COTGEM 1ST public sector union to join ALU-TUCP

The Cotabato Government Employees Association (COTGEM) recently had affiliated to the Association of Labor Unions- Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) in a Memorandum of Affiliation ceremony conducted last Friday, July 1, 2011 at Dr. Rosario P. Diaz building Amas, Kidapawan City.

The signing ceremony was graced by the two known pillars of the Philippine labor union movement, the ALU-TUCP founder and National President Atty. Democrito T. Mendoza and National Executive Vice President Atty. Cecillio T. Seno.

Among the signatories for the ALU-TUCP include Representative Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza, Members of the Oversight Executive Committee Gerard R. Seno and Michael Democrito C. Mendoza and Regional Vice President for Mindanao Jessie N. Pagaran. For the COTGEM, it was represented by its President Teotimo S. Paguican, Executive Vice President Ricarlo Adeja, Vice President for External Affairs Severo C. Marciano and Personnel Selection Board Second Level Representative Magdalena Lemana.

Present also and witnessed the said event were Vice-governor Gregorio “Dodong” Ipong, Board Member Jose I. Tejada, COTGEM officials and members and presidents of various local sectors from Davao City.

The COTGEM and ALU-TUCP collaboration is an innovative private and public sector initiative that marked as the first ever in the history for both sector unions and probably in the history of unionism in the Philippines.

ALU-TUCP National President Mendoza in his message expressed his gratitude for the COTGEM family for choosing the ALU-TUCP as partner in working for the common agenda and welfare of the employees. He also assured to work with heart and soul not just in private sectors but as well as in public sectors like COTGEM.

COTGEM President Teotimo S. Paguican also thanked Atty. Mendoza for accepting COTGEM as affiliated member of ALU-TUCP, the strongest and biggest labor union in the country.

According to Paguican, COTGEM as affiliated member of ALU-TUCP will participate in various rallies, advocacies and activities which are not in contrary to the Civil Service Commission or CSC policy rules and regulations. Basic legal services will also be provided among the members. They will as well avail medical and dental services and lower hotel rate accommodation and other amenities owned by the ALU-TUCP.

ALU-TUCP Representative Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza in his message said that COTGEM has the right choice for choosing the biggest and strongest labor federation in the Philippines-ALU-TUCP. The congressman was also proud to say that ALU-TUCP is one among the top 20 partylists in the country where most major corporations are affiliated.

He added that out of more than thirty labor federations in the country only ALU-TUCP has rank and file employees of almost 200 all over the country. “This is a clear manifestation that ALU-TUCP is very serious in protecting the rights of the workers” Mendoza said.

COTGEM was founded in 1987 as public sector trade union by virtue of Executive Order number 180 and duly registered at Civil Service Commission and accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as the sole collective bargaining unit of the Provincial Government of North Cotabato.

COTGEM founder Mr. Rey Campo in his opening remarks said that the MOA signing marks another milestone in the history of COTGEM as the first public sector ever to join ALU-TUCP. He also looks forward that the affiliation of COTGEM to ALU-TUCP will become fruitful.// mdd –idcd-pgo