USC Admin Faces Protesters

●Last Monday, non-teaching workers held a protest outside the university alleging that they were illegally dismissed by the school.

The twenty-one workers from the general services office of the University of San Carlos (USC) Talamban Campus who staged a strike in front of the university gate since Monday, finally met university official on Wednesday.

Last Monday morning, workers expresses dissent against the school outside the university alleging that they were illegally dismissed by the university following its decision to close down the general services office. They bear streamers and placards that informs the public that “they are on strike due to union-busting.”

On Wednesday, representatives both from the protesting workers and the university held a meeting at the office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-7. Juvicito Contratista, President of General Services Union, represented the workers, while Fr. Eleno Bucia for USC.

Contratista said he raised during the meeting their only request which is to get back to their regular work. However, Fr. Bucia said he still has to bring the issue in an emergency meeting with the university administration to be held later that day.

After their initial talks, representatives of the parties said the negotiation will continue Thursday morning in the same office.

Board Decision

Last September 2013, the school’s board of trustees unanimously passed a resolution that “phases out” the said office whose effectivity was scheduled on May 2014. The university closed the services department pursuant to the implementation of K to 12 program under RA 10533 or The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which the school has projected to cause decrease in its enrollment.

Seventy eight workers were affected by the cessation order.

However, 57 of them agreed to receive payment while 21 of them opted to remain in the office.

When asked about how long they will hold the protest, Contratista said they would not stop until the administration grants their request.

Notice of Cessation of Business

In a notice of cessation of business released by the university, it was stated that the university has conducted a study in the past several months on the General Services Department. The results of the study have shown that the department is too expensive for the university to maintain.

The notice also cited article 283 of the Labor Code which provides the grounds for closure of establishment and reduction of personnel.

Decrease in Student Population, Revenues

It added that with K to 12, there will be an anticipated substantial decrease of student population and revenues, which necessitates an immediate implementation of a cost-reduction measure.

It was stated in the notice that in order to cope with the change, it is necessary for the university to maintain an “appropriate level of personnel and employ the most cost- effective means of providing services,” thus, hiring a service agency instead, for the work left by the terminated personnel.

Protesters

Protesting workers said they decided to fight for their work because without it, they cannot feed their families and send their kids to school.

Photo by Alni Emphasis

Vicente Nardo, one of the protesters, said that all they want from the administration is to allow them to work again. Nardo said he had been working for the University for 20 years.

“Among hangyo, trabaho jud hangtod muabot mig 60,” (All we ask is to work until we reach the age of 60) he said.