TUCCP Essay

Road Revolution proponents seek ‘partial closure’ of Osmeña Blvd. on Oct. 23

Posted on September 26, 2011 by siteadmin

1 Comment and 2 Reactions

Proponents of the Road Revolution, a movement that seeks the transformation of roads to give more space to pedestrians and bikers, are seeking a partial closure of Osmeña Blvd. On Oct. 23.

The request came after last Saturday’s closure of Colon St. and parts of downtown Cebu City. The traffic gridlock caused by the closure generated criticisms from several people.

Ramon Magsaysay awardee Antonio Oposa, according to a Cebu Daily News report, admitted the need for better prepration and a longer time to alert the public

“Rest assured that despite setbacks, we are determined to illustrate the working principles of what we are trying to advance – sharing of public space,” Oposa said in the report.

Road Revolution proponents seek ‘partial closure’ of Osmeña Blvd. on Oct. 23


Proponents of the Road Revolution, a movement that seeks the transformation of roads to give more space to pedestrians and bikers, are seeking a partial closure of Osmeña Blvd. On Oct. 23.

The request came after last Saturday’s closure of Colon St. and parts of downtown Cebu City. The traffic gridlock caused by the closure generated criticisms from several people.

Ramon Magsaysay awardee Antonio Oposa, according to a Cebu Daily News report, admitted the need for better prepration and a longer time to alert the public.

“Rest assured that despite setbacks, we are determined to illustrate the working principles of what we are trying to advance – sharing of public space,” Oposa said in the report.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) chairman Sylvan Jakosalem said the Oct. 23 activitty might have less complaints because vehicles can still use the main road. Jakosalem said he will meet the Citom board on Thursday to discuss the application. He said he also wanted the Cebu City council involved on the discussion.

For the full story, read Cebu Daily News: Osmeña Blvd next Road Revo target

In its editorial, Cebu Daily News said people shouldn’t let the complainst against last Saturday’s road closure “stop a bold experiment to reclaim streets from disorderly, polluting car-crazy traffic.”

The paper said what happened is part of the learning curve and “the problems are not beyond correction.”

“Whatever the inconvenience, this is a ride we should dare to take.”

For the full editorial, read in Cebu Daily News: Birth pains on the road

Groups seek action on ‘very high’ power rates

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Philippine Steelmakers Association, Foundation for Economic Freedom and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines party-list are asking the Aquino administration to do something about the “very high” power rates in the country.

“There appears to be no specific and strong action program or road map coming from the executive department” to address rising power rates and supply problems in Mindanao, the groups said in a joint statement, Sun.Star Cebu reported today.

The Associated Labor Unions said power rates in the contry account for 11 percent of workers’ monthly income.

“If power rates are left alone to escalate, then we shall surely create what the United Nations describes as ‘energy poverty,’ which is the result of taking away food from the tables of the poor and labor, on account of power costs,” they said in their joint statement.

“This could trigger an eventual call for a wage increase.”

For the full story, read Sun.Star Cebu: Action sought on power rate

Crew member of getaway boat found dead

A member of the crew of the boat used by robbery suspect Dionisio “Jun-Jun” Cabando to escape to Bohol after a foiled robbery in Fuente Osmeña was found floating in the seawaters of Sitio Salvador, Barangay Tangke, Talisay City last Saturday afternoon.

Antonio Balingit, 50, a fisherman was found dead but Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, chief of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch, would not say yet whether his is related to Cabando’s escape, The Freeman reported today.

Santander told the paper that initial examination showed no signs of fould play but clarified that they still needed to wait for autopsy results.

For the story, read The Freeman: Crew of getaway boat found dead

‘Only Malacañang, Supreme Court can stop flyover construction’

Only Malacañang or the Supreme Court can stop the construction of two new flyovers in Cebu City, said former Cebu City congressman Raul del Mar and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 legal officer Agustinito Hermoso.

Del Mar told radio station dySS that WT Construction won the bidding for the P50-million substructure of the flyover on M.J. Cuenco Ave., while WTG Construction won the bidding for the P60-million superstructure of the Gorordo Ave. flyover, Sun.Star Cebu reported.

Mayor Michael Rama, however, wants the DPWH to put on hold the construction of the flyovers, pending the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 technical working group’s review of the project.

Nuns in the Asilo dela Milgarosa, however, have scheduled dawn prayers in a bid to stop the construction, which they said will destroy the solemnity of the place.

Cebu Daily News reported that starting Oct. l, nuns will hold dawn rosaries in the chapel for nine consecutive Saturdays to pray for “discernment.” The prayers will we held at 4 a.m. and will be open to the public.

