Si San Jose, bilang ama, bilang karpintero at mabuting manggagawa

May 1, 2008 – Huwebes -

Gn 1:26-2:3; Ps 90;

San Jose Manggagawa

Mt13:54-58
Pumunta si Jesus sa kanyang bayan at nagturo sa mga tao sa kanilang sinagoga. Namangha silang lahat at nagsabi: "Saan kaya galing ang kanyang karunungan at natatanging kapangyarihan? Hindi ba't siya ang anak ng karpintero? Hindi ba't si Maria ang kanyang ina at sina Jaime, Jose, Simon at Judas ang kanyang mga kapatid? Hindi ba't narito sa piling natin ang lahat niyang kapatid na babae? Ano't nangyari sa kanya ang lahat ng ito?" At bulag sila tungkol sa kanya. Sinabi naman sa kanila ni Jesus: "Sa kanyang sariling bayan lamang at sambahayan hinahamak ang isang propeta." At kaunti lamang ang kanyang ginawa niyang himala roon sapagkat kulang sila sa pananampalataya.

PAGNINILAY

Mga kaibigan, nagulat ang mga kababayan ni Jesus sa kanyang taglay na kapangyarihan at talino sapagkat kilala nga nila ang pamilya ni Jesus. Hindi nila matanggap na mas magaling si Jesus kaysa kanila samantalang isa lamang s'yang anak ng karpintero. Ang akala nila ay talagang kilala nila si Jesus, hindi nila nakita ang tunay niyang pinagmulan at ang kanyang pagiging Anak ng Diyos at tunay na Diyos. Dahil dito, hindi sila naniwala kay Jesus kaya't kukunti rin ang ginawa niyang himala sa kanyang sariling bayan. Mga kaibigan, kung iuugnay natin sa ating karanasan ang nangyari sa Panginoon, hindi ba't ganitong-ganito rin ang ating reaksyon sa mga taong kilala natin na nagtagumpay. Kung baga eh, dahil kilala natin sila kaya't hindi tayo naniniwala sa kakaiba nilang kakayahan. Halimbawa ang isa sa ating kapitbahay na mahirap na ng dahil sa kanyang pagsisikap ay naging isang dalubhasang doctor. Hindi tayo lumalapit upang magpapagamot sa kanya sapagkat wala tayong tiwala sa kanyang kakayahan. Kasi nga naman ay kilala natin s'ya bilang isang mahirap tapos ngayon, isang doctor na. Mga kaibigan, walang imposible sa Diyos, ang lahat ay kaya n'yang ipagkaloob sa sinumang nais n'yang pagkalooban. Sana makita natin ang pagkilos ng Panginoon sa buhay ng ating kapuwa, sapagkat ang mga biyayang ipanagkakaloob ng Panginoon ay para gamitin at ibahagi sa kapuwa, ngayon kung wala tayong tiwala sa isa't isa, paano magkakaroon ng mabuting bunga ang biyaya ng Panginoon sa ating buhay? Kaya nga magtiwala tayo sa Panginoon upang makagawa rin s'ya ng mga himala sa ating buhay at hilingin natin ang tulong ni San Jose, ang Patron ng mga manggagawa.

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March 17, 2008 Another Dirty Tricks (in Tag-lish)

To my surprise, today Michael Connors (Packaging Department Manager) & Lamont Monroe ( Senior Human Resources Officer) called me in a private meeting in the third floor.

Again another dirty tricks!

As usual procedure tinanong ako ng ganito. "Do you know why you are here?" Lamont asked me.

I answered "I don't know!" And I asked "Why?"

He asked me "Do you remember any incident between you & Alex last Monday March 17, 2008?"

I told them "No!" and I asked "What incident?"

They told me that Alex reported me that we have an argument and I am trying to brush him with the forklift. (NOTE* similar dirty tricks has been applied to Ernie-Enrique & Lily-Jeff)

AGAIN...WHAT A FALSE ACCUSATION AGAINST ME!!!

AND I SAID "DO YOU THINK I CAN DO THAT....TRYING TO HURT AND ALMOST KILLING SOMEBODY WITH A FORKLIFT?" Oh My God...that is a serious crime if it happened, it is a murder!

"DO YOU THINK I AM THAT BAD?"

I really don't recall how they replied to my questions because I am really shocked!

That moment personally Lamont Monroe is almost concluding and buying what Alex has reported to them. This is how he does everytime he investigates every situation and protects them.

He even told me they have a lot witnesses on the incident that saw & even heard everything.

Because of this I demanded to have a witness with me or a union rep before giving them what I remember that day. Because they have collected a lot of signatures from co -workers to dis-certify the union recently, they refuse my demand to have a witness in the meeting. And the case now is in court. The charge against them is "Unfair Labor Practice!" And now they can do anything to us. Now our status is like an open water we are just waiting for the result of the case.

And for my protection I always told them "I Don't know anything about their talking about but they both try to squeeze me on that moment."

For me this is what happenned that day Monday March 12, 2008 2nd shift Packaging Department.

I saw him sitting on the break area before the third shift started.

