LABOR WATCH

Rustan’s Employees Go on Strike

For several years, Rustan’s which used to lord over the retail trade industry, had its thousands of workers suffer the hardship of low pay, lack of benefits and – of all violations – a no-union policy. Unable to bear it anymore, workers went on strike last week – just a few days after leader ShoeMart’s thousands of employes announced their strike.

By Ronalyn Olea 
Bulatlat.com

Rustan’s is second to ShoeMart in over-all ranking of department stores.  Perhaps, this also includes the handling of labor disputes by both managements.

Few weeks after the SM workers went on strike, employees of the Rustan’s Commercial Corporation (RCC) followed suit last April 4.  Like in the case of their SM counterparts, Rustan’s employees also complain low wage, unfair labor practices and repression.

On the eve of the strike, eight were arrested, four of whom were detained at the Mandaluyong City Hall as the police dispersed the ribbon-wearing activity of the Rustan’s employees in front of Rustan’s Tower.

Detained were Robert Abastillas from Cubao branch, Ricky Ereste, Willy Casin and Glenn Bautista from Rustan’s Tower.

Employees who joined the ribbon-wearing were banned from entering the store.  Raul Calvento, president of Rustan’s Democratic Employees Union (RDEU), said the incident is a clear case of illegal lockout. 

No union for 52 years

For 52 years, Rustan’s workers were deprived of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).  The management put up the Rustan’s Employees Council (REC) to settle issues on wage and labor disputes.

Most of the sales associates, store clerks and cashiers who have worked for the company for almost nine years receive P270 to P280 a day.

Tess Ababa, a sales associate in Makati branch for 11 years, receives only P270 a day.

The management also failed to implement the Department of Labor and Employment’s Wage Orders 7 (P25 hike), 8 (P26.50 hike) and 9 (P30 emergency cost of living allowance).  

Calvento said the management suppresses every effort in union organizing.  Until now, Rustan’s owner Bienvinido Tantoco refuses to recognize the RDEU.

Calvento also complained about the lack of benefits like vacation leave, sick leave, rice subsidy, health care and other incentives.  Other “benefits” such as the employees’ death aid and tragic event assistance come from employees contribution.

Illegal retrenchment and contractualization

Dina Caturan, a sales clerk and the RDEU secretary, said “Nagtayo kami ng unyon dahil nanganganib ang aming tabaho” (We formed a union because of the threat to our job security).

Caturan said the management illegally retrenched more than 200 employees last 2001.  “Tinanggal sila ng walang dahilan at walang due process” (They were fired without reasons and without due process).   

Jojo Monta, union executive vice president, complained of the quota system imposed by the management.  Monta said employees were forced to sign a contact in the guise of performance management system. 

“Kapag di namin naabot ang quota, may disciplinary actions gaya ng transfer, demotion at ang masaklap, termination. Para na rin kaming kontraktwal” (When we fail to reach the quota, there will be disciplinary actions such as transfer, demotion and worse, termination.  We are no different from contractuals).said Monta.

Boycott

Rustan’s employees called on the public to support their struggle by boycotting Rustan’s Supermarkets, Rustan’s Marketing Corporation, Rustan’s Supercenters, Inc. Shopwise, Royal Duty Free Subic Clark.

Rustan’s also acquired an exclusive contact to franchise Starbucks Cafe.   

Rustan’s hires more than a thousand workers; 400 are union-members. 

In 2000, Rustan’s was 53^rd in the top 1,000 corporations in the Philippines. It has seven branches in the country and one in Morocco. Bulatlat.com
 

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