For the stories, read:

Sun.Star Cebu: Flyovers to start soon but mayor appeals for time

Cebu Daily News: Can prayers halt work?

Cebu City to spend P15M for white sand beach at SRP

The Cebu City Government will spend P15 million for the construction of an artifical white sand beach at the South Road Properties (SRP), Sun.Star Cebu reported today.

The 1.4-kilometer white sand beachfront of Kawit Point was patterned after the artificial white sand beach in Singapore, the paper said.

Cebu City Representative and former mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said the man-made beach will raise the value of SRP lots.

“Once the projects at the waterfront area are completed, the mayor said the value of the SRP lots could double. The lots are pegged at P15,000 to P20,000 per square meter at present,” Sun.Star Cebu reported.

For the full story, read: Cebu City to spend over P30M for a white sand beach, facilities at SRP

And speaking of the SRP, a 10-kilo barracuda was reportedly caught from its Pond A, Cebu Daily News said.

The paper said businessman Vincent Tiu caught the fish in the same spot where he caught an 8-killo mullet last year.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district said his friend Bruno Gonzales sought permission last week to catch a barracuda known to live in Pond A. It was later cooked.

“I cannot give permission to open it to the public as a means of recreation and a place to hang out,” Osmeña said.

For the full story, read Cebu Daily News: Barracuda caught in SRP pond.

Mountain barangay students make City condo their home

The Cebu City Condominium, which was built for the urban poor, now houses 576 students from the mountain barangays. The facility was built in 1996 but for years, state auditors have repeatedly pointed out alleged irregularities in its construction and the failure by City Hall to put it to its intended use.

Sun.Star Cebu reported today that the facility on N. Bacalso Ave. now houses students from poor families in mountain barangays.

“For a monthly rent of P350, which includes water and electricity, the facility eases the burden of the students’ parents, most of whom are farmers in the mountain villages,” the paper said.

http://cebujournal.com/article/cebu-road-revolution-closure/#more-278


[Documents menu] Documents menu

Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 22:47:07 -0500 (CDT)

From: [email protected] (Rich Winkel)

Organization: PACH

Subject: ICFTU Philippines TUCP Organizes Garment Workers In EPZ

Article: 63699

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Message-ID: <[email protected]>

/** labr.global: 327.0 **/

** Topic: ICFTU Philippines TUCP Organizes Garment Workers In EPZ **

** Written 4:49 AM May 8, 1999 by [email protected] in cdp:labr.global **

----------- Begin Forwarded Message -----------

Date: 05/07 10:28 AM

From: Press, [email protected]

To: ++Online English, [email protected]

Taking companies at their word

ICFTU Online... 090/990507/LD, 7 May 1999

Codes of conduct are more often than not mere public relations exercises by companies anxious to polish their image in the eyes of public opinion and consumers. The best codes acknowledge all of the fundamental rights of workers including the right to join trade unions and to bargain collectively. Yet much depends on how unions and workers make use of them to organise and to put pressure on companies to keep their word. Here is an example from the Philippines.

Brussels, May 7 1999 (ICFTU OnLine): The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, TUCP, successfully used a code of conduct adopted by a multinational enterprise, for organising a union among 275 workers (all but 47 women) in Monasteria Knitting, Inc. The company operates in the Bataan Export Processing Zone, the country's largest, located in a deprived region 150 km from the capital Manila, and supplies knitwear sweaters to the US and Europe.

Typically, the company resisted the local union from day one, warning workers that its buyers would cancel their contracts if they learned that a union was being organised. This was not a mere threat. The first attempt at organising workers at the Monasteria Knitting Inc. back in 1991 resulted in the company's closure for a year. This time the union decided to take the buyers at their word. Organisers, schooled in codes of conduct by the TUCP, convinced local workers and the management that if buyers, which included the GAP company, learned that Monasteria Knitting was violating their own codes of conduct, they would cancel their contracts with the local supplier. A blitz organising programme which fielded 3-4 organisers, supported by youth and other community groups made the difference. The workers, assured of the effect of codes of conduct, remain loyal to the union throughout three weeks of forced leave, which started the day after the union was registered on February 8. The company reacted angrily: 63 union activists were either transferred or retrenched. But after one week of protest action and a five-day strike last month, Monasteria Knitting eventually backed down and recognised the union, reinstating all dismissed activists.

