Picking up the shattered pieces of character and memories..

Long queue which I hate, standing or sitting, I have no choice.

I should go through this tedious process; otherwise I will be sitting on my right and lost all the chances to pick up the pieces of my shattered character.

It is not the long and slow-paced line up of complaining labourers only that makes the moment dull. There is a certain “Nick”, a public employee assigned in Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)complaint desk who makes things more worse. My controlled emotion of anguish was about to explode when he violates the common rule of “first come, first serve” policy and that suggests an environment of Grafters. I maintained my cool postura by leaving the Public Office.

I went back this morning and completed the process and finally filed my complaint to the Labor Arbiter against Arellano University for illegal dismissal.

I was thinking of the different things and ways I had with the others. Some have their own counselors. But most, like me are contented with and rest their trust to the services extended by the Public Attorneys.

Lobbies, hallways and rooms are packed with clients and counselors as I look for the room of Atty. Ramon Reyes, the arbiter assigned to me. They speak with legal terms and jargons of labour issues. The situation gives me a flash recall of a lot of places and people I had related with.
I am not experienced to labour disputes and union struggles but labour sector’s concerns I could say with confidence, I am familiar and could even discuss. This is due to my previous involvement with several labour groups.

Year 1993, I was hired by Freedom from Debt Coalition as volunteer and elected to be a member of Finance Committee. They (FDC) had spotted me in my selfless dedication to serve the Human Rights victims and families and the HR advocacy of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (an Association of Religious Superiors of the Philippines).

I met a lot of labour leaders, some are suffering from identity crisis or lost of direction whether to leave the Coalition like what the Kilusang Mayo Uno and BAYAN did. We had shared values, experiences and insights to improve the situations of our areas of work, tasks of every sector for national human development. Our common goals and differences me as member of the student and youth sector, leveled to a certain degree of solidarity. We discussed labour importance vis a vis capital. But there is a strong denouncement over by land over capital.There were different paradigms and national perspectives.

Which road to take? Different answers were provided.

Where are we now? Still different answers were presented.

Who are we anyway? I could say that they are the divided.

When labor sectors decided to join the political arena through political party list system, SANLAKAS was born along with other labor party groups and AKBAYAN which is broader in scope.

Labour rights is the main political agenda. When I functioned as Secretary General of FDC Leyte Island, Partido ng mga Manggagawa was introduced to me as new labor party-list group and member -organization of the Coalition. It was 2001 and as we sit for meetings, group discussions I have noticed that in 1993 it was still the same thing. In 1993, we have debated if we have to join electoral struggles or stick to the classic street parliamentarianism, demand and negotiate tactics. The process was painstaking - friendships ripped off, comrades parted ways, unions turned dysfunctional, labourers lost enthusiasm.

Labour Representatives were elected and have continuous seats in the Congress. The much debated but never fully realised neither improving in general labour rights on the the issue of tenure, wages, benefits and development are overlooked for other government priorities.
Antagonism among the progressive groups is long paused by their own tasks. But one could say that electoral process is not the solution neither one of the solution for the success of labor cause.
Comrades killed one another over the strategies and tactics to be taken and prioritized. More casualties are on those who believed in multi-form of struggles. Bloods shed with bullets to uphold the Maoist paradigm but braves absorbed with their mortal bodies the bullets in pursuit of immortal desire for labour interests.

We lost the great labour men like Olalia, Beltran and Lagman, but before, the executions were state sponsored but it is difficult to imagine what if they were executed by comrades?

Labour leaders gave their lives for labour cause. Party-lists have the opportunities. But after so many years there is no significant improvements plight of the labour sector neither guarantees to protect them.

I am illegally dismissed. There is no magna carta for the college teachers yet.

I also worked for and with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (also a member-organisation of the Coalition). During my college years, with Daisy, we, most of the time volunteered for ACT’s activities.

But teachers are not united. Are we?