang ating CNA Signing Bonus, mula P5,000.00 tungo sa P20,000.00; ang rice subsidy gagawin nang apat (4) na sako kada taon at hindi nakatali sa P1,000.00 halaga kada sako; libreng bakuna laban sa mga nakakahawang mga sakit, tulad ng flu, TB at Hepatitis; at, marami pang iba, tulad ng pagpapa-igting ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa UP Administration sa pagbubuo ng mga polisiya at programa sa mga kawani at serbisyo sa mamamayan (“involvement” sa halip na “consultation” lamang).

Ang lahat ng ito ay pilit na binabale-wala sa kampanya ng kabilang unyon. Subalit sa mga nakakaalam, sa loob ng limang taon nilang panunungkulan (1995 – 2000), wala man lang silang maipakitang kahit isang butil ng bigas para sa mga kawani, at ang P2,500 na signing bonus noong 1995 ay binawi pa dahil hindi ito nakalagay sa kanilang CNA. Ang masahol, ang kanilang matataas na mga opisyal ay di na nga halos nagrereport sa kani-kanilang opisina ay nagpakasasa pa sa pera ng mga kawani at suportang pinansiyal ng UP.#

Handa Na Ang All U.P. Workers Union Para Sa CERTIFICATION ELECTION (CE) sa Ika-24 ng Oktubre 2007

Sa desisyon ng Bureau of Labor Relations (B.L.R. – D.O.L.E.) nitong unang linggo ng Setyembre 2007, sinabi nito na magkakaroon ng Certification Election sa ating pamantasan (kabilang ang P.G.H.) sa pagitan ng All U.P. Workers Union at sa Organization of Non-Academic Personnel of U.P. (ONAPUP) at/o para sa walang unyon. Tayo sa All U.P. Workers Union ay pinaghahandaan na ang desisyong ito simula pa noong Pebrero 2007.

Kahit na may mga nakalap tayong ebidensiya sa garapalang pandaraya at pamemeke ng pagpapapirma ng kabilang unyon para sa petisyon para sa CE ay napagkaisahan ng National Executive Board na hindi na lang magpresenta pa ng mga testigo dahil magpapatagal lamang ito sa pagdedesisyon ng BLR na magpapatagal din ng anumang mga karagdagang benepisyo na ating makukuha mula sa panibagong Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).

Matatandaang bago magsampa ng petisyon para sa CE ang kabilang union ay nakaapat (4) na beses na tayong nag-uusap ng Negotiating Panel ng U.P. Administration na pinapamunuan ni VP Marvic Leonen (Vice President for Legal Affairs ng UP) at nagkasundo na sa ilang dagdag na benepisyo tulad ng Breastfeeding Leave para sa mga nagpapasusong ina.

Kabilang rin sa ating panukala ay ang signing bonus o CNA Incentive na P20,000.00.

Dahil nga sa petisyon para sa CE na isinampa sa BLR ng kabilang unyon noong ika 17 ng Abril 2007 ay itinigil ang bagong negosasyon; at, ipagpapatuloy natin ito pagkatapos ng eleksiyon sa ika 24 ng Oktubre 2007 at pagkadeklara sa All U.P. Workers Union “bilang sole and exclusive negotiation agent.”

Wala tayong duda na dito sa U.P. Manila at PGH ay patuloy na susuportahan ng mga kawaning rank-and-file ang All U.P. Workers Union dahil naiguhit na natin sa kasaysayan ang maraming nagawa tulad ng rice subsidy, dagdag na special privilege leave, pag-gigiit na maisaayos ang mga proseso sa promosyon at mga kasong administratibo, at pagtatag ng mga istruktura para sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-uusap ng lahat na sektor at ng Administrasyon.

