Sixty workers "trapped" inside company for a day

CEBU, Philippines - They were told that business at their strike-affected furniture company was back to normal and they could already go to work, so workers for Chagrin Inc. rode the bus that the company sent to fetch them at a designated area in Mandaue City.

None of the 60 factory workers, however, knew that they would be spending around 28 hours inside the company’s premises that day as they were “barred” from going home.

Strikers from the Associated Labor Union (ALU), which have been picketing Chagrin Inc. for three months now, denied they prevented the workers from going out.

Workers told the police that around 20 of them “escaped” by jumping at the back portion of the company’s building.

 The rest of the “detained” workers, who are mostly from Consolacion, informed their families and relatives about what was happening through their mobile phones.

The families were alarmed so they sought the assistance of Consolacion Mayor-elect Teresa Alegado.

Alegado told The FREEMAN that she asked for help from National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Director Edmund Mirasol after the relatives of the trapped employees trooped to her house.

ALU, through spokesperson Josephine Lim, denied that they blocked the workers from going home. Lim urged authorities to fast track investigation on what happened.

Just two weeks ago, violence also erupted at the same company. Stones and hot water flew outside the premises as the ALU strikers tangled with the management side.

Alegado said she facilitated a dialog with Mirasol and those involved.

After a two-hour discussion that started at noontime yesterday, it was agreed that the workers inside the building must be sent home.

Officials of ALU agreed but demanded that all bags of the workers should be inspected to prevent the “smuggling out” of important evidence related to their case.

Representatives of Chagrin opposed at first, but were later convinced to agree because of concern for the safety of the workers.

Mirasol was assisted by Mandaue City policemen assigned at the Station 3 in Barangay Basak when he accompanied the workers out of the company premises and to the police station. Lamac Barangay Captain Nestor Maglasang also coordinated with Mirasol as most of the workers are from his barangay.

Mirasol said he rushed to the place in response to Alegado’s request for assistance. He also coordinated with Assistant Regional Director Exequelk Sarcauga of the Department of Labor and Employment 7 and the police in Mandaue City.

The government officials said they intervened mainly out of concern for the safety of the workers.

Workers interviewed by The FREEMAN said that they did not expect the incident as they were told that everything is normal and they would be going back to work.

They were fetched by a D’ Rough Riders Bus near the Fatima Church in Barangay Basak.

However, 46-year-old Artemio Prescillas, the bus driver, told the police that a representative of the management asked for a bus to ferry passengers to Liloan for a beach party. They were paid P3 thousand for a one-way trip.

Prescillas said the passengers waited at Barangay Basak but instead of going to Liloan, he was instructed to divert Pagsabungan where some of their companions were waiting. Upon reaching Chargin, he was directed to enter inside.

Striking workers outside Chagrin admitted that they were eating their lunch when the bus entered the premises.

The Basak Police Station is just waiting for both parties to file formal complaints today.

The striking workers used to work for R&Y Augousti, which already stopped operation allegedly due to financial losses.

But the workers believe that R&Y Augousti and Chagrin have the same owners. The union members had accused that R &Y stopped operations so Chagrin can take over and kill the union. — THE FREEMAN