18 Aug 2020 – NTUC Phl celebrates its 2nd Anniversary online, fully compliant with quarantine protocols.   

In his report, President Rodolfo Capoquian cited both bright and grim developments as the pandemic sizzles. “Andami nating pinagdaanan sa loob ng isang taon.”

Health Employees and Advocates of Labor (HEAL Phils) became a formal affiliate in 23 Nov 2019; the Philippine Land Transport Industry Union (PLTIU) held its convention in December 2019. 

The Women and Youth Assemblies in December 2019 reviewed progress in their respective Action Agendas, including in the ITUC AP DGB BW ATUC three-year project on women and youth participation in trade unions, and  in the May 2019 JILAF/NTUC Phl Conclusions and Recommendations.

Taal volcano erupted in January and damaged members’ lives and properties in Southern Luzon, spewing ash and misery. 

That would prove a minor event, compared to COVID-19 which continues to wreak havoc on workers, unions, companies and the country since March.

Two federations won certification elections in a Okada Manila casino in February 2020, adding 2,300 members. The pandemic halted physical casino and union operations.

“Ang daming pinsala ng COVID!

mga lockdowns, quarantines, checkpoints; mga nagsaradong kompanya; mga workers na nawalan nang kita;mga unyon na nawalan nang dues;maraming nagkakasakit, namamatay. [Although walang reported deaths sa ating members.] Tinamaan ang ating operations.” 

A number of employers were reported taking advantage, assaulting rights and labor standards.

JILAF seminars, traditionally conducted in  May, were postponed and postponed. Thy will now be held in October, pero online.

“Pero matatag tayo!”

NTUC  is holding online meetings of its governing bodies and committees. Other activities are online.

Federations, as well as local unions,  are holding their own online seminars and programs. A new affiliate of PFL held its founding assembly online just this  August 8.

The President asserts that NTUC continues to strengthen the labor movement. “Talagang UNIONS lang ang pagasa laban sa – Endo; mababang sahod; pananalasa ng TRAIN, inflation, at COVID; problema sa rice at tariffication …

Talagang nasa pag-uunyon ang pag-asa ng mga manggagawa.” NTUC Phl and its affiliates will face these challenges confidently.

Federations made formal presentations of their COVID-19 activities. They demonstrated the range of interventions and activities — relief operations ffo members and communities, continuing representations, online meetings,and seminars and collective bargaining, even urban farming — that unions have done despite the virus.

The Women and Youth Committees held a Joint Assembly: reviewed action and plans in their 13-point Agenda, including representations for ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment; exciting accomplishments in the ITUC AP/DGB/ATUC project improving women and youth participation in trade unions and elsewhere; and progress in social dialogue issues from the JILAF 2019 seminars Conclusions and Recommendations.