100 local union leaders commit to strengthen RH advocacy

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Vice President Alejandro Villaviza and TUCP Part-list Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza welcomed the resolve of trade union leaders attending the NACUSIP / PACIWU / CIO–ALU / FLO–ALU  National Convention to pursue more aggressive action on Reproductive Health programs and services in the workplace at the company and local government level. The National Convention was held last 15 – 16 August 2009 at Bacolod City.

Led by their National President, Atty. Zoilo V. Dela Cruz Jr., contingents from the four federations representing trade unions from Negros, Luzon, Mindanao and other parts of the Visayas gathered for their Annual Convention which highlighted the organizations’ accomplishments for the past year. The convention also discussed future strategies and actions to strengthen the organization, to expand membership, to boost existing programs and develop new ones.

Reproductive Health, a major area of concern among workers, was one of the issues discussed during the Convention. TUCP RH Program Implementers provided technical assistance in the discussions. They stressed that RH is a workplace issue because: 1) it is A Growing Public Health Concern; 2) it has Adverse Effect on Workplaces; 3) it is A Mandated Workplace Program; 4) it is An International Issue; and 5) it is A Trade Union Issue.

After lively discussions from the delegates, the one hundred union officers came up with a Declaration of Commitment and joint stand to:

1. Safeguard and promote the rights of workers especially issues that concern their welfare and well-being and affect their families and communities;

2. Promote individual responsibilities at the local union and company level through active engagement in corporate programs such as CSR and improvement of the Labor Standards Enforcement Framework; and

3. Advocate FP/RH@Work at local unions and companies by integrating RH and FP Provisions in Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).