DAVAO CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment’s (Dole) Office of the Secretary affirmed last week that workers striking in Tanduay Distillery, Inc. (TDI) are regular workers.
The workers on strike, who are members of the Tanggulan, Ugnayan at Daluyang Lakas ng Anakpawis sa Tanduay Distillery, Inc (TUDLA) were declared to be regularized by the directives of Dole IV-A, last June 22.
“The dismissal of the appeal and motions of TDI and the labor-only contractors only affirmed our right to regular jobs. Our principled and united stand has proven that only through vigilance, solidarity, and consistent collective action can we push government agencies such as Dole to really expose the truth,” says TUDLA Chairperson Anse Are.
According to TUDLA, TDI appealed for motion for reconsideration arguing that the “striking workers are contractuals and are not necessary and desirable on the operation of the company.”
This appeal was dismissed by the Dole’s office of the secretary, but TDI has not acted upon or responded to the Dole’s decision with regards to the regularization of the striking workers.
Are said that they will continue their protest actions “to push TDI to execute the decision.”
“This only shows that our resolve for better working conditions may be asserted and we will no longer agree to modern-day slavery through the contractualization scheme,” Are said.(davaotoday.com)
