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

The Drinking Bender after the Midterm Exam

ANTO COMETA

Results from the midterm exam in IR 201 were already out. I didn’t know that until Cathe text messaged stating that Dr. Bach Macaraya was already distributing the midterm papers in class. At the time she informed me, I was on my way to UP SOLAIR. I was with my drunk dad whom I asked to drive me to school. We were stuck in heavy traffic at Philcoa. After receiving that text from Cathe I was a bit uneasy and wanted the car to fly in order to get to UP SOLAIR in an instant. I received a text message again but this time it was from Jef. He asked if I would like to go out after class with Pau, Bam and Gracey to celebrate Pau’s recent break up with her boyfriend.

When I arrived at the school I immediately went to the classroom. Obviously I was late and it was so evident because there was a group reporting in front and the class for some reason was so quiet although the topic of the report was very mind stimulating – “Strategic Choice of Multi National Companies”. When I entered the class everyone looked at me as if they saw an extra terrestrial life form entering earth. I immediately sat down and looked at Cathe who was seated across - smirking. I was seated beside one of the reporters, Mani. It’s a pseudonym I invented since I don’t want to disclose his real identity because he’s an established person in his field. After a couple of minutes I received a text message, it was from Cathe. She was asking me how it feels to be seated with Mani – the person we were so irritated with since day 1 of that particular class. I smiled and replied “feels like heaven”.

After 40 minutes, the uneasiness got worse not because I was seated beside Mani (actually he was so nice to me and even offered chocolates, which I didn’t refuse, well, at first I did but he was insistent so I did get some) but mainly because the people beside me were looking at their papers. I snapped. So I asked Mani if we could have a 10-minute break before they start their next topic. In order to get the attention and relay the request to their group mate who was currently reporting, he interrupted the lecture and said, “break daw” the reporter replied “huh, ano, break? break na tayo? It got the attention of our professor and told the class to have a fifteen-minute break. Before I proceeded to have the break, I approached Dr. Macaraya and asked for my paper. I was quite nervous to see the grade that he gave. When he handed over the paper, the foremost thing I noticed were remarks in red. I thought those were terrible comments, but when I looked closely, the remarks stated “ok” and some very critical points that he thought I should have covered and discussed in my paper. When I flipped the last page, it was a relief for me, I got 1.75.

I took my break with two of my “council of elders” (Bossing Jess and Cathe – peace mga friends!) together with Elo. We went to the hut beside the pond inside the school and smoked. We were discussing some things which were mostly not related to industrial relations. We lost track of the time - since we were laughing our hearts out because of some jokes and stuff that Cathe and Elo did while Mani and his group mates were reporting. When we went back to the classroom, the reporter in front was already discussing the conclusion. It was very embarrassing - it was really evident that we didn’t want to pay attention to their report.

After the class, we went to Tree House (a restaurant along Matalino St. which is within our village). We ordered the good stuff – red wine, although the brand of the wine is cheap, nonetheless it’s still the good stuff. All of us were there except Pau. Pau went home after their class but according to Jef she was already on her way to join us. Around 10pm, after we had dinner and a couple of (or several) bottles of wine which made almost everyone tipsy except for Gracie (she never really drinks alcohol, she prefers the Chuckie chocolate drink over alcohol) who just had a glass of wine because we forced her, Pau arrived. She immediately ordered a bottle of beer and briefly discussed their break up, no details though. After an hour then came the “MU” (the label is so childlike – well I don’t know how to label their ongoing relationship). We talked to the guy to make him feel comfortable. Well to start with, the situation is already uncomfortable since he was introduced to the friends of the girl she’s courting, not to mention that all of us had this look as if we wanted to tie him up at the chair he’s currently sitting with a shotgun pointed at his head (or was it just me and Bam - biro lang 'to) and make him confess if his motive is just to fornicate with our friend. Nonetheless we made him feel comfy since we love our friend (hehe - seriously, but not the intimate type).

It was already midnight when Pau and the MU decided to go ahead. We stayed there for several minutes to discuss our personal assessments about the guy. Me, Bossing Jess and Bam had the same view about the guy – he’s just for that thing. Well, as if we can do something about it (if ever yun nga) but Cathe was quite worried after hearing our assessment, so she text messaged Pau to be careful (hmmm…) and be sound on her decisions. The exchange of views and the worrying didn’t stop even after the restaurant closed so we went to a nearby canteen selling baka soup – Tangkoy’s, that’s along Kalayaan Avenue near Tree House. By the way, their baka soup was one of the best that I tasted. Even though I’m so tipsy or scatterbrained I could still discern Cathe’s anxiety. The discussion continued while eating (or sipping) baka soup. When I looked at Cathe I noticed that her MP3 headphones were soaked in the soup. So I stood up and removed the headphones from the soup. Cathe just stared at me. After finishing our soups we decided to go home since all of us are quite exhausted and to an extent drunk (and the discussions were going nowhere).

