Teachers divided on sit-down strike

CEBU, Philippines -  Several public school teachers in Cebu will be wearing black shirts as a way of sympathizing with their fellow teachers’ sit-down strike today in protest of the government’s “inaction” to their demand for a salary increase.

Bernabe Sabejon, vice president of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Union in Central Visayas, said teachers from Gothong National High School, Abellana National High School and Guadalupe Elementary School will be wearing black shirts as a sign of sympathy.

Antonia Li, ACT Union-VII president, said they do not have a sit-down strike but instead they will be having a candle lighting at Fuente Osmeña rotunda 6 p.m. today.

In a separate statement, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle-Philippines said more than 20,000 public school teachers in Manila and Quezon City are set to join the sit-down strike for salary increase.

“President Aquino’s gross neglect of teachers’ pay compelled the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) to call for a one-day sit-down strike on November 14,” the statement said.

The 13,000-strong Quezon City Public School Teachers Associations and the 10,000-strong Manila Public School Teachers Association have signified their intention to strike as the Philippine Senate is about to table the proposed P2.606 trillion national budget for 2015.

 “No salary increases are included for teachers under the proposed national budget.  This is despite official pronouncements that education takes top priority for the appropriations,” the statement read.

 Teachers are protesting against the “Aquino government’s continuing pork barrel fund” as they demand a much-needed increase in the entry-level monthly sa-laries of teachers from P18,549 to P25,000 and non-teaching personnel from P9,000 to P15,000.

 It added that the government denied teachers their P2,000 Productivity Incentive pay and slashed their P10,000 Productivity Enhancement Incentive this year.

“They have started this campaign since last year. The demand seeks to pursue the living wage needed to cope with the unprecedented monthly rise in prices of food and other basic commodities,” the statement said.

Annabelle dela Cerna, vice chairman for Visayas of the Teacher’s Dignity Coalition, meanwhile said they are not joining with the strike.

“Hindi po kasali ang TDC sa pagkilos sa November 14. Ang TDC po ay naniniwala sa isang tahimik, malikhain at makabagong paraan ng pagprotesta. Hanggang maari po dapat ay hindi maapektuhan ang aming mga klase at mga estudyante. Kung kaya kami po ay  hindi  sumusuporta sa anumang  gawain  na  makaaapekto o  makasisira sa aming sinumpaang gawain,” Dela Cerna said in a text message.

TDC has almost 3,000 teachers as members, of which around 2,000 are in Cebu.

TDC regional coordinator Edgar Espina finds no sense in the activity at all.

“I am hyprocrite enough og moingon ko nga wa mi nagkinahanglan og increase but I think we can ask the government in another way,” Espina added. — (FREEMAN)