Strikers Confront DOLE: Region Head Promises to Probe Dummy System, Finalize Money Claims

Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director Gloria Tango promised Monday to investigate the dummy system scheme of banana plantations in Compostela, and in a week’s time finalize the computation of the money claims of the illegally dismissed workers of Packing Plant 95-Fresh Bananas Agricultural Corporation (FBAC-AJMR/Sumifru). The DOLE’s original decision was appealed by the company.

This was the assurance given by Tango after the officers of Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa San Jose (NAMASAN-NAFLU-KMU)—union of the workers of Packing Plant 95—and their legal counsel entered the office of DOLE while more than 70 workers picketed outside with supporters from various sectors and organizations. The union urged the DOLE officials to intervene in the labor dispute, citing how FBAC has distorted the issues at hand by dragging the dispute into the civil courts.

The union has been on strike for almost two months now. FBAC-AJMR/Sumifru (Phils.) Corporation has lodged complaints at the Regional Trial Court in Davao City and Provincial Trial Court in Nabunturan against the union. The workers brought their picket to Davao City to demand that the DOLE assert its jurisdiction in the dipute. The union is also picketing outside of the AMS Group of Companies compound where FBAC-AJMR/Sumifru holds office.

“The DOLE’s pronouncement to expedite the computation of our money claims case is only fair since we have been waiting for the execution of its decision for more than three months now. It is high time that they investigate the dummy system on Compostela’s plantations since we submitted a position paper to the DOLE in April,” said Joel Cuyos, president of NAMASAN.

“It is ironic, however, that we have to picket outside of the DOLE in order to get a response. With the DOLE’s mandate to protect our rights as workers, they should decisively intervene in the case without us having to come Davao and bang at their gates,” Cuyos said. “We are prepared for the possibility that this government agency may take a position in favor of the company given its historical connivance with capitalists. Despite this, we will continue our pickets and other actions to hold the DOLE accountable to workers’ interests and welfare.”