Dagdag pa, sa nakaraang dalawang eleksiyon (1994 at 2001), palaging All U.P. Workers Union ang dinala ng buong UP Manila (kabilang na ang PGH), dahil kahit hindi tayo ang kinikilalang unyon ng mga panahong iyon ay tuloy-tuloy tayong nakikipaglaban para sa sahod, benipisyo at karapatan ng mga ordinaryong kawani, di lamang ng UP kungdi ng buong pampublikong sektor.

PAG-IBAYUHIN ANG MGA NAKAMIT NA TAGUMPAY! IBOTO ANG ALL U.P. WORKERS UNION SA CERTIFICATION ELECTION!

No Excuse

Inquirer Editorial
Last updated 02:04am (Mla time) 09/23/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Haste makes waste -- and lays waste to the cause of good government. It was with apparent haste that reporters were summoned yesterday to hear Trade Secretary Peter Favila and acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera announce the latest instructions from the President: Both the ZTE deal and the Cyber Education Project have been suspended.

This is like the President saying, at 4:40 in the afternoon, she’s issued a decree ordering the sun to set later in the day. Of course, there will be a sunset, but only a fool would attribute it to the President. But the Palace obviously thinks there are plenty of fools. For only foolish minds would confuse the President’s instructions with anything substantial. What has put the ZTE deal on hold took place prior to the President’s issuing her instructions. The deal was put on hold, and remains on hold, because of a TRO issued by the Supreme Court.

Therefore it really doesn’t matter at all, what the President’s instructions are—even with regard to the Cyber Education Project, which we already predicted will be the next focus of congressional and public inquiry. So the obvious thing here is, this is a public relations move, but it does not affect basic government policy.

And we say haste lays waste to good government, because pressed on what government intended to do next, and why the administration suddenly reversed itself on two huge projects, the two secretaries were at a loss for words. Favila simply stated the President told them what to say. Devanadera, obviously less politically suave, then told the media that the ZTE deal was legally defensible; Favila then told the media that the President’s decision was triggered by “bad publicity”—see how it’s basically a PR move?

The question then becomes, will the President’s weekend attempt to take credit for an act of the Supreme Court be enough to defuse tensions? Will it be enough, for example, to maintain the brittle peace within her ruling coalition? Could it stop a potentially explosive Senate hearing on Wednesday, where former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri is due to testify under oath?

Newsbreak has put forward this version of events. The Comelec chair, its report says, approached then Neda chief Neri for “help” with the ZTE deal. Neri replied he’d take a look. Abalos, the report says, took this to mean Neri wasn’t interested, so he quickly said, “There’s 200 for you here.” Neri asked what he meant. Abalos allegedly replied, “200 million.” End of conversation.

Neri, the report says, then went to the President and told her about the offer. When Neri told her that he refused it, the President supposedly told him to forget the money but to approve the deal. Two days later, Neri was removed from the National Economic and Development Authority.

This is a version of events that requires investigation. With both Abalos and Neri scheduled to appear before the Senate, now, more than ever, the hearings should proceed.

The administration pulled out all the stops to try to deflect attention and reduce the focus on the NBN controversy, using fair means and foul. Everything and everyone—from presidential daughter Evangeline “Luli” Arroyo’s display of cattiness, to the AFP chief of staff’s blowhard statements of a destabilization plot and how martial law is a necessary tool in government’s legal arsenal, to this, the latest clumsy move by the President— have been tried.

The Senate then must ponder if it wants to be an accomplice to this effort to sweep things under the rug, or if it will pull the rug out from under the feet of some extremely nervous officials. The President said the ZTE contract would be suspended—“no ifs, ands or buts.” What there should be no ifs, ands or buts about is that the public interest requires a continuation of the Senate hearings.

The hearings themselves, after all, not only subject executive officials to much-needed public scrutiny, they also put the senators under the microscope. This can only be healthy for the body politic. This is what public accountability is all about. May we remind the President of one of her favorite expressions: “Let the chips fall where they may.”

Even at the very desk of the President of the Philippines, if necessary.