Organising in the export processing zones is a priority challenge for the TUCP. The TUCP strategy is based on research initiated in 1994 with support from the Brussels-based ICFTU and its Asian and Pacific Regional Organisation (Apro). In a major offensive to win members the union has experimented with a new recruitment tactic. "The fact that trade unions are banned in the factories in the export processing zone makes it impossible to recruit at the workplace. We therefore struck on the idea of contacting workers by knocking on their doors at home, outside working hours," Alex Aguilar, the TUC's director of information explains. "In 1996-97, TUCP was creating one new trade union a month in the export processing zones". Often by taking employers at their own word.

Export processing zones first appeared in the Philippines in the 1970s, but really mushroomed in the 1980s. Today, 100 such zones exist, 53 of them active, scattered among the many islands of the country. The sums of money invested, export volumes, employment statistics ... every indicator points to the giddying success of this formula. In 1997, investors poured over 159,752 million Philippine pesos into these zones, 144% more than in 1996. It is estimated that about 200,000 workers work in EPZs, most of them young women.

Contact: ICFTU-Press at: ++32-2 224.02.12 (Brussels). For more information, visit our website at: (http://www.icftu.org).

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/155.html



Philippines union seeks 12 percent wage rise

AFP, Saturday 25 May 2002, 11:06 AM

The Philippines' largest trade union called for a 12 percent increase in the minimum daily wage of 250 pesos (about five dollars).

"The wages of the workers are very low. We need an increase now," Trade Union Congress of the Philippines chairman Democrito Mendoza told DZBB radio here on Saturday.

The lowest wage earners in Manila earn between 250 and 290 pesos a day, while workers outside the capital earn even less. The World Bank said more than 45 percent of the Philippines' population of nearly 80 million earn less than two dollars a day.

Mendoza said Filipino workers need a 30-peso increase, "nothing less".

More than one-fourth of the labor force are unemployed or under-employed—having part-time jobs that add up to less than 40 hours a week.

Copyright © 2002 AFP. All rights reserved.



ICFTU Deplores Terrorist Attack of Davao

ICFTU Online..., 6 March 2003


Brussels, 6 March 2003 (ICFTU OnLine): In a message of solidarity to its Philippines affiliates the TUCP, the ICFTU has expressed its abhorrence of the bomb attack on Davao City airport in Mindanao, in which more than 20 people were killed and at least 150 injured.

ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder reiterated the Confederation's utter condemnation of terrorist attacks and said that the international union movement "condemns those who seek to gain advantage through vicious and cowardly actions of this type."

"Once again", Ryder added "innocent people, including working women and men and members of their families have fallen victim to the actions of those who have no respect for human life."

The ICFTU represents 158 million workers in 231 affiliated organisations in 150 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org

For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2 224 0232.

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions(ICFTU) Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5, B1, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium. For more information please contact ICFTU Press on: +32 (2) 224 0232 - [email protected]



No pay hike appeal for workers

By Mayen Jaymalin, The Philippine Star, 6 November 2003

Workers nationwide are not getting any wage increase, at least for this year, as organized labor opted anew to abandon the annual tradition of seeking salary adjustments.


Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s biggest labor group, said all their affiliate unions are not filing any wage increase petition this year due to the prevailing economic slump.

"We believe it is not reasonable to file wage petitions before the different Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) given the economic condition at this time," TUCP spokesman Alex Aguilar said.

Aguilar added that not even the latest increase in prices of oil and other petroleum products would prompt TUCP and their affiliate unions to seek wage increase this year.

"Inflation that affects the purchasing power of the peso is our primary consideration in seeking wage increase and not increase in oil prices," Aguilar explained.

But he noted that they would continue assessing the economic situation and decide whether to finally seek adjustments for workers wages early next year.

Last year, the Labor Solidarity Movement (LSM) and TUCP also deferred the filing of formal wage petitions before RTWPBs until a substantial improvement in the economy is seen.

In 2001, the RTWPB in the National Capital Region (NCR) granted a P30 increase to the prevailing P250 minimum wage rate of workers in the region. The wage board granted the increase in response to the petition of the LSM for a P70 daily wage hike for Metro Manila workers.

The different wage boards nationwide are mandated to review current salary levels and may grant salary adjustments even without a formal wage petition.

But the wage boards very rarely grant a wage increase "motu propio" or without a formal wage petition.

Copyright© Philstar.com, Inc

All rights reserved



GMA, ALU swap endorsements

By Allan I. Varquez, Sun.Star Staff Reporter With Minerva B. Gerodias, Sun.Star, Sunday 18 April 2004

PRESIDENT Arroyo flew to Cebu yesterday for the anniversary of a homegrown federation of trade unions and was rewarded with a pledge of support for the May 10 elections.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) announced its support for Arroyo's bid for a fresh mandate, citing her administration's work in housing and employment.

