LABOR WATCH
Seafarers Weather Troubled Waters

Despite harassments and threats, seafarers of Sulpicio Lines Inc. and Solid Towage and Lighterage Co., (SLI/STLCI) Inc. were determined to fight against unfair labor practices and successfully launched a two-day nationwide strike that paralyzed 24 of the company’s 27 vessels.

BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Bulatlat.com

The seafarers’ two-day strike was clearly a victory for the union.

Generoso Sasis, president of the Unyon ng mga Mandaragat sa Sulpicio and Solid Towage and Lighterage Inc. (Union of Seafarers in Sulpicio and Solid Towage and Lighterage Inc.¾ UMSS), said they officially lifted their piketlines in all Sulpicio ports July 31 after the union and the management signed a Memorandum of Agreement.

Lawyers Manuel Espina and Dante Vargas, who represented the management, negotiated with UMSS-ANGLO-KMU, which is an affiliate of the Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine Labor Organization (ANGLO) under Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement¾KMU).

The MoA included a no-retaliatory clause for the striking workers.

Edo Edmedorial, secretary general of the union, said that the management promised to address the grievances raised by the workers including the suspension, disembarkation, transfer, and termination of several workers

The administration also pledged to recognize their union as the legitimate seafarers union at Sulpicio.

Two-day strike

Sulpicio Lines ranks third in the domestic shipping lines in the country.  It has 15 passenger ships, nine cargo container ships and three tugboats. The shipping company is owned by shipping tycoon Carlos Go.

The triumphant strike was participated in by more than 700 personnel, paralyzing 24 of the 27 vessels and liners at dawn of July 29, including the Princess of the Universe, one of Sulpicio's largest luxury liners which can accommodate 2,000 passengers.

The Cebu-bound ship was not able to sail because the cabin crew held a protest in the deck.

The strike paralyzed operations in several ports in Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro City, Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Dipolog City, and Manila.

Sasis said “they could no longer endure the severe exploitation being done against them by the Sulpicio management despite their perseverance to improve the quality of their public service.”

Among the issues that the workers were opposing were union busting, illegal suspension and termination of seafarers identified with the union, and discrimination against KMU members, very low wages and scarce benefits, unlawful transfer of work or re-assignments, 12-14 working hours without overtime pay, verbal harassment, and unsafe working conditions in the vessels.

Sasis attributed the anti-worker policies to the conspiracy of the management and the Cebu-based Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP).

He said that ALU-TUCP leaders Michael and Harley Mendoza forged an agreement with the management for a substandard Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) package.

Violence

At around 8:30 a.m. of July 29, hired goons reportedly opened fire at the protesters in Sulpicio main office in Cebu City.

The aggressors even threw several striking seafarers into the sea. KMU-Cebu chairman Jaime Paglinawan, Sulpicio employee Alex Quimpo and a cameraman of a local TV station were among those who were thrown to the sea.

Meanwhile, the union also condemned military's interference in the labor dispute.  Cotabato city mayor and Sulpicio Lines Cotabato branch manager allegedly threatened to deploy Philippine Marines at the picketline.

The seafarers union, however, asserted that even if they were on strike, they have ensured the safety of passengers of the vessels at sea. The workers also allowed the unloading of container vans with military equipment, food and medicines in the Cotabato City port instead of lifting the strike.

“Assumption of Jurisdiction queen”

On the other hand, the union criticized the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) and Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas for allegedly favoring the Sulpicio management.

Sasis claimed that the management legal panel and members of the media were the first to be furnished with a copy of the return to work order DoLE issued than the striking workers.

“Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas once again proved her title as ‘Assumption of Jurisdiction Queen’ with the latest order she issued against the striking seafarers. The return to work order she issued is actually a license to quell the strike and crush the picket line through violent means,” KMU chairperson Elmer Labog said.

Sasis added that even “the meeting facilitated by NCMB Arbiter Wilfredo Rojo failed to give significant solutions” to their grievances.

Support

Meanwhile, the union appreciated individuals and organizations that supported their battle.

Kim Scipes¾author of KMU: Building Genuine Trade Unionism in the Philippines, 1980 – 1994, Nepal’s GEFONT, International League of People's Struggle (ILPS) - Turkish Section, Philippine – Australia Union Links and the KMU-Quezon City chapter were among those that sent solidarity messages. These support messages, the union said, have been an inspiration to the workers.

“This is an important victory not just for Sulpicio seafarers but also for all sea-based workers in other shipping lines. Our struggle will be a motivation for other seafarers to assert their just demands,” Elmedorial said. “We challenge the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure the implementation of the agreed provisions in the MoA.” Bulatlat.com

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