NEWS AT A GLANCE

Activist-solon slams call for 10-year strike ban

Bayan Muna Representative Crispin Beltran recently denounced the call of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (FFCCC) for a 10-year strike ban.

The FCCI is seeking a deal with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration wherein the FFCCC's members will supposedly generate three million jobs in the next 12 to 22 months in exchange for a nationwide ban on strikes for at least 10 years.

"The FFCCI and the Macapagal-Arroyo administration cannot forge a deal such as this. Workers' right to strike is non-negotiable, and the Macapagal-Arroyo cannot compromise this under any circumstance,” Beltran said.

The activist solon also denounced the suggestion of FFCCC President Robin Sy that the government allow businesses to pay apprenticeship salaries to newly-hired workers until they gain expertise in their jobs. “Employers are only using the expertise issue as an excuse to cut down on labor costs, and to further exploit workers."  

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Church group urges solons to junk anti-terror bill

The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) appealed to lawmakers and government leaders to junk the anti-terror bill now pending in Congress. It reportedly ‘contains many provisions that seriously violate fundamental human rights and civil liberties.’

PCPR spokesperson Rev. Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, OFM, decried that after the government declared Davao City under a state of lawlessness, Moro leaders were abducted and Muslim communities were put under surveillance.  Arcebuche also condemned the recent raid of a Muslim village called Talomo by Task Force Davao.

“These and countless cases of human rights violations have been committed by law enforcers in the name of ‘war on terror,’” Arcebuche wrote in an open letter.  “We fear that the worst is yet to come with the passage of the anti-terror bill and other repressive measures that shall legitimize warrantless arrests and other human rights violations.”

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Protest marks Earth Day

In commemoration of the Earth Day, about 200 environmentalists held a rally in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), April 22. 

The Southern Tagalog Environmental Action Movement (STEAM) expressed concern over the plan of the Arroyo government to start CALABARZON-like projects in war-torn Mindanao. CALABARZON stands for Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, all Southern Tagalog provinces and is the name of a development plan that according to militants are bringing greater woes to residents.

Dr. Jun Saturay, STEAM executive director, claimed that CALABARZON paved the way for land grabbing by foreign entities and construction of multinational corporate plants and factories to the detriment of the people.

Saturay also said more than 15 power plants located in Southern Tagalog are hazardous to the environment while at the same time enjoy tax immunity and contracts that guarantee them mega-profits.

STEAM also opposes the emergence of waste landfill sites. It is closely monitoring, among others, the MMDA-planned landfill along the boundary of Tiaong and  Candelaria, Quezon and the waste recycling plant and landfill project in  Pakil, Laguna. 

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Workers take on gates as Nestle management refuses to negotiate 

CABUYAO, Laguna--About 300 workers of Nestle Cabuyao plant, together with members of Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan  (PAMANTIK-KMU) demonstrated in front of the factory gates to compel the management to return to the negotiating table.

In February, the Court of Appeals ordered the resumption of collective bargaining negotiations. The decision also stated that the retirement benefits are a mandatory issue in the negotiations, as affirmed by the Supreme Court and National Labor Relations Commission’s earlier declarations.  The Nestle management, however, filed a motion for reconsideration.

“If we have to return barricades in front of factory gates to pressure them to negotiate immediately, we will,” said Diosdado Fortuna, president of Union of Filipino Employees in Nestle and chairman of PAMANTIK-KMU. 

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Consumers want balance inquiries free

Consumer network Textpower recently urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and other concerned government agencies and officials to rescue consumers from “the country’s meanest cellular company.” 

Smart will start charging P1 each for balance inquiry using 1515.

“Smart will reap millions, if not billions more, in obscene profits out of balance inquiries from about nine million budget-conscious consumers,” said Anthony Ian Cruz, Textpower spokesperson.

Smart's net income reportedly increased by 74 percent from P3.5-billion in 2001 to P6.3-billion in 2002. Its revenues allegedly went up from P24-billion to P33-billion.

"As consumers, we have every right to check the outstanding balance of our prepaid credits at our convenience,” Cruz said.

Bulatlat.com

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