Decisive

The most decisive factor that spelled victory for the strike was the coordination of ULWU and CATLU, said Mahinay.

“Had there been no coordination, one could have been used to weaken the other. But because of their cooperation, they were able to achieve maximum impact,” she said.

CATLU cannot do it by itself, the labor lawyer added, and it would have been difficult for ULWU had CAT workers continued to operate the mill.

The coordination was manifested in the recent negotiations between the CATLU and CAT vice president for operations Ernesto Teopaco. While both parties have principally agreed to a P15 wage increase, a P13,000 bonus and the reinstatement of all union officers except two (Medical Department Director Romeo Sarate and Adviser Renato Tua) who have voluntarily resigned. But the union refused to sign a MoA until the issues being raised by ULWU have been resolved.

Mahinay believes that with the case still pending with the PARC, the Cojuangcos do not see an immediate resolution to the issues being raised by ULWU.

In a previous interview with HLI vice president for external affairs Atty. Vigor Mendoza, he said that the attitude of the company is still to “wait-and-see” before deciding on what to do.

Galang, on the other hand, said that in an exploratory talk with Teopaco on Oct. 22, he had asked if the HLI management would resume operations. “Ang sagot lang sa amin ay puro ‘I don’t know,’ (His reply was I don’t know)” he said.

Mahinay said that although the peripheral issues being raised by ULWU concerning unpaid wages and benefits could still be resolved, the strike could not be lifted unless management categorically states whether it will resume operations of the plantation or not.

Moreover, the labor lawyer said, the issues being raised by ULWU regarding wages and benefits will be rendered moot and academic once the agrarian issue is settled.

“If this is the case, then this would still take long. And the Cojuangcos know that,” she said.

In the face of the unresolved agrarian issue, Mahinay said, the Cojuangcos wanted to immediately operate the mill.

“Gigil na gigil na silang buksan ang mill kasi kabyawan na. If CAT does not operate now, yung mga planters will have their canes milled in Pampanga and the Cojuangcos will continue to lose business, (The Cojuangcos are hell-bent on operating the mill because it is already milling season. If CAT does not operate now, planter will have their canes milled in Pampanga and the Cojuangcos will continue to lose business)” she said.

But the Cojuangcos may have to wait longer, Mahinay said, because not even the murder of CATLU president Ric Ramos can break the resolve of both unions that they will only enter into an agreement with the Cojuangcos if all their issues are resolved. (Bulatlat.com)

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