This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 30, September 4-10, 2005
Progressive Solons
Back Lepanto Mines Strike
After deliberating on the
impeachment complaint, is it possible that the House of Representatives will now
discuss an issue as local as the plight of striking workers at the Lepanto
Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo)? Progressive lawmakers hope so.
BY ABIGAIL BENGWAYAN BAGUIO CITY — Party-list
groups Bayan Muna (BM, or People First), Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) and
Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Aug. 29 filed House Resolution No. 923 calling on the
House of Representatives Committee on Labor and Employment to conduct an inquiry
in “aid of legislation into the unfair labor practices of (LCMCo) including the
harassment, physical violence, arbitrary arrests and detention being made
against their 1,685 striking workers.” Reps. Crispin Beltran and
Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis); Liza Maza (GWP); Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador and
Teodoro Casiño (BM) said in the resolution that the Lepanto management has
clearly violated numerous provisions of the Labor Code that “afford full
protection to labor and assure the rights of workers to form unions, to
collective bargaining and to strike.” They added that the mining company
violated Article II, Section 18 of the Constitution which provides that the
State shall protect the rights and welfare of workers. The House committee was
urged to come up with measures to protect the rights of the workers who have
been on strike for three months and are facing harassment and intimidation
reportedly by the national police and the management. To date, the Lepanto
management has refused to reinstate the dismissed union officers as demanded by
the strikers. Lepanto Employees Union
(LEU) president Ninian Lang-agan said that he was grateful to the three
party-list groups. He said their move proved that they are genuinely upholding
the rights and welfare of their constituents. He hopes that the
resolution will be approved by the House and that the inquiry will be fruitful.
A local community newspaper
also reported that lawyer Weldy Manlong, LCMCo operations manager, welcomed the
resolution. With reports from Kim Quitasol / Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat