Ni NOEL ABUEL
Nagprotesta ang mga empleyado ng Senado upang ipakita ang galit sa mga kongresista na nagsusulong ng charter change (Chacha) para baguhin ang 1987 Constitution.
Giit ng mga miyembro ng Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (SENADO), nangangamba ang nasa dalawang libong rank-and-file employees at iba pang maaapektuhang empleyado ng Commission on Appointment (CA) at House of Representatives, gayundin ang mga casual at contractual employees.
“Chacha poses a threat to Senate employees’ jobs. The abolition of the Senate spells lay-off of approximately two thousand rank-and-file employees and other affected employees from the Commission on Appointment and House of Representatives, and since casual and contractual employees do not have security of tenure, we are apprehensive that they will be the first to be furloughed,” ayon sa inilabas na position paper ng mga ito.
“Nothing is more important than our right to security of tenure. The separation or severance pay is our last unacceptable option lest the Senate will be abolished. A small amount compensating for the long years of hard work is purposeless and worthless amid worsening poverty and inflation,” dagdag pa nito.
Binatikos ng mga ito ang people’s initiative na ginamit ang mga government resources at programa ng pamahalaan tulad ng TUPAD, 4Ps, at AICS.
Giit pa ng mga ito, ang chacha umano ang magiging pinakamabangis na pag-atake laban sa mamamayang Pilipino.
Anila, ang kamakailang Resolusyon ng Senado na ipinasa ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri na naglilimita sa mga pag-amiyenda ng Konstitusyon sa mga probisyong pang-ekonomiya lamang bilang isang kompromiso sa Kamara ay hindi ginagarantiyahan na walang mga probisyong pampulitika na isasama tulad ng pagpapalit ng sistema ng pamahalaan sa isang unicameral legislature.
Bagama’t ang mga rebisyon lamang anila sa mga probisyong pang-ekonomiya ay ipinanukala, ito rin ang maglilihis ng landas para sa mga pagbabagong pampulitika at ang kanilang mga motibo tulad ng pagpapalawig ng termino.
“Nothing is more important than our right to security of tenure. The separation or severance pay is our last unacceptable option lest the Senate will be abolished. A small amount compensating for the long years of hard work is purposeless and worthless amid worsening poverty and inflation. Even finding a new job would be a challenge for those in their 40s and 50s given the high unemployment rate hidden under misleading figures.The rank-and-file employees are starting to fear for their jobs, especially those who are the sole breadwinners of their families. The Senate’s abolition will not only affect the employees but the effect on our families is difficult and painful, especially seeing our children discontinuing their education. All the hard-won victories of decades-long struggles of the union and the fruits of the collective bargaining efforts of the Senate and the union will come to nothing. It is the policy of the State to protect labor, promote full employment, and provide equal opportunities for all, however, it is alarming that the same Constitution that guarantees the protection of the rights of workers and employees to job security will be weaponized to strip off our rights for selfish,” pahayag pa ng SENADO.
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