He was always staring at me and as usual trying to give me a dirty look, like before and trying to intimidate me by chasing and telling me a lot of tagalog phrase like
"Ano, kaya mo pa ba?"( "Now what...can you still bear it?") and"Bakla ka eh, bakla ka eh...(.'you're gay...you're gay!")I really don't buy that anyway( I also remember he harassed a guy named Bong in the bathroom!)

By this time I noticed his doing this act when nobody is around and no one will see us.

Lamont even told me that Alex said "Do you have a problem with me?" And this is his usual phrase!!!

(He also uttered these words to Leonor before "Ano ba ang problema mo?")

I don't think he said these words that time.

And he (Lamont) said that I said a phrase like " Are you a marine?"

And even if I asked him "Are you a Marine?" what's wrong with that, anyway?

It is only my spontaneous reply to his insulting Tagalog Phrases "Kaya mo pa ba?....Bakla, bakla!!!" which Lamont didn't mentioned and create another phrases.

I know he doesn't want me to be there on the 2nd shift that day and it surprises him much.

For me, he is getting very personal and feel upset everytime he sees me ( and even Lamont said Alex is upset with me that day which I don't know why?)

Because of what happened before between us, I stayed working on the first shift. It is good even if we had that two rebidding proccess I still keep my schedule working in the morning. Except situation like this.

Professionally, Nick asked me if I can make it that Holy Monday March 17, 2008 because everybody will be off on Easter Sunday, which we both agreed and do my job accordingly.

And as much as possible I am trying to avoid him to stay out of trouble

PROVOKING ME

That day, I notice he's always chasing me and everytime he gets close to me he always want me to engage in an argument by talking a lot of tagalog phrases that will provoke or upset me. And hopefully put me in trouble like this. And get rid out of me.

Because I learn my lessons from the past. And the way the pro-union treat them everyday I should keep my patience with these people.

I really ignore him as much as possible meaning I don't want to talk to him except if it is job related.

In fact that day while I was standing on the isle between System 1 & 2 ( I am assigned to 2 machines as a forklift driver that day) while watching 7 monitoring my both inserts, he tried to bump me lightly on my shoulder. Unfortunately nobody saw this.

Although this does not not hurt me much, it is enough that I noticed that somebody was behind me. And when I turned it was him and again intimidating me by his dirty looks and murmuring.

Because he was trying to engaged me into trouble, I always tried to be with my co- workers and be visible to others. So that if anything happens there will be a witness of any untowards incidents between us.

Which I think he doesn't like that and really make him upset. And try to create again his own false story fo that incident that will put me as I said in a sticky situation like this. These are all lies. This is again another form of harassment and intimidation and try to tell everybody that I want him to get hurt by brushing the forklift to him.

They always use the safety issue against us like speeding, brushing with the forklift & dirty tricks to intimidate & harass us.

Well in fact some of my co-workers are speeding & did hit somebody, break or vulgarized some company's property but they don't do anything and never suspended.

These people are they own people who almost not doing anything everyday , tolerates them and giving them special treatment.

This is a descrimination.

On the latest issues especially on that DST Sunday a lot people were late but they don't do any disciplinary actions like suspension. Again, this is descrimination against me.

There was a time that he stood & leaning on the railing on the center with the PC booth and trying to intimidate me while I'm working.

I got off on my forklift & even tried to shake his hands which he didn't and refused.

And this is how I am, everytime I seemy frineds and other co workers on the floor I always shake their hands and greet them.

I really don't know why he was on my working area. Well in fact he should start on the third shift and work on a different machine.

Just to recall ( and I've documented (blogged) this too!)...I remember an incident with him with the other guy named Cris Valse about hitting or slapping him on the shoulder on system 2, and Ernie will testify this. And even the complainant Cris told everything to Andy through me.

I wonder why they still keep Alex on this job.

He was also involved with the firing of Joseph Misa, years ago.

Leonor complained about his attitude and harassing her years back.

Four years ago I had a problem with him because of harassing me.

But although I have a lot witnesses they still protect this guy and keep his job and did not have a fair investigation & due process of this incident, they always put & documented incident that is not true.

Instead they put on records things thay that will protect them. And this is how smart they are!

I remembered he also tried to block my forklift by his cart that day and then he went up to the control room.

And it is good I am on stop and talking to David C. about our work, we talked anything anyway.

I even told David to be beside me because Alex is trying to chase me, intimidate and harassing me by talking a lot in Tagalog and giving me some dirty looks.

He even tried to whisper a word to David while we are working. Honestly, I don't know what he said to David. This happened near the Secondary Delivery of System 1 near M hopper.

And when I am about to go home,. he again yelling at me "Bakla...bakla!" which I gnored and instead said "Goodbye!" to Steve and his friend on B Press.

I hope the cameras are working this time in the Packaging Department to reveal the truth on what really happened that day!

On this meeting I demanded to have a witness or a Union Rep with me but they ignored me.

That is why I keep repeating to them I don't know anything about what happened that day. It is not that I don't recall or don't remember anything, I am not that stupid.

