8 of the 200 employees terminated by the Lopez-owned consortium were among those charged by outgoing MWSS Administrator Angel Lazaro III with gr ave misconduct, neglect of duty, and besmirching the reputation of MWSS and its officers. Eight others, too, were assigned to the Ayala concession.

These 16 employees have spent their productive years with MWSS and have never ever dreamed they would lose t heir jobs because of the assurance of a security of tenure. They participated in the protest against privatization not merely because it affected their employment but moreso because they believed public service would be jeopardized after privatization.

Little did they know that fighting for their rights, and the Filipino people's right would cost them their jobs. Privatization has not only terminated them their jobs, it has also dashed the hopes of 500 families or about 3,000 Filipinos to live up to their dreams -- of going to school, of having three square meals a day, of having enough clothing and medicines.

After the MWSS, the need is not only to look for another job or a source of income. The greater need remains to be the continued fight against governm ent's policies such as privatization which are detrimental to the lives of Filipinos.

The greater need is for the continued information, and education of the public, the workers in government whose offices are being readied for privatization, the governme nt workers in general so they may understand and comprehend the justness of a protest against this policy, and the Filipino public -- whom these public utilities have vowed to serve.

After MWSS, all is not lost among these terminated employees. Because of t heir sacrifice, a lot more have been made aware of the deceiving nature of government policies such as privatization. Those that were left behind will become more vigilant and will continue the fight against anti-people programs. Those who were witness to the pickets and rallies through media news have become more critical . Those who were retrenched have become more resolved and will not stop from demanding their just rights!

OUR REQUEST

COURAGE has initiated and elevated the fight against the MWSS privat ization from a mere local issue to the national level. A case have been filed with the Supreme Court (SC) to question government policy on privatizing social services and basic utilities. Our protest was already registered as early as 1995 because as earl y as then we realized that the policy of the government to privatize, similar to the policies of other governments worldwide, is not based on a pro-people, anti-monopoly consideration.

COURAGE, through the MWSS Employees' Union (MEU), intensified and suppor ted various forms of protests against the implementation of the MWSS privatization. And we have not given up on it even after the actual turn-over of the MWSS to the two concessionaires. We see the MWSS experience as just a start in our sectoral fight aga inst a government policy that will put an end to cheaper and accessible basic services.

We at COURAGE would like to request your assistance in pursuing our plans to help source for the economic necessities of the retrenched unionists, to continue studying a nd documenting cases on privatization and related policies of the government, to continue the information and education work needed to sustain the fight. We are appealing for assistance from all possible donors -- unions, people's organizations, non-gover n ment organizations, funding agencies, local or international, for our continuing work regarding privatization. Our fight involves three areas of continuing work --

1) Support for affected employees;

2) Continuing Struggle Against Privatization (research, education and campaign); and

3) Advocacy work.

I. Support Work for Affected Employees - This area involves funding requirements for income-generating projects to be managed by the affected workers; funding in terms of allowances for those who will work part or full-time with COURAGE and also assistance in terms of non-cash items such as food supplies, clothing, children's education, etc.

II. Continuing Struggle Against Privatization - This concerns funding for campaign activities in agencies undergoing priva tization; the conduct of research and studies to enrich our education work and the development of education materials; and the conduct of education among all government employees.

III. Advocacy Work - This area of work involves relating with unions in othe r countires and to work out international campaigns especially with those affected by privatization. On the homefront, this will involve advocacy work among legislators, the judiciary and the general public, as well.

We are also proposing to hold an intern ational conference of public sector unions to forge a plan that will strengthen solidarity and be able to coordinate actions against privatization. We are confident that this is achievable through common or shared funding among the participating organizations.

We welcome other assistance, too, which may be in the form of publication of our continuing struggle, other fund-raising activities and others depending on the donor's capacity. For further inquiries, please don't hesitate to call us or write us at ou r office.

COURAGE can be contacted thru the following :

Telephone Numbers - (63-2) 414-6539; (63-2) 721-5275; 721-4820; 721-5997; 722-5452 local 21

Mailing Address:

COURAGE

Post Office Box AC # 84,

Araneta Center Post Office

1135 Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines

E-mail address - courage@skyinet.net

Telefax Number - (63-2) 414-6539

We hope to hear from you soon.

In the service to the government workers,

(sgd.) FERDINAND R. GAITE

President

26 August 1997