Laid-off North Harbor workers demand back wages

SOME 400 former workers of the North Harbor barricaded two of its gates as they pushed for the cancellation of a P14 billion redevelopment project and the payment of their back wages.

At the same time, the group called on President Benigno Aquino III to review the allegedly anomalous contract between Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Manila North Harbor Port Inc. (MNHPI).

The workers claimed the agreement led to some 400 of them being laid off. They added that three months have passed since MNHPI took over the harbor’s operations but they have yet to receive their separation pay.

Clifford Arriza, a former paymaster and the spokesperson for the group, told the Inquirer that based on his estimates, MNHPI owes some P30 million in separation pay and back wages.

During Monday’s mass action, his group barricaded the gate to Pier 10 on Moriones Street and the gate leading to Pier 4 on Zaragoza Street.

Arriza, who worked at the harbor for 14 years, said that his group felt that MNHPI, which is led by Harbour Centre Port Terminals Inc., did not seem to have any intention of paying the workers affected by the harbor’s privatization.

“We have been waiting for three months to be paid our separation pay and back wages. They still have not acted on our demand,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He stressed that they would continue to block the gates until their demands are heard.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Ernesto Tendero, Manila Police District Station 2 commander, said that despite the closing of two gates, there were other routes open to the harbor.

“These are laid off workers of the North Harbor who are airing their grievances. We could allow that as long as they peacefully stage their protest action,” he added.

MNHPI took over port operations at North Harbor in April. –Jeannette Andrade, Philippine Daily Inquirer