Gov’t workers protesting loss of benefits growing

SCIENCE and health workers in the government have joined forces to stage bigger protest actions this week against the possible scrapping of their benefits under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

The 25,000-strong combined groups entered into an alliance on their first meeting Sunday.

The science sector with 5,485 workers was represented by Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA) president Ramon Agustin, while the health sector with 19,000 workers, by National Department of Health Employees Association (Nadea) president Lorenza Serafica.

The Philippine Public Health Association (PPHA) with 40,000 medical professionals led by its president, Malou Orezca, also joined the alliance.

“With this newly formed alliance, we now have a stronger chance to fight for the retention of all Magna Carta laws,” Agustin and Serafica said in a statement.

“The new alliance would push for the deletion of the provision (Sec. 20) in the SSL by staging protest actions on a bigger scale until our demand is granted,” they said.

Agustin said they will meet again today to finalize their “immediate plans.”

Last week, weathermen under the PWEA led protest actions on behalf of science workers, asking the lawmakers to retain the benefits provided under Republic Act No. 8439 or the Magna Carta for science and technology personnel in government. Dona Z. Pazzibugan