CONFEDERATION FOR UNITY, RECOGNITION AND ADVANCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (COURAGE)

The Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) is recognized as the leading umbrella organization of public sector unions in the Philippines. It has under its fold the most number of union, association, and group affiliates and the greatest number of individual members.

As of 1997, it had a total of 90 unions, organizations, associations and regional formations affiliated with a mass base of more than 150,000 workers from national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), state colleges and universities (SCUs), and government-owned-and-controlled corporations (GOCCs).

HISTORY

The new found vigor in union organizing among the ranks of public employees in the Philippines, after a long silence, is an offshoot of the enduring struggle of the basic masses which eventually brought down the rule of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.

Amidst the euphoria of the establishment of the Aquino government, the public sector workers militantly fought against the threat to their jobs in the government-wide reorganization program. Significantly, COURAGE was formed in this period where the clamor for genuine change was sought by all.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To secure better salaries and fringe benefits for all government workers through collective & mass actions.
2. To demand for safe and conducive work conditions.
3. To assert and defend the rights to organize unions, to participate in policy formulations and to exercise full union rights including the right to strike.
4. To foster local and international fraternal cooperation and unity with sectoral and people's organizations and movements.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

1. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT -- This involves the process of developing public sector unions and organizations of government workers. Assistance on union-building, registration, accreditation and union administration and management is also provided to members until they can rely on their own strength.

2. EDUCATION AND TRAINING -- this program aims for the continuing development of courses not only on current sectoral and national concerns.

   The COURAGE SCHOOL FOR UNIONISM AND PATRIOTISM (CSUN) was recently opened for all government employees. It aims to provide a two-level education course on unionism and social consciousness.

   Training courses are offered on unionism such as Public Sector Unionism (PSU) and Leadership Formation (LFC), Courses on Women (WOC), and on sectoral and national issues and concerns.

3. RESEARCH AND INFORMATION -- The conduct of studies and researches on relevant issues and concerns serve as inputs to organizing, development of education courses, and to advocacy work. Documentation and databanking on current sectoral events and issues are a continuing activity.

   A book on the Philippine Public Sector Unionism has been published and researches on topics such as Workers in Government: Profile and Conditions, Perception on Gender Issues and Prospects of Women Organizing and Occupational Health and Safety Condition of Metro Manila Aides in the CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) Area have been conducted.

   The development of primers on burning national and sectoral issues is regularly done such as On Privatization, The Water Crisis Act and Critique on the Re-engineering the Bureaucracy.

   A DECADE OF COURAGE 1986-1996, a summing-up paper on COURAGE's first 10 years of public sector unionism work has already been written.

   The Public Sector Updates has also been revived and now comes out on a bi-monthly basis. This is a newsletter chronicling current events and issues in the public sector.

4. WOMEN EDUCATION AND ORGANIZING -- In recognition of the particularity of women's issues and its contribution to the development of a more comprehensive public sector unionism, COURAGE is involved in the formation of Women's Committees at the local union level. Specific training courses are offered on Women Orientation and Women Committee Formation. Assistance to women victims of sexual harrassment and violence in general is also being offered.

5. Legal Assistance -- Legal advice and representation to all its union affiliates and members is also offered.

CLAIMS

1. The fight for a living wage/salary, for jobs and full union rights. The demand for a living wage and other benefits becomes even more necessary amidst the debilitating effects of a structurally weak economy.

2. Alongside is the call for the protection of the inviolable right to security of tenure in our jobs in the wake of mass lay-offs brought about by privatization and the re-engineering of the bureaucracy. The continued fight for the right to self-organization and the exercise of the right to strike is important in recognition that it is the most effective weapon to protect workers' rights.

3. Advocacy and vigilance against militarization of the bureaucracy and the perpetuation of a patronage system that attacks the merit and promotion system of the Civil Service.

4. The struggle against the government policy of privatization is an immediate concern because this policy only benefits foreign monopoly capital and their local cohorts such as big business, politicians and high bureaucrats at the expense of the Filipino people.

Privatization has raised the issues of mass lay-offs and further inaccessibility of the Filipino masses to basic social services.