I really don't know what happened to the rest after I entered Jef's car, all I know was that it was another ecstatic day for me, thanks to the wine... and friends of course.

Writers and Article Contributors - The Philippine Industrial Relations

ANTO COMETA

The Deterioration of the Labor Movement and Expansion of Cooperatives and Its Impact on Philippine Industrial Relations

ANTO COMETA

Economic restructuring and policies, even technological change, brought about by trade liberalization and globalization has greatly impinged the current Philippine Industrial Relations Systems. The decline in both numbers and membership of unions in contrast to the mounting presence of cooperatives and its members has brought several implications in the representation of the formal labor sector- creation of national policies concerning the formal workforce and effectiveness of collective bargaining in the country.

The apparent decline in the Philippine labor movement could be attributed to the structural causes as well as institutional barriers which tend to regulate union organizing and expansion. [1] Foreign investments and its leveraging of resources and transfer of operations across borders particularly to third world countries has instigated not only an economic move but also social as well as political. It has affected the existing national set up of industrial relations system of the country which is executed through the reduction of regular workers and increase in contractual or casual employees, and the prevention of unionism.

Cooperatives has somehow benefited from the effects of trade liberalization and globalization. Companies lean towards the acceptance of cooperatives as compared to unions, which can be perceived in the approach used by numerous companies across industries – the “union avoidance approach”. Companies’ either directly undermine union organizing efforts or restructure the company and relocate the unionized business into a non-unionized setting.[2] Cooperatives are deemed by companies as somehow less problematic and muddled and to a certain extent advantageous as they have become providers of contractual or casual workers for the company they are affiliated or connected to. This has paved the way to the increase in cooperatives over trade unions.

As a major consequence of this growing trend, the underpinning in which the entire industrial relations system is situated has also been compromised - and that is the relationship between the tripartite actors. The core of the Philippine Labor Code which governs the actors is centered within the aspect of regular employment purposely for labor standards and protection.[3] The deteriorating number of non-regular employees due to labor flexibility or flexible labor arrangements brought about by globalization implies minimal influence of the labor sector in public policy and governance. Without ample and proper representation from the workers, its influence over national policies and collective bargaining in terms of employment relationship is at stake. The effectiveness of the national industrial relations system, its control over the employers and protection of the workers is inadequate if not desecrated.

If we are to efficiently address issues concerning the labor sector and its impact on the industrial relations system, major actors in the tripartite system should be properly represented. Programs and policies to be developed and implemented in order to achieve a well-balanced and affable industrial relations in the country should be done with proper consultation from the key actors which runs the national tripartite mechanism.

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[1] Bitonio Jr, B. Unions on the Brink: Issues, Challenges and Choices Facing the Labor Movement in the 21^st Century, 128

[2] Ofreneo, R. Globalization and Unionism: The SMU Challenge, 7

[3] Macaraya, B. The Labor Code and the Unprotected Workers, 230

Addressing the Principle of Minimum Wage Fixing: An Initial Approach to an Efficient Labor Costing

ANTO COMETA

Several theories and models on wages have been developed in order to address the dilemma in the structure of labor costing. Fixing wages covers a wide range of factors affecting both the supply and demand of the labor market as well as economic and political conditions and policies of a country.

One of the components that need to be attended to is the principle of minimum wage fixing. Minimum wage is a good and reliable reference of the standard of living of the workers particularly in developing or third world countries such as the Philippines. In this particular case, the dependent variable which is the minimum wage determines the outcome or the output of the independent variable which is the living standard of the workers. This could assist in the initial approach on how to properly put forward an efficient labor costing policy and structure across economic sectors and industries.

According to the Labor Code of the Philippines, the determinant of the minimum wage in the country constitutes a near satisfactory level that could sustain the living conditions in terms of the basic necessities of the worker. “The regional minimum wages … shall be as nearly adequate as is economically feasible to maintain the minimum standards of living necessary for the health, efficiency and general well-being of the employees within the framework of the national economic and social development program.”[1]

As avowed in the labor code, the minimum cost of labor ensures sufficient remuneration for the worker in order to suffice the cost of living or the standard living necessities of the individual (and their families). However, in this regard, the minimum wage does not entail improvement in the economic situation of the individual. This is just a mere “pay the rent” principle whereby an individual works in order to live by the day.

