By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — The president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) said the capitol workers’ union is “under threat.”
“Some employees want [the union’s] unity destroyed by spreading intrigues and misinformation,” said Dino Gasendo.
Neil Mapa of the Provincial Legal Office, himself a former PACE president, was leading this effort, Gasendo revealed.
“He is campaigning for PACE members to withdraw their membership,” he said, but “he (Mapa) himself has not withdrawn his own membership.”
A capitol worker “could not avail (himself) of benefits, including burial and retirement,” if he withdraws his membership in PACE, said Gasendo.
The Negros Occidental provincial government has some 2,400 employees.
Gasendo said PACE was pushing for the granting of more benefits to the workers and the release of their P20,000 collective negotiation agreement (CNA) signing bonus.
He said they have not received that bonus since the CAN was signed three years ago.
“How would Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. give us our benefits if there is a problem among the rank and file,” he asked.
Gasendo also expressed dismay over reports that “some department heads meddle with matters purely (for the) union, exclusive to the rank and file.” Under the CNA, “department heads are part of the management,” he stressed.
Gasendo called on PACE members to unite against the “threats” to the organization./PN
