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A day in the Lepanto picketlines

MANKAYAN. Benguet (June 14) — It is the 14th day of the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) strike and word has it that the dispersal team is just a few minutes away. The soldiers are already in full battle gear, some strikers say. The workers, however, though anticipating the inevitable dispersal, do not seem bothered.

At Tubo Gate, where the main picket is, the workers assigned to man the 11 AM to 11 PM shift are enjoying themselves as if there is no threat of a violent dispersal. An authentic Cordillera gong melody echoes all over the place coupled with cheers and laughter as miners’ wives dance to the beat. Aside from playing chess, playing the gong and dancing keep the strikers spirited. Solidarity messages from individuals and groups visiting the picket lines further encourage the strikers to pursue their fight for higher wages and benefits.

Maintaining a picketline is no joke but with the workers’ determination, cooperation and overflowing support from other sectors, the five picket areas of LEU remain strong and alive.

To ensure an organized picket, LEU assigned an officer per picketline and tasked as picket commanders. The picket commanders ensure the order in their respective areas. Aside from this, they ensure that food and other supplies are available at the picket area. They also coordinate with other picket areas for support and help if needed.

Other workers in the picketlines have their tasks too. They take turns to cook, gather fuel, fetch water and solicit food.

Food, medicine and other supplies come from donations and solicitations. They distribute all supplies to the picket areas according to needs.

Camelio Tuacan, a board member of LEU, is the picket commander of the first shift at the Tubo picket. He informed NORDIS that during the first days of the strike, they maintained three shifts per picket area, just like at the mines, but later they decided to maintain two shifts for practical reasons.

Manong Camelio is already 45 years old, married, with five children. He spent 20 years of his life serving the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company but contnues to earn meager pay, which, he said, is not enough to provide for his family.

With P350 a day, working 26 days a month (excluding rest days), his monthly income is pegged at P9,100. The sadder part is that he does not take home this amount because of monthly deductions and loan payments.

According to National Economic Development Authority’s (NEDA) computations, a family of six needs at least P573 to survive. Manong Camelio actually earns just half of the said amount and he has a family of 7.

Two of Manong Camelio’s children are already in college. The yearly increase in tuition, and the relentless price hikes in basic commodities reduced his salary to its lowest terms.

This is why he joined the strike. Just like most of his co-miners, all he wants is higher wages in order to give his family a better life.

“Daytoy (strike) ti maudi a baraha mi tapno maala mi ti dawdawaten a nayon a sweldo ken dadduma a benepisyo, haan kami a sumanud inggana ited ti kompanya ti dawdawaten mi, “ (The strike is our last option to gain our demands for higher wages and benefits. We will not lift the strike until the management gives in to our demands) he explained. He added that the workers are only asking what is due them.

Manong Camelio also disclosed that his family’s support strengthens him. His wife also shares tasks at the Tubo picketline. Even his children understand the situation.

“Maawatan da met ken sumupsuportar da. Ni baket ko ket makibantay ditoy piket, no mamingsan agluto ti kanen dagiti adda ditoy,” (My family understands and supports the strike. In fact my wife also comes to the picket area and sometimes cook for us) he said.

With his family on his side, and support, both moral and material pouring in, Manong Camelio is convinced that the strike can stand even over a month if the management refuses to grant their demands.

It is already 11:15 AM.. Manong Camelio’s shift is over but the much anticipated dispersal team is not yet in sight. It was a 12-hour shift, he needs to rest to regain his strength because looking at the odds, it seems that the strike is far from over. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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