Arroyo, for her part, assured support for the moderate labor group's bid to land a seat in Congress through the party-list system.

"Kamo gyud ang kauban sa coalition sa K-4 and this year, in your 50th anniversary, (I hope) the golden gift of the people for you is your joining Congress," she said in her speech.

She said she considers TUCP a "full partner" in the coalition that is supporting her candidacy, and in part credits the creation of "one million new jobs every year" during her term to ALU's "understanding of the world and regional situations and their responsible unionism."

She said ALU was unlike other groups that made excessive demands, but did not comment on the labor group's petition, filed last week in Cebu, to seek a P50 increase in the daily minimum wage.


"Kamo sa ALU dili gyod mohimo ug unreasonable demands kay ang inyong gusto madaghan ang trabaho (ALU does not make unreasonable demands because you want to create more jobs)," Arroyo said.

At least one battalion of police and military personnel was sent to the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City yesterday afternoon for the President's visit.

Her declaration of K4's alliance with the labor group came after ALU-TUCP national executive vice president Cecilio Seno read to her their manifesto of support for her candidacy.

After the manifesto was read, ALU officials and members stood up, chanting, "GMA! GMA!"

Arroyo also solicited support for her senatorial slate although only Sen. Robert Jaworski stayed to listen to her speech.

Most of the K4 senatorial candidates made themselves visible in the gathering before Arroyo arrived at the hotel about 6 last night with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Reps. Antonio Cuenco and Raul del Mar.

After her speech, Arroyo proceeded to a room on the sixth floor where she had a one-on-one interview with newspaper columnist and TV host Valeriano Avila.

If she gets a full six-year term, Arroyo promised to create one million jobs a year, help the self-employed, provide potable water for all barangays, lower the power rate in 1,500 barangays, cut the price of medicine by half and build 3,000 school buildings, each with a computer center.

She also told Avila that she favors a federal or a parliamentary form of government.

ALU-TUCP national president Democrito Mendoza urged members in a speech to vote only for those who support their cause and Arroyo, who, he said, was always with them.

He said unity, camaraderie, brotherhood and solidarity have been the hallmark of the federation and these will be the same ideals that each member will live by.

"Our struggle is a never-ending one. For as long as there are workers, there are rights that need to be upheld and protected. For as long as there are employers who blatantly shut their ears to the demands, there will be a need to raise our voices even higher, and for as long as inequity reigns in our land, ALU will continue to fight," he said, to the applause of the crowd.

© Copyright 2002 - 2004 Sun.Star Publishing, Inc.


‘Power struggle’ in TUCP worsens

*

| More |

By Elias O. Baquero

Monday, January 30, 2012

A PARTY-LIST representative yesterday said he believes that the motive of former senator Ernesto Herrera in trying to take over the compound of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) in Quezon City last Jan. 25 was to get hold of the financial records of his handling of the federation’s grants and general funds.

“We believe that he (Herrera) intended to whitewash his involvement in the handling of these funds,” said TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza.


Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

He said the initial external audit showed that Herrera cannot account for the P2.5-million livelihood funds for workers provided by the Department of Labor and Employment.

Because of the arrival of the Quezon City police, Herrera’s attempt to take over the compound without any authority from the general council was thwarted, Raymond said.

Herrera, however, called up Sun.Star Cebu and clarified that he is the current legal president of TUCP.

He accused Raymond and his brother Michael, who is the president of the Associated Labor Union (ALU)-TUCP, as the ones who took over the compound using their goons.

According to records, Democrito “Kito” Mendoza, 89, the congressman’s father, resigned as TUCP president effective Nov. 1 last year because of his old age. His resignation was approved by the TUCP executive board on Nov. 9.

“The reason why I became the legal president of TUCP is that under our Constitution and by-laws, the general secretary is the automatic successor once the president resigns. I was the general secretary, duly elected in a convention,” Herrera said.

Herrera said that he even advised Democrito to defer his resignation. But the older Mendoza pushed through with his resignation.

“I can see that Kito wanted to rest. That’s why he resigned effective Nov. 1, 2011. But the problem is that his sons, especially Raymond and Michael, forced him to reassume his old post,” Herrera said.

In a separate statement, Democrito said that TUCP, which he co-founded with Cecilio Seno, condemned the series of illegitimate acts and attempts of Herrera to grab power by insisting that he is the president of TUCP.

“His irrational behavior magnified his embarrassing fall from grace. His actions show a reckless disregard in upholding the interest of the TUCP, as he attempts to drag the entire organization into the mud with him,” Democrito said, adding that he apologized for the confusion caused by Herrera.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 30, 2012.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2012/01/30/power-struggle-tucp-worsens-203289

Listen Live

TUCP, ibinabala ang pagtataas ng presyo ng mga bilihin!