Minimum labor costing should intend to address poverty and guarantee the sustainability of the necessities of the workers and their families. A study conducted by Catherine Saget of the International Labour Organization (ILO) with reference to the minimum wage and its impact on the nation’s poverty suggests there is evidence to support that minimum labor costing can take an essential part in the reduction of poverty of a country. [2] In relation to the evidence, at least three premises should be sufficed - (1) most workers should be entitled to get at the least the minimum wage, (2) compliance of employers with the minimum wage regulation and there should be (3) no price increase in commodities following the augmentation in minimum wage. Accordingly, if the three conditions were met, the principle of minimum wage to surmount poverty and meet the requirements of satisfying the necessities of the workers and their families is feasible.

One of the major hindrances aside from the economic condition affecting the country and its labor market is the revenue acquisition of the employers. Employers are quite concerned in the maximization of their profits. Most if not all adheres to the principle of sticky wages. By not promptly responding to the changes in wage levels in the labor market, revenue exceeds the cost of hiring the worker. This is also applicable in hiring additional workforce in their business.

The principle in minimum wage fixing will remain abstract if it would not be applied and stringently implemented. The most viable way of addressing both social and economic issues and eventually arriving to a resolution is through social dialogue in different forms and levels between the tripartite partners.[3] In the paper published by the ILO authored by Tayo Fashoyin, discourse and consultation between the workers (with their organizations or trade unions), employers and the government as well as other relevant stakeholders is a useful measure of developing agreements on policy issues.

Coming to agreements and formulating policies based on the consensus of concerned parties plays a fundamental function in shaping the labor market and relevant institutions as well as the economy of the country. An efficient minimum wage fixing could pave the way not only to an efficient structuring of labor costing but also to the development of the country and its economy.

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[1] Art 124 of the Philippine Labor Code, www.dole.gove.ph/laborcode/

[2] Catherine Saget, Minimum Wage – Does it Cut Poverty?, http://www.ilo.org/public/

[3] Tayo Fashoyin, Social Dialogue and Labour Market Performance in the Philippines, http://www.ilo.org/public/

Earrings With Feelings

ANTO COMETA

I’m promoting my friend’s business, let's support Filipino domestic entrepreneurship.

earrings with feelings.

abubot.

palamuti.

kerengkeng.

sabit-sabit.

borloloy.

palawit.

They are selling funky earrings made mostly out of wooden and glass beads. If you want an alternative pair of earrings for your fashion accessory that is very unique and affordable, you may place your order(s) by contacting them through the following numbers:

Jasmine - 0917-8978562

Riza - 0917-8502849

Ros - 0919-2394114

Email: earringswithfeelings@gmail.com

Blog: http://earringswithfeelings.blogspot.com

The (Over)View of Pluralism

ANTO COMETA

“If pluralism is a valid view, and respect between systems of values which are not necessarily hostile to each other is possible, then toleration and liberal consequences follow, as they do not either from monism (only one set of values is true, all the others are false) or from relativism (my values are mine, yours are yours, and if we clash, too bad, neither of us can claim to be right).”

– Isaiah Berlin

Pluralism holds the view that diversity amongst individuals and groups is a significant factor that is quite essential and beneficial to society. It is defined in the context of liberal democracies wherein the concentration of power should not be exclusively held by a single or group of elites but should be dispersed among the various ideological and economic pressure groups of the society.[1]

The players of pluralism referred to as the pressure or interest groups interact with each other in such a way that they may be able to compromise, compete, have a concession and negotiate with each other. The primary objective is for the group’s principle to develop into the dominant interest and to eventually become the majority. However, given the system in which they operate, pressure groups tend to be controlled and confined within the premise of the system itself.

Pressure or interest groups represent the positions of the bloc or people they belong to. These groups act based on the beliefs and common goals that they share with the rest of the faction. The significance of pressure groups is situated in the ideology and manner of influencing the public or liable parties. They seek to convey their causes, advocacies and programs by influencing people or society in general. These groups are entirely different from political parties - Political parties seek to convey their concerns by being elected in public office whereas pressure groups put across their concerns by influencing the public or the different sectors of society through awareness and persuasion.

