Transport strike hits Hanjin shipyard

CASTILLEJOS, ZAMBALES—DRIVERS AND OPerators of 50 mini buses providing transport services to the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Phils. Inc. (HHIC-PI) on Saturday went on strike to protest the Korean firm’s alleged bias in hiring their rival’s services.

The strike, also mounted in Cawag, Subic, and timed two hours before work started at 8 a.m., sent some 1,000 workers scampering for boat rides to get to the Hanjin shipyard across the Subic Bay Freeport.

The protest came on the heels of HHIC’s nonrenewal of contract for the operation of at least 25 mini buses owned by members of the Zambales Operators Drivers Cooperative Association (Zamodca).

The strike prevented thousands of Hanjin workers from reaching their work places and disrupted the shipyard’s operations.

Ernesto Ebilane, Zamodca general manager, said the protest was triggered by the decision of Hanjin management “to replace our services with those Korean-backed bus firms.”

“Even though the other firms are fronted by Filipinos, it is common knowledge that Koreans own them. [Hanjin is just] using the [bus] inspections to take out us and replace us with them,” he said.

He said Zamodca buses have been servicing Hanjin workers for two years “when the roads were still really bad, and we had to do everything to get thousands of workers to the shipyard on time.”

Recently, the Hanjin management began inspecting Zamodca buses. “If they found little things like broken windows, missing belts or damaged upholstery, those buses would not be allowed to operate… even if these things could be repaired or replaced immediately,” Ebilane said.

He said Hanjin would ask other bus firms to transport the workers instead.

Hanjin general manager, Taek Kyun Yoo, said the inspections, which started last year, were “for the safety of our workers.”

“Many of [Zamodca] buses are in poor condition. If they can’t pass our inspection, they will not be hired anymore,” he said.

He said Zamodca buses were “accommodated in the beginning because of [Zambales’] politicians’ request.” He did not elaborate.

He said Zamodca members have a right to strike “but what they are doing… is illegal.” –Robert Gonzaga, Central Luzon Desk