LABOR WATCH
A Day in the Lepanto Picketlines
Aside from playing
chess, playing the gong and dancing keep the strikers in high morale.
Solidarity messages from individuals and groups visiting the picket lines
further encourage the strikers to pursue their fight for higher wages and
benefits.
By Northern
Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
MANKAYAN. Benguet
(June 14) - It is the 14th day of the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) strike
and word spreads that the dispersal team is just a few minutes away. The
soldiers are in full battle gear, some strikers say.
The mine workers,
however, though anticipating the inevitable dispersal, do not seem
bothered. At Tubo Gate, where the main picket is, the workers assigned to
man the 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. shift are in high spirits as if there is no
threat of a violent dispersal. An authentic Cordillera gong melody echoes
all over the place coupled with cheers and laughter as miners’ wives dance
to the beat.
Aside from playing
chess, playing the gong and dancing keep the strikers in high morale.
Solidarity messages from individuals and groups visiting the picket lines
further encourage the strikers to pursue their fight for higher wages and
benefits.
Maintaining a
picketline is no joke but with the workers’ determination, cooperation and
overflowing support from other sectors, the five picket areas of LEU
remain strong and alive.
To ensure an
organized picket, LEU assigned an officer as picket commander for every
picketline. The picket commanders ensure the order in the area. Aside from
this, they ensure that food and other supplies are available. They also
coordinate with other picket areas for support and help if needed.
Other workers in the
picketlines have their tasks, too. They take turns to cook, gather fuel,
fetch water and solicit food.
Food, medicine and
other supplies come from donations and solicitations. They distribute all
supplies to the picket areas according to needs.
20
years
Camelio Tuacan, a
board member of LEU, is the picket commander of the first shift at the
Tubo picket. Manong Camelio, 45, married, with five children has spent 20
years of his life serving the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company but
continues to earn meager pay, which, he said, is not enough to provide for
his family.
With P350 a day,
working 26 days a month (excluding rest days), his monthly income is
P9,100. The sadder part is that he does not take home this amount because
of monthly deductions and loan payments.
According to National
Economic Development Authority’s (NEDA) computations, a family of six
needs at least P573 to survive. Manong Camelio, who has a family of seven,
actually earns just half of the amount.
Two of Manong
Camelio’s children are in college. The yearly increase in tuition, and the
relentless price hikes in basic commodities reduced his salary to its
lowest terms. This is why he joined the strike. Just like most of his
co-miners, all he wants is higher wages in order to give his family a
better life.
“Daytoy (strike)
ti maudi a baraha mi tapno maala mi ti dawdawaten a nayon a sweldo ken
dadduma a benepisyo, haan kami a sumanud inggana ited ti kompanya ti
dawdawaten mi” (The strike is our last option to gain our demands for
higher wages and benefits. We will not lift the strike until the
management gives in to our demands), he said. He added that the workers
are only asking what is due them.
Manong Camelio also
disclosed that his family’s support strengthens him. His wife also shares
tasks at the Tubo picketline. Even his children understand the situation.
“Maawatan da met
ken sumupsuportar da. Ni baket ko ket makibantay ditoy piket, no mamingsan
agluto ti kanen dagiti adda ditoy” (My family understands and supports
the strike. In fact my wife also comes to the picket area and sometimes
cook for us), he said. Kim Quitasol for Nordis / Posted by Bulatlat
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