Antagonism towards other pressure groups could generate instability and disorder within the system. It could be extremely despotic, which could present threat to the current libertarian state of the society or nation. In order to re-establish pluralism, the dominant group should be removed from the system or be replaced by a less domineering group having the same ideology.

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[1] Pluralism, http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9060460/pluralism

The Story of Milk and Coffee

ANTO COMETA

Last Saturday, after our 1-4 pm class under Dr. Bach Macaraya, me and my friends in graduate school – Bossing Jess, Atty. Cathe and Jef decided to go out for a wholesome afternoon engagement - discuss IR concepts or anything under the sun while drinking milk (seriously) and coffee. However, it turned out to be an alcoholic drinking spree of a juvenile slave driven employee and three established professionals. What happened to the milk and coffee?

Initially, we were supposed to go to a coffee shop because Jess was quite sleepy even after the class (although the class was not that boring - thanks to one of our classmates who for the nth time never failed to piss everyone in class by his thoughtless remarks and questions), Cathe craves for milk and Jeff, even though he already left early, text messaged that he will join us as soon as he’s done with the activity that he’s currently engaged in.

Downstairs we met up with our groupmates Erika and Elo to discuss who will be the members of our next reporting session (we have decided to distribute the members into two groups for the remaining two concepts that we have to cover for the course). Even after we have settled the matter, we were still indecisive as to where we were going. Elo suggested a nifty place where we could drink coffee and milk with the ambiance and all. Without any qualms, we decided to go the place that Elo suggested. We asked Elo and Erika if they wanted to join us. Erika declined because she’ll be traveling a couple of hours going home (she lives in Laguna), she can’t afford to stay late, while Elo still has a class until 7:00 pm. Elo said he will just follow as soon as his class ends and if we are still there.

Anyway, we went to the establishment Elo suggested. When we arrived at the place, we asked one of the personnel if they are serving milk and coffee. The personnel seemed stunned by my question; he said “sir ano po kape at gatas” with a baffled look in his eyes. I replied “oo kuya, gatas at kape, bakit wala ba dito noon?” He just smiled and said “wala po”. I replied again and said “seryoso, talagang walang kape at gatas dito?” The personnel didn’t answer back anymore and just turned around and went to the counter. I couldn’t say anything other than “sira ulong Elo yun ah” and then we laughed. We have no choice but either go to a coffee shop or just settle there and drink whatever they have. The three of us agreed that we just stay there.

Jef finally arrived after several minutes, Jess and I decided to drink beer instead, while the two ordered chamomile tea. Actually, I’m not so sure at that time if I really wanted to drink alcohol since it’s been 3 days (not consecutive though) that I have been drinking. Nonetheless, I still ordered beer, I can’t resist the temptation. After an hour and a half of academic discussion, two refills of chamomile tea and six bottles of san mig light. Cathe and Jef decided to drink booze as well. It was already almost 8:00 pm when Elo arrived. It has been four hours since we step foot on the place. After an hour, another two rounds of beer (that’s almost 9:00 pm if I’m not mistaken), senseless jokes and hard laughs because we were already under the influence of alcohol (note: we are not yet drunk), Jess called my attention and said that he has to leave because he still has to fetch his daughter in school. Elo seconded, that he also needs to go because he has another affair to attend to. So it would be me, Cathe and Jef who will be left after the two departs. The three of us decided to continue our alcohol binge at a nearest bar where we could have a bit of live music to listen to – 70s Bistro. It was me who suggested the place since I know that the band Color It Red will be playing.

Cathe and I had a round of beer while Jeff ordered iced tea. At that point, I’m getting a feel that it will be me who will be left drinking alcohol before the night ends. Before the band started, we had a series of good laughs and foolish stories shared. I just realized that our beers where already consumed. Jef asked if we wanted to have another round, without any hesitations I said yes. On the contrary, Cathe refused to have another beer and ordered coffee instead. Jef also ordered coffee. And I was right… it was victory for me. I realized that I’m becoming some sort of a juvenile drunkard, tagging along with professionals, so much for the initial plan of coffee and milk. Well, the two had their coffee, I didn’t. Anyway, we went home almost 1:00 am (Thursday). Before we parted, Cathe asked me If we could go back to 70s bistro to watch again Cookie Chua since she enjoyed the gig, and also to catch a glimpse of Julianne’s performance… I said yes. This time...no doubt, would be a story of booze and artists (and industrial relations I guess) and not an account of what happened to the milk and coffee group date.