Active participation against the government's triad policy of liberalization, deregulation and privatization. The public sector joins all sectors in the struggle against the intensification of the exploitation of the Filipino people and the country's wealth by foreign monopolies through such policies as liberalization, deregulation and privatization which are being implemented in the guise of national development.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY BINDING WOMEN FOR REFORMS, INTEGRITY, EQUALITY, LEADERSHIP, AND ACTION (GABRIELA)

Primed by the anti-dictatorship campaign and the drive for economic and political change in the Marcos years, women's organizations established the national women's coalition, GABRIELA the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action.

Starting from 42 when we organized in April 1984, we are today a center of over a hundred women organizations, institutes, desks, and programs. Our ranks include women workers, peasants, urban poor, housewives, professionals, religious and students across the country.

We believe that the freedom women seek will be brought about by the resolution of the problems of foreign domination, landlessness and political repression and in the changing of patriarchal value systems and structures in Philippine society.

We focus on issues that affect women: the effects of militarization and women's landlessness; the International Monetary Fund-World Bank and the debt crisis; denial of women's reproductive rights and gross neglect of health care for women; violence on children, wife abuse and family life; development aid; prostitution and trafficking of women.

TASKS AND PRINCIPLES

1. arouse, mobilize and organize the greatest number of women for genuine liberation

2. promote and conduct information and education activities to initiate socio-cultural transformation

3. promote and create programs and projects to uplift the condition of women

4. promote organized action to eliminate unjust and discriminatory practices, unequal and oppressive structures that deter the full development of Filipinas as persons

5. form networks along local and international women's organizations to foster understanding and solidarity towards the resolution of common problems

6. explore areas of cooperation and collaboration with other agencies and organizations to promote equal opportunities for women and their development

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

1. genuine national sovereignty in Philippine socio-cultural, economic and political life and freedom from all foreign intervention especially that of the United States;

2. a democratic government, representative of and participated in by grassroot women and women from all sectors and classes of society, that recognizes the cultural communities struggle for self-determination and preservation of their cultural life and traditions;

3. a government that provides support systems for women, initiates programs and policies in consultation with women and promotes equality between women and men;

4. an armed forces that truly protect the people, serve their interests and respect the supremacy of the civilian government;

5. an end to militarization that has intensified the sufferings of the Filipino people, especially the women;

6. a fair, just and independent legal and judicial system that does not discriminate against women and which upholds their rights and welfare;

7. genuine land reform, recognition of women's participation in agricultural production, recognition of land rights of cultural minorities;

8. a self-reliant economy that is geared primarily towards domestic consumption and nationalist industrialization, gives equal value to the participation of women in production and responds to specific needs of women at work;

9. a quality educational system that is nationalist, pro-people, non-sexist and liberating;

10. a socio-cultural system that does not demean women;

11. the development of basic sciences and technology that serve Filipinos and considers the particular needs of women; and,

12. the strengthening of solidarity with women's groups in other countries against sexism, imperialism and militarism in the world.

BUKLURAN NG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO (BMP)

HISTORY

After bolting out from the KMU, the leadership of the former KMU-NCRR decided to organize the BMP along socialist and democratic orientation.

The establishment of the BMP was also in response to the failure of the established national labor organizations to unify the labor movement in the country and to effectively advance the struggle of the Filipino working class.

Philippine labor is weak because it remains largely unorganized. Only 3 million workers out of a 32 million labor force are organized into unions and organizations nationwide. Only about half a million workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements (CBA). Of the organized section, over 153 federations and 8 major trade union centers compete with each other for members because of sectarian, organizational and ideological differences.

The BMP currently counts among its solid membership more than 200 local unions nationwide with a mass membership of over 100,000. The BMP also influences some 800 independent unions with a mass membership of over 200,000 workers through the grassroots labor unity movement of the Kapatiran ng mga Pangulo ng Unyon sa Pilipinas (KPUP), a fraternal organization of local union presidents in the Philippines.

Despite being the newest entrant in the Philippine labor movement, the BMP is now considered one of the biggest and rapidly growing militant labor organization in the country. Its base and influenced unions are organized in manufacturing and service industries, chemicals and mines, agriculture, construction and transport.

BMP'S BROADER AIMS

1. BMP envisions a society where the working class is empowered in all spheres of social life. Where the fruits of the toils of labor redounds to its class. Where political power is wielded by workers through their political organizations, and, where social and cultural norms and mores are truly reflective of the dignity of labor.

