Officers and members of the Brokenshire College Faculty and Staff Union start their strike Friday morning as they scored the school management’s non-compliance of their Collective Bargaining Agreement and the “illegal termination” of 11 Clinical Instructors. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
“Nag-ugat ang strike na ito nu’ng hindi nila binigay ang tamang benepisyo sa mga empleyado.” — Eliseo Avellana, one of the 11 clinical instructors “illegally terminated” by the Brokenshire College administration
By ACE R. MORANDANTE
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – In a matter of few days after announcing their plan to hold a strike, members of the Brokenshire College Faculty and Staff Union (BCFSU) pushed it Friday.
As early as 9 AM, BCFSU officers and members organized the picketline outside the school premises and emphasized that they won’t leave unless the administration act on their sentiments.
“Nag-ugat ang strike na ito nu’ng hindi nila binigay ang tamang benepisyo sa mga empleyado,” Eliseo Avellana, one of the 11 clinical instructors “illegally terminated” by the Brokenshire College administration, told davaotoday.com.
He said the termination, which did not undergo a process of consultation, came after the management issued a Redundancy Program.
The Labor Code’s Article 283 said that redundancy is one of the authorized causes for termination of employment. It is said to exist when the number of employees exceeds the actual requirements for the operation of a business.
But earlier, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno said it is not merely for the employer to declare they are “over-manned.” It added the management has to base their decision on the actual requirements of the business, and not on a mere projection, otherwise, the Borkenshire management is already circumventing the Labor Law.
The BCFSU also maintained the College administration has implemented an “illegal” program because its decision violated the Labor Code. It said the school should wait for the actual number of enrollees this June before it issues a Redundancy Program.
On April 26, the program was implemented, forcing the 11 clinical instructors out-of-job.
Avellana, however, said they could teach other subjects like Biology, Anatomy and Physiology. But he said the management didn’t give them this option.
“Walang effort ang administrasyon na ilipat kami sa other position, basta na lang, nakatanggap kami ng letter, effective April 26, 2013 terminated na kami,” he lamented.
On Saturday, the Board of Trustees (BoT) will hold a meeting. The clinical instructors hope that the BOT’s decision will favor the school’s employees.
“Propesyonal man tayo, tapos school ito. Dapat mag-serve sila as model. Dapat, ang gagawin nila hindi iligal, dapat nasa proseso,” Avellana said.
More importantly, the BCFSU members and officers hope the management will finally comply their Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
Brokenshire College, Labor issues, workers