This is a nonsense narrative…

Synopsis of John Dunlop’s Industrial Relations Systems

ANTO COMETA

John Dunlop’s analysis and study of the concepts, structure, function, practices, outcome and the institution that are constitutive of the employment relationship have paved the way in the establishment of the main framework of an industrial relations system.

According to Dunlop, the system is composed of three main actors and their organizations, the context or setting in which they interact, the common ideology held by the actors and the body of rules that govern the system. These are the fundamental components that shape or outline the industrial relations system in which they belong to.

The actors - hierarchy of managers, the hierarchy of workers and the specialized government agencies are the central personas in an industrial system. The interaction and relationship within the three creates the set of rules of the workplace or the principles of the system. Establishment (and development) of the set of rules is the focus of an industrial relations system. The body of rules in the system administers the actors in the place of work. The function of experts and professionals are very crucial in order to establish and govern the body of rules in the system. This are organized and consists of (a) procedure and authority for making rules (b) substantive rules - related to market or budgetary constraints and related to distribution of power in larger society such as compensation, duties and discipline as well as the rules of discipline and (c) administration of rules governing work place and the work community which involves policies of management hierarchy, laws of worker hierarchy, regulations / decisions/ orders by government agencies, collective bargaining agreements and the customs and traditions of work place and work community.

The entire industrial relations system becomes (or mandated to be) stable because of the common ideology or beliefs shared by the three actors of the industrial relations system. It should be fitting and consistent to allow a mutual set of ideas that identifies an acceptable role for each actor. This also characterizes and delineates both the position and function of each in the entire system or their relationship with the rest of the actors. These set of ideas or beliefs are the factors that integrate the system as a unit. Displacement of the existing ideological equilibrium takes place when a belief has a significant modification. Accordingly, this will create a new position or set of rules within the entire system.

The system operates within or prescribed by technology, product markets as well as the locus and distribution or power in society. These are the contexts or environments in which the main actors interact. The technological characteristics of the place of work may influence the type of management of a particular work community as well as the organization of its workers. Moreover, this may also dictate the required labor force of the organization, the requirement for supervision and possible regulation of the government or government agencies. Product markets for the most part affect management group, however, this is dependent on the type of system in which it operates. The distribution of power is not within the confine of the industrial relations system. This operates outside of the system yet influences the key actors of the system itself. These are types of power orientation or authority that has direct influence over the key actors.

The industrial relations system necessitates unison, interdependency and equilibrium of the components. Even if the balance in the system is displaced, it would be re-established on condition that no major alteration would occur in the actors, contexts and shared ideology.

Multi Tasking - A Disambiguation for a Slave Driven Job Function

ANTO COMETA

There’s a clear distinction between performing different tasks in order to be familiar with certain functions needed to execute appropriately a particular designation and requiring or dealing with various responsibilities to be able to swathe a nugget of activities essential for the business operation. If we will take the latter as the principle of multi tasking, it is a clear manifestation of employee mismanagement or human capital exploitation.

In third world countries such as the Philippines, the concept of multi tasking is a widely imposed attribute carried out in work places across all industries. Fraudulence in job acquisition has been one of the major sources of grievances and dissatisfaction by majority of workers who were given clear job functions prior to the commencement of the assigned task(s) and then transcended to deviations of the normative occupational description during the course of the worker’s employment in the company.

Multi tasking has been widely exercised and expected to be part of the job. In most cases, companies require the worker to perform several tasks which are oftentimes beyond the scope of the designation given. Even if the title or the role of the employee limits or sets the scope of the functions to a specific area of accountability, it has a propensity of being extended or curled in order to give way to lengthened work assignment.

Companies have a notion that multi tasking is not a bad business concept as it facilitates management of its resources, predominantly for those that do not have sufficient means to acquire or increase the manpower. This cuts or saves operational cost since it necessitates several different tasks to be performed by an individual. However, there is an important factor that has been overlooked which is directly connected to the systems of operations of a business, and that is the capitalization or investment in employee productivity. Productivity is measured or defined by the output generated by the individual in terms of the goods produced or services rendered. In labor terms, it is usually determined or quantified as the output created by the worker in a certain period of time.

Labor productivity is more often than not misrepresented as an exclusive central component of business operations. Employee productivity does not only shape the mechanism of the business but also affects the entire industry. It is not limited to the execution of tasks in the organization. It also concerns the development of the individual in terms of work and contribution in the industry and society. Multi tasking oftentimes hinder both the productivity and the development of the worker as efficiency, delivery and quality are compromised. Consequently, the worker and organization suffer from the cost of employing such aspect.