2. BMP's primary mission is to organize the Filipino working class into a class-conscious and independent political force in the Philippines. The unity and organization of the broad masses of the working class is BMP's overriding concern.

3. BMP's major goal is to organize the country's labor force into unions or associations. BMP also aims to unite all blocs and sections of organized labor.

BMP STRATEGIES FOR WORKING CLASS EMPOWERMENT

• Organizing the majority of workers into unions and associations.
• Unification of the fragmented Philippine trade union movement.
• The development of industry unionism and bargaining and
• Solidarity with social movements and the international trade union movement.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF BMP CAMPAIGNS AND ADVOCACIES

Initiated the formation of Labor Alliance for Wage Increase (LAWIN 35), a broad alliance of labor organizations which vigorously campaigned for a P35.00 across-the-board increase in the minimum wage. The government yielded to the demand and gave workers a P25.00 wage increase.

1994

Was instrumental in the formation of the multisectoral Kilusang Roll Back or KRB (Rollback Movement) which successfully campaigned for the roll back of oil prices. Then President Ramos was forced to rollback the price of oil products by an average of P1.00 per liter.

1995

Campaigned against the regressive tax policy called the Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT). Mobilized at least 80,000 people on the issue during President Ramos' State of the Nation Address.

Actively participated in the 1995 local elections where five out of seven candidates for the House of Representatives and a good number of local candidates supported and endorsed by the BMP and Sanlakas won the elections.

1996

Led the establishment of the Kapatiran ng mga Pangulo ng Unyon sa Pilipinas (KPUP), a grassroots fraternity formation of local union presidents all over the country.

Spearheaded the "Tax Reform, Tax Revolt" campaign which fought for the exemption of minimum wage earners from paying income taxes as a way of increasing their take-home pay. This campaign culminated into a general industrial protest characterized by mass walkouts and demonstrations participated by some 300,000 workers.

During the APEC Summit held at Subic Bay, the BMP, in coordination with the KPUP, NCL and Sanlakas sponsored the biggest anti-APEC Conference, the Solidarity of Labor Against APEC (SLAM-APEC), and the biggest anti-APEC protest caravan from Manila to Subic.

1997

Has given all-out support to the militant struggle of the dismissed workers of the German-owned Telefunken Microelectronics (TEMIC) who, for eleven days, invaded the offices of the secretary of labor demanding the implementation of their reinstatement orders.

Campaigned for the "Ten-point Labor Legislative Agenda" which aims for drastic reforms in labor laws and policies in the country. The campaign include demands for criminalization of labor law violations, including the criminalization of the illegal practice of contractualization and casualization. A rally of 50,000 workers pushed these agenda during the Labor Day celebration in 1997.

1998

Campaigned against the proposed Charter Change. Has also fought against high interest rates imposed by the banks. Launched a Hunger Strike dubbed "Wage Increase for Wage Recovery"; or Win-War.

Participated in the last party list elections through the multisectoral party Sanlakas. BMP leader Renato Magtubo, who now sits as Sanlakas representative in the House of Representatives, is the only labor leader who won the tightly contested elections participated in by at least 120 parties.

1999

Present campaigns and advocacies of the BMP revolve around two central issues: the anti-labor policies of the Estrada government and the campaign against imperialist globalization.

THE BMP ORGANIZATION

The National Executive Committee implements policies and programs of the BMP. They are assisted by full-time staffs, the national pool of full-time organizers, and a network of part-time coordinators and organizers spread over the entire country.

PAKISAMA

It was during the NCARRD and the series of grassroots consultations (conducted in 70% of the nations provinces and participated in by more than 10,000 peasant-leaders) which followed it, that the need for a strong national alliance of peasant organizations was identified. This national alliance was needed to push for genuine agrarian/aquatic reform and rural development, and help protect the peasants rights.

PAKISAMA was organized by the participating peasant organizations as a response to this need.

VISION AND MISSION

Our mission is to empower the Filipino peasantry by building a strong and credible national peasant federation that leads in the advocacy for and implementation of genuine and sustainable agrarian and aquatic reform and rural development, and equality of men and women. This will respond to our present and historical problem of poverty and injustice.

PAKISAMA aims to empower the peasant sector by:

• organizing, federating and consolidating peasant groups that would pursue agrarian and aquatic reform and sustainable rural development;
• providing a vehicle for peasant involvement and participation in planning, policy formulation and implementation of government policies and programs in the interest of the sectors;
• developing and strengthening their socio-political consciousness and economic base; and
• linkaging and networking with the other People's Organization, Non-governmental organization and like minded individuals and groups.