2012-Mar-21 - Wednesday ~ 12:30:12 PM

Ibinbabala ng Trade Union Congress of the Philippines o TUCP na hindi malayong magtaas ang presyo ng mga bilihin matapos ipatupad ang limampung sentimong provisional increase sa pasahe sa jeep ngayong araw.

Ayon sa TUCP , nakakabawas sa purchasing power ng mga Pilipino ang naturang taas sa pasahe gayong hindi naman anila tumataas ang sahod ng mga manggagawa.

Binigyang diin ng TUCP na milyon-milyong minimum wage earners ang pihadong maaapektuhan ng taas pasahe habang patuloy din sa pagtaas ang presyo ng mga bilihin, langis at serbisyo.

Dahil dito, umapela sa pamahalaan ang TUCP na ipagkaloob na sa mga manggagawa ang siyamnapung pisong umento sa sahod.

Written by: R.U. Obina


Listen Live

http://www.dwiz882.com/fullarticle.php?articlenum=10621

‘Power struggle’ in TUCP worsens

*

| More |

By Elias O. Baquero

Monday, January 30, 2012

A PARTY-LIST representative yesterday said he believes that the motive of former senator Ernesto Herrera in trying to take over the compound of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) in Quezon City last Jan. 25 was to get hold of the financial records of his handling of the federation’s grants and general funds.

“We believe that he (Herrera) intended to whitewash his involvement in the handling of these funds,” said TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

He said the initial external audit showed that Herrera cannot account for the P2.5-million livelihood funds for workers provided by the Department of Labor and Employment.

Because of the arrival of the Quezon City police, Herrera’s attempt to take over the compound without any authority from the general council was thwarted, Raymond said.

http://www.dwiz882.com/fullarticle.php?articlenum=10621

Herrera, however, called up Sun.Star Cebu and clarified that he is the current legal president of TUCP.

He accused Raymond and his brother Michael, who is the president of the Associated Labor Union (ALU)-TUCP, as the ones who took over the compound using their goons.

According to records, Democrito “Kito” Mendoza, 89, the congressman’s father, resigned as TUCP president effective Nov. 1 last year because of his old age. His resignation was approved by the TUCP executive board on Nov. 9.

“The reason why I became the legal president of TUCP is that under our Constitution and by-laws, the general secretary is the automatic successor once the president resigns. I was the general secretary, duly elected in a convention,” Herrera said.

Herrera said that he even advised Democrito to defer his resignation. But the older Mendoza pushed through with his resignation.

“I can see that Kito wanted to rest. That’s why he resigned effective Nov. 1, 2011. But the problem is that his sons, especially Raymond and Michael, forced him to reassume his old post,” Herrera said.

In a separate statement, Democrito said that TUCP, which he co-founded with Cecilio Seno, condemned the series of illegitimate acts and attempts of Herrera to grab power by insisting that he is the president of TUCP.

“His irrational behavior magnified his embarrassing fall from grace. His actions show a reckless disregard in upholding the interest of the TUCP, as he attempts to drag the entire organization into the mud with him,” Democrito said, adding that he apologized for the confusion caused by Herrera.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 30, 2012.


* Youth

Aug 28, 2008

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is up in arms…

Rene Martel

The Manila Times

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is up in arms (and with every reason) over the government’s plan to require every Filipino seeking overseas employment as a domestic helper to first pass a mandatory psychiatric test before they may qualify for recruitment.

“The proposal is downright ridiculous. The number of foreign-bound Filipino domestic helpers with potential psychiatric issues is insignificant compared to the overall volume,” lamented former Senator Ernesto Herrera, TUCP general secretary.

“Some abusive employers resort to basically detaining their domestic staff, and denying them normal access to the outside world. Naturally, the maids risk developing behavioral issues over time,” added Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) has “strongly recommended” the mandatory psychiatric test to the governing board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

The OUMWA, created by the 1995 Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, made the recommendation after it gathered that seven out of 10 Filipino maids on death row in the Middle East have had a history of mental illness.


Herrera, however, doubts that any psychiatric test could be properly administered on a large scale, considering the volume of outbound Filipino domestic staff.

He suspects that unscrupulous recruiters and their patrons in the bureaucracy are simply looking to make extra money out of the psychiatric tests, at the expense of domestic helpers.

Every month, the Philippines deploys some 8,500 domestic helpers to various countries around the world. Their top destinations are Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East.

[email protected]

http://fromthenews.net/the-trade-union-congress-of-the-philippines-is-up-in-arms.htmn