Gov’t union members file harassment raps vs military agents

Another group of government workers went to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday to file cases of harassment against state agents whom they accused of coercing them into stopping their union activities.

Members of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) complained of being surveilled and personally visited by suspected military agents.

This is the second batch of cases filed in the CHR by Courage which said that its union members were being threatened and harassed into stopping their union activities. The first complaint was filed June 8.

“The threats have increased and become even more brazen, involving not just our leaders but also Courage staff and organizers. We are hoping that the CHR will act urgently before things get a lot worse than they already are,” said Courage national president Ferdinand Gaite.

The complainants were Elvie Prudencio, president of the National Wages and Productivity Commission Employees Association and national president of the Department of Labor and Employment Employees Union; Erwin Lanuza, president of Kasamaka QC, a union of Quezon City Hall employees and national president of the League of LGU Employees; Benny Angeles, a retired Metropolitan Manila Development Authority employee and a former officer of the KKK-MMDA union; and members of the Courage national staff.

The complainants all claimed they were visited or followed by men they suspected to be military agents who accused them of being communists and told them that they should surrender before it’s too late.

Gaite called on the government “to stop the harassment of unionists and activists” and on those claiming to be from the military and the police to “stop stalking civilians.”

“We condemn the threats to Courage organizers and leaders who are merely exercising their constitutional and democratic rights to organize unions, enter into collective negotiations and engage in peaceful concerted action,” he said.

CHR Executive Director Marc Titus Cebreros said the agency will coordinate with the Civil Service Commission in handling the workers’ complaints.–Julie M. Aurelio