February 13, 2014
The Carmen Copper Corporation
(CCC) management is creating a scenario similar to the 1980’s. An all-out
attack against workers and repression of the labor union are in progress right
now. But just as in the 1980’s, the old union called PAMA survived and won, we
will again prove to the management that they have picked the wrong fight. We,
the entire 3,000-strong membership of PAMCC, will stand our ground and we will
prevail. It is because history is on our side.
It is our time to counter and fight
back with all the means available to us. We will strike where it will hurt the
most. Today we filed a Notice of Strike (NOS) before the NCMB on the grounds of
CBA violations and unfair labor practices. We will respect the cooling off
period but after that we will hold a strike! This will be a winner take all
battle, its either us who will surrender or them. This is our demand. We’ve
been here before and we’ve done this before. PAMA then is the PAMCC now.
During the rehabilitation
stage of our Company, we fully cooperated in order for recovery to proceed.
Indeed, from 2007 to 2012 not a single labor dispute took place. A harmonious
relationship between labor and management existed at that time. Even though the
salary was meager compared to the industry standard, we endured the sacrifice n
the spirit of rehabilitation. In short, we let ourselves be used by the
management in order for the company to take off.
CCC did take off
after 5 years, earning P800 million pesos per shipment. The company was able to
attract new investments like the Henry Sy group. CCC kept on expanding its
operations with the workforce growing continuously.
But the management
wants more from us. To further boost profit, the management must get rid of the
genuine workers union – the PAMCC. At the final stage of rehabilitation, the
management organized, supported and funded a company union – the CCWLO. It
became clear that the last phase of rehabilitation meant busting the genuine
union! But the management did not succeed because their own creation exploded
in front of their face. CCWLO registration was cancelled and delisted from the
roster of legitimate labor organizations.
The Management
wants more from us. Little by little they are taking back the welfare and
benefits enjoyed by the workers under our collective bargaining agreement
(CBA). Medicine allowances are limited to only P6,000 per year. The next of kin
provision on hiring of new employees is not being followed and instead workers
not related to any of the union members are hired. Wage discrimination is
rampant. Issuance of company uniforms are overdue. The Mining Act of 1995 is
blatantly violated, specifically on priority hiring of residents of barangays affected
by mining. Finally a double standard exists on the implementation of company
rules specifically on AWOL cases.
The management
wants more from us. Little by little they are contracting out jobs in the mine
site that are necessary and desirable to the business of CCC while casual
employees remain even beyond the six months of continued service in the
company.
PAMCC will not take
this sitting down. We will resist and fight back. There is no choice left to us
but to end the 5 years of “harmonious relationship” between PAMCC and CCC. So
far, We have been able to defend our ranks from the attacks of management but
they are becoming more hard-headed and unreasonable.
Last year, management used the PNP
to harass our leaders by conducting two illegal raids in the house and office
of our union president and union treasurer. The raiding team planted explosives
and ammunitions as manufactured evidence for the filing of criminal cases
against our two union leaders. But the objective of their harassment was a
complete failure. Our two leaders further deepened their resolve to fight for
our union and workers. We raised the issue before the ILO, government agencies
and human rights groups.
Two weeks ago, management used the
DOJ thru the hoodlums in robe in the Toledo RTC to issue a warrant of arrest
against our two leaders. This judge violated all protocols and process on
issuing the warrants. Again, this will not succeed because all the charges are
fabricated and therefore will be dismissed in due time.
We will be demonized by the
management through its paid hacks in the media. That is why we are doing this
media conference so that the public would understand us, the issues involved
and why did we arrived at this decision.
PANAGHIUSA SA MAMUMUO
SA CARMEN COPPER – ASSOCIATION OF GENUINE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS – PARTIDO NG
MANGGAGAWA (PAMCC-AGLO-PM)
MEMBER: NAGKAISA
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