NATIONAL COUNCIL APPROVES UNITY STATEMENT


The 6th National Council (NC) was convened last July 6 and 7 at the PAHC Conference room, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in Quezon City . The meeting approved the draft statement on the "Analysis and Positions on the Estrada Administration" prepared by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

The NC meeting also discussed COURAGE first half assessment report and formulated the plans for the next six months. A resolution to disseminate the Center’s official policy and tactics on the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) was also adopted.

Likewise, regional updates were provided by representative from the regions led by Mayolito David, Roberto Gonzales, Joel Batanes and Ruben Manatad of Regions III, IV, V and VIII, respectively. Western Visayas Chapter submitted their report prior to the meeting.

The meeting also included a lecture-discussion by Nathaniel Santiago, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Secretary-General on the national situation.###


AND CONFIRMS THE AFFILIATION OF 5 UNIONS
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COURAGE welcomes to its fold the following new affiliates as approved by the National Council: Gubat Municipal Employees Union in Sorsogon, Metro Cebu Water District Employees’ Union (MEU), Department of Agriculture Employees’ Association-Office of the Secretary (DAEA), Metro Naga Water District Employees’ Union (MNWDEU), and the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council Employees’ Association (NAFCEA).###


PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES AND THE PEACE PROCESS
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In line with COURAGE's 12th anniversary, a forum on the prospects of peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDFP) was held last May 22 at the Operations Center of the National Housing Authority (NHA) with guest speaker Luis Jalandoni of the NDFP Negotiating Panel.

Co-sponsored by the Consolidated Union of Employees (CUE-NHA) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), the forum was received warmly by public sector employees from different government agencies such as the National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE), Local Waterworks Utilities Administration (LWUA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), National Printing Office (NPO), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Caloocan City local government unity (LGU). The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) Choir, Manggagawa ng Komunikasyon sa Pilipinas (MKP) Duo and the Tambisan sa Sining provided the Cultural presentations.

Mr. Jalandoni delivered an orientation on the on going peace process, specifically the agreements on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (HR/IHL). He also gave some notes on the other substantive agenda, such as: socio-economic reforms, electoral and constitutional reforms, and disposition of forces and cessation of hostilities.

According to Mr. Jalandoni, after listening to the sectoral situation given by Ferdinand Gaite, government employees have legitimate issues that fall well within the HR/IHL agreement. Some of these are rights to jobs, security of tenure, living wage, full union rights including the right to strike. The agreement provides for a joint monitoring committee where human rights violations may be reported. Thus, public sector workers may utilize this venue to redress their grievance and ventilate their legitimate demands.

In parting, he made it clear that the quest for genuine and lasting peace is a process that entails not the giving up of the people's long revolutionary struggle but as another venue in pursuing the genuine interest of the Filipino masses.###

Public Sector Employees and the Peace Process

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PRAFEA-Philpost Gears to Consolidate Members

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