STRATEGIES

1. PO Federation Building - this strategy focuses on strengthening PAKISAMA members' internal capacities for effective participation in AARRD implementation. It includes improvement of the operational, financial and organizational systems within each organization. This strategy also includes the concept of sustainable integrated area development (SIAD) as a development framework. Hence, SIAD model building in focus areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao needs to be strengthened.

2. Experience Based Policy Advocacy - this strategy emphasizes the importance of the use of PAKISAMA's experiences in advocacy work as a vital input to all its policy advocacy initiatives. This is expected to strengthen and put more content and weight in whatever policy PAKISAMA is advocating. In order to strengthen the policy advocacy of PAKISAMA, it has developed its "research arm". Included in the component of this strategy are data banking, research on major identified issues, and lobbying works.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

1. Advocacy - This program deals with advocacy on national and local issues, information dissemination and communication campaigns on agrarian and aquatic reform, and media relations.

   This program also provides training, consultancy and networking support on the legal and other aspects of agrarian/aquatic reform and rural development implementation.

2. Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries - The SAF program promotes sustainable agriculture and fisheries and popularizes SAF technology and practices. The program is currently actively promoting sustainable agriculture for low land rice farms in eight provinces. It is also involve in resource management council (RMC) formation and participatory coastal resource management projects.

3. Gender- the Gender Program promotes gender sensitivity and the equality of men and women in the federation. The program trains and supports women leaders, encourages the organizing of peasant women and their participation in PAKISAMA and its member-organizations, sponsors gender sensitivity seminars and ensures the advocacy for women and gender issues in and out of PAKISAMA.

4. Project Development, Monitoring and Evaluation- this service facilitates the development of socio-economic projects for affiliate organizations and the federation. PAKISAMA helps to access funds for these projects. Its services also include monitoring and evaluation of the on-going projects of its affiliates.

5. Education and Training- The core of this service are the Membership and Leadership Courses. These courses focus on value formation, skills training and political education.

6. Aside from these, the program also conducts training on project development and management, para-legal skills, strategic assessment and planning, farmers' visitation and exchange, trainers' skills, socio-cultural and gender analysis, and organizational development and management.

7. Research and Publications- This service documents, and popularizes initiatives of peasant groups and information on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development.

8. PAKISAMA is also strengthening to sectoral organizations under the umbrella of the federation. These are the organizations of rural women groups (LAKAMBINI-PAKISAMA) and of fisherfolk groups (MAMAMAYAN-PAKISAMA).

9. Management Information Unit- the unit oversees the development, computerization, and installation of PAKISAMA databases and information systems. It supervises also the computer and communication maintenance and operation.

10. Admin/Finance - support the overall operation in terms of administrative and financial management.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau employees Association, Inc. (MGBEA)

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Employees Association, Inc. (MGBEA) was organized in 1988 after the reorganization of the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences (BMG). Formerly, it was called the Central Bureau of Mines Employees Association (CBMGEA).

In 1988, BMG was reduced to a staff bureau as part of the "reengineering program" of former President Corazon C. Aquino. BMG was renamed as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). This also caused the transfer and retrenchment of some of the BMG employees. Out of the more than one thousand employees, only 350 were left after the "reengineering".

These developments prompted the "leftover" employees to also organize themselves and thus MGBEA was born.

MGBEA continues the aspiration set forth by CBMGEA. Despite its meager resources, MGBEA endeavors to give as many benefits to its members as possible. Aside from the Morandarte Death Benefit, the association also extends emergency loans and other relief assistance to its members without interest.

MGBEA believes that solidarity and unity is the key to success. In this connection, it has allied itself with other public sector unions and organizations. It is an affiliate of KALIKASAN, an affiliation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Bureaus and attached agencies employees organizations, and COURAGE, a national organization of government employees. Through its affiliation, MGBEA is able to equip itself with proper tools needed to effectively run the Association. It has also encourage the MGB Regional Offices Employees Association to affiliate itself with MGBEA as regional chapters.

Last 19 July 2001, MGBEA became the first association within the DENR to have signed a Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) with the Management. A CNA is the public sector version of the private sector's Collective Bargaining Agreement.