Without any a union rep to witness that meeting...I don't give them any words and I will not give them any story because I don't trust and buy their game.

What they want is to get you into trap that everything & anything you say will go against you and they will play & roll out their dirty game.

That's why I keep telling them "I don't know about that!" " I don't know what you are talking about!"

And even told them, this is really unfair I don't have anybody or a witness with that meeting.

And Lamont always asking me "You mean you don't recall or remember anything?" And told me"How come a lot of people saw what happen?" and He added "How come you're the only one who doesn't know about this?" And even said that they have people who will testify that this incident happened.

I know that time they are really upset for not giving them any input.

So Michael & Lamont asked me that they need to step out for a minute in the room. And when they come back they told me I am suspended indefinitely without any pay because of further investigation of the incident, Michael said.

This is just giving me a hard time financially like they suspended me almost 2 years ago for insubordination which is lie. Now it is the same dirty tricks. And it is all because I believe in my basic human right, the right to have a union.

I told them it's unfair.

And lastly Michael Connors told me they will call me as soon as possible.

I keep telling them the bottom line is all about the union thing which they always deny!

Take note the meeting take place 10 Days after!
And there is no way I would kill or hurt anybody with the forklift, this is no joke!!!
And they didn't give me my first break I clocked in 8:30 AM and they sent me home 11:15AM...more than 2 1/2 hours straight!
Actually it is almost 11:25AM and before I went home I asked Michael about my weekly paycheck and we went in the office they can't find my weekly paycheck because Pam C. has it, Tony S. informed us.

Union Tribune's ruthless campaign against workers' rights.When UT employees attempt to stand up for themselves and try to form a union, we face threats, propaganda, discrimination, intimidation, harassment and even firings. It's wrong, and it's got to stop now!!!

Ang kaso ni Ernie B. sa aking pananaw at iba pa...

Sabado March 10, 2007

Ang pangyayaring ito ay isa lamang sa paulit-ulit na ginagawa ng mga supervisor magmula ng iboto ng karamihan na magkaroon ng union dito UT-Packaging Department. Ito ay ang di pantay-patay na pagtrato, pagpapahirap at basta nila kakasuhan ng mali ang mga manggagawa, sususpendihin at aalisin sa trabaho ang mga kaawa-awa kong mga kasamahan. At kung ipanaalam at humingi ka ng kinauukulang tulong sa tinatawag nilang Human Resources, ikaw na hamak na manggagawa ay kanilang babaliktarin at puro ang kasinungalingan ang kanilang isusulat at ipa-file at idodocumento upang ito ay magiging laban sa iyo hanggang sa ikaw ay kanila na lamang alisin sa trabaho.

Isang halimbawa sa kanilang paguusig sa isang kaso, ikaw ay ipapatawag sa isang meeting at mayroon na silang kopya ng pangyayari na kanila nilang dinoktor. At pag-kakataon mo nang sabihin ang panig mo, isa-isa nilang pakikinggan ang bawat salita binibitawan ito at hahanap sila ng butas upang ito ang ipanlaban sa iyo na akala mo napakahusay, napakagaling at bihasa silang magsalita ng wikang ingles, nguni't sa totoo ikaw ay binabaliktad lamang.

Kung ikaw ay nagpapaliwanag lamang ng iyong panig ang sasabihin nila ikaw ay nakikipag-argue o nakikipagdebate. Kaya dito pa lamang nilalabag nila ang karapatang pang-tao.

Hihingan kanila nga mga opinion at mga survey ngunit ito lamang ay ginagamit nilang pagcontrol sa mga tao para makakuha ng information mula sa 'yo. Ang halimbawa ay pagsasabi mo at pamimili ng shift ikaw ay bibigyan nila na taliwas sa kagustuhan mo, kagaya din ng day-off request mo, ganoon din sa iyong job assignment at may request ka na gusto mong kasama ikaw ay kanilang papahirapan at paiikutin maliban lamang kung ikaw ay kanilang paborito at umaayon sa kanilang bulok at maruming sistema na alisin at maniwala sa kanilang propaganda at pag-brainwash na walang silbi at walang magagawa ang ating union at di kailangan sa ating workplace.

Nasisikmura nilang patakbuhin sa araw-araw ang ating departmento na isang kasumpa-sumpang lugar at mag-away ang bawat isa at isisi ang mga masamang pangyayari sa pagkakaroon ng union, lalung-lalo na pinag-aaway nila ang mga kababayan kong mga Pilipino at mga kasama kong manggagawa upang di mabuo ang isang mabuting pagkakapatiran at magkaroon ng isang pamilya ng manggagawa na naghihirap sa araw-araw na naghahanap buhay upang itawid lamang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya. Sinisikap ng mga aba kong mga kasamang manggagawa na mailabas ng nasa panahon ang kaisa-isang lamang pahayagan ng San Diego, ang Union-Tribune!

Ang sulat mula sa upper-management ay isang magandang balita at nagpapatunay sa kanilang kasinungalingan at sana ay makita ng karamihan sa atin na buhