Not Another Ordinary Day...

ANTO COMETA

A statement we drafted (together with the Chair and Vice-chair) disseminated to all constituents of the college and forwarded to a major newspaper in the observance of Labor Day. Mabuhay ang uring manggagawa!


NOT ANOTHER ORDINARY DAY…

The SOLAIR Student Council joins the rest of the nation in the observance of Labor Day.

The salient labor concerns such as sluggish implementation of wage increases, debilitating work standards and conditions, among others have remained unresolved up to this time. And this year may not be significant, as workers are still at the brink of rising unemployment rates, poorer working conditions, higher prices of commodities and increasing contractualization of work.

The recent shortcomings of our agricultural prices strained many of our laborers to clamor for the expedient implementation of a rational wage increase to sustain their decent livelihood. We believe that the increase on the daily wages is not only timely as it has been long overdue. The Student Council sees this issue as an institutional dysfunction of the appropriate government agencies supposed to deliver the mandate for the conduct of wage reviews, whether in a state of unprecedented national crisis or not.

We call for the immediate resolution of this issue and we urge these agencies to immediately act and present a feasible wage increase structure. We clamor for a more transparent and consultative wage review process to include participation of the different sectors of the society, especially the working population. By exercising this mandate, we provide assurance for both workers and employers.

The UP SOLAIR Student Council believes that the appropriated non-wage benefits for this year’s observance of Labor Day is an insult to the ordinary workers. These token “gifts” are clear manifestations of the State’s lopsided policy towards Labor. These represent the State’s total disregard of the interests and overall well-being of the working class.

We demand for the relevant government agencies to deliver their mandate! We demand for transparent and accountable wage review process to include different sectors of the society, especially the working class! We demand for the expedient implementation of wage increase!

We call on the Arroyo Administration to act on these NOW!!!

UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations
Student Council AY 2008-2009
May 01, 2008

A Call to Action to the UP SOLAIR Centennial Graduates

ANTO COMETA

Below is the statement of the UP SOLAIR Student Council which I drafted together with the council's Vice-Chairperson, Jef Baraquio for the centennial graduating class of the college. It was quite ecstatic when both the academic excellence awardee of the graduate school and the Guest Speaker - Dean Froilan Bacungan quoted the statement we distributed during the commencement exercise last Sunday, April 28, 2008.

For the graduates of both DipIR and MIR, I hope that what we have learned in UP SOLAIR would be applied in our respective professions and organizations and not just another item in our list of credentials.

A CALL TO ACTION TO THE UP SOLAIR CENTENNIAL GRADUATES

Today marks a momentous event in your academic and professional careers as you will be conferred with your respective Diploma or Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations, from no less than the School of Labor and Industrial Relations of the premier state university in the country, The University of the Philippines. As Iskolar ng Bayan, this not only brings prestige, but likewise responsibility and obligation to give something back to the country, to the university, and to the society.

A UP-SOLAIR education is not just a hard-earned diploma or another item in our list of credentials. Above anything else, it is something that we should apply in the workplace to effectuate decent work, non-discrimination, equal opportunities, and distributive justice.

As workers, it will be our weapon to resist unfair labor practices. As managers, it will be our moral and ethical standard in implementing just and equitable labor policies.

As graduates of UP-SOLAIR, we should lead by example in our respective organizations by taking into our minds and hearts, and be advocates of what is fair, what is just, and what is right --- the very core principles UP SOLAIR is much known for.

Let’s uphold and act on what we believe to be just and humane, not only for the workers and the organization we belong to but for the society and the country! Let us be UP SOLAIR graduates!

MABUHAY KA ISKOLAR NG BAYAN! MABUHAY KA SOLAIRIAN!

UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations
Student Council 2008-2009
APRIL 27, 2008

UP SOLAIR Student Council Supports Rodolfo Lozada Jr.

ANTO COMETA

It's Our Time

The UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations Student Council would like to support Rodolfo Lozada Jr. in his desire to reveal to the public the truth behind the controversial “NBN-ZTE” broadband project.

The surmounting death threats that he and his family has been receiving for the past few days, and the risks of exposing such anomalies to the public are indications that there are groups who will relentlessly thwart order and destabilize the investigation proceedings.

We believe that curtailment of this freedom not only decelerates the speedy resolution of the case, but it brings millions of working Filipinos clueless as to how their taxes were utilized to finance such projects. We may have varying opinions on the credibility of his statements, but the aim to uncover the truth is based on the principled right that every person deserves to be given a fair chance to speak of and be heard.

And so our vigilance will rise up against these staggering pitfalls of the investigation process. We join the rest of the nation in its search for truth and justice.

For it’s about time that our voices be heard.

UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations Student Council
University of the Philippines - Diliman
February 08, 2008

Ending Campus Violence

ANTO COMETA

Official statement released by the Student Council of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations with reference to a recent incident concerning an undergraduate student who died due to a fraternity related occurrence.

LET US PUT AN END TO CAMPUS VIOLENCE

The UP SOLAIR studentry sympathizes with the bereaved family and friends of Chris Mendez, an NCPAG senior who died last week due to a fraternity hazing incident. We also extend our prayers for the speedy delivery of justice to Chris and to the many others who have become victims of these fraternity-related incidents.

This issue awakens us to the fact that putting an end to campus brutality may remain an elusive goal for the members of the UP community. Fateful incidents such as these tarnish the much-celebrated academic and social reputation of our University. Many forms of physical abuse occurring everywhere in our campus counter the premises of academic freedom which we have selflessly fought for and sustained throughout the years.

We in UP SOLAIR condemn all forms of campus violence. We recognize this issue as an organizational malady that needs to be acted upon. While student councils, student organizations, fraternities and sororities continue to provide a staunch support in promoting the University's academic and social thrusts, we are, at the same time, endowed with the responsibility of ensuring the rights and welfare of the students.

We therefore urge the administration to address the need for institutional reforms to break the traditional inhumane practices employed by some organizations and to safeguard the students' rights to a safe and student-friendly campus.

Every member of the UP community is asked to remain vigilant. Collective effort should be observed in order to systematically eradicate violent incidents in our campus. It is about time that we set our self-gaining interests aside and promote solidarity and respect for one another.

For in the end, we will never be judged by our individual contributions but by our conscience.

Let us help make campus violence a history. . . NOW!!!!!

UP SOLAIR Student Council
University of the Philippines - Diliman
September 4, 2007