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Lepanto miners’ wives unite as strike nears

MANKAYAN, Benguet (April 29) — With the nearing strike, miner’s wives here organized their ranks in an assembly last month. The Timpuyog Dagiti Babbai iti Minasan a Lepanto (Unity of Women in Lepanto Mines or Timpuyog) was formed in the said assembly.

In 2003, Lepanto miners and rank-and-file employees staged a 30-day strike which yielded for the miners most of their demands.

“Here, the miners’ wives and their families played an instrumental role in manning the picket lines and boosting the strikers’ morale,” said Lorico Espejo, regional coordinator of the Kilusang Mayo Uno- Cordillera.

The participants agreed that if the pending strike pushes through, they will join the picket lines without hesitation.

“Saan kami a mabuteng a numayon iti strike ta apektado kami met amin kadagiti problema dagiti asawa mi a minero,” (We are not afraid to join the strike because we are also affected by our husbands’ problems) said one of the participants.

The Cordillera Labor Center (CLC) discussed the national situation and its specific impact to the labor and women’s sector. Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) Board of Directors member Hulio Papat presented the ongoing struggles of LCMCo mineworkers, especially the developments to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations which deadlocked on April 2.

Timpuyog’s vice chair-elect, Victoria Afangka, shared the situation of women in Mankayan. Arthur Malecdan of the local CLC discussed the current mining situation in Lepanto.

Other officers include Olive Magwit, chairperson; Analene Bayden, secretary; Juanita Farrong, treasurer; Addela Issic, Auditor; Marieta Babkeg, and Mrs. Lumiwes, business managers.

The women’s group passed resolutions to address their issues and declared anew their support to the mine workers. # Aldwin Quitasol for NORDIS

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