By Junex Doronio
Asserting the Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers’ (Manibela) right to strike, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) criticized the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday for implying that participants in the strike might be entitled to an unequivocal means of addressing their concerns.
PISTON reminded the LTFRB that the Philippines is a signatory to International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 87, which holds that the right to strike can only be restricted in extremely limited circumstances.
“Imbis na pakinggan at tugunan ang mga panawagan ng mga tsuper at operator kung bakit humahantong sa welga ang aming mga reklamo, mukhang mas gusto talaga ng gobyerno na atakehin ang kabuhayan at mga karapatan ng mga manggagawa,” PISTON said.
The striking jeepney drivers led by transport group Manibela protested against the LTFRB’s deadline for the consolidation of traditional jeepneys as part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
PISTON and other six large transport groups, however, did not participate the October 16 jeepney strike launched by Manibela.
LTFRB chief Joel Bolano claimed that the strike led by Manibela did not paralyze transport routes and had little effect on commuters.
The LTFRB said it would check those who participated for potential franchise violations.
Even if PISTON opted not to participate the transport strike, it defended Manibela, saying that “no government should have such broad powers to restrict a worker’s right to strike beyond ensuring the life, health, and safety of the whole or part of the population.”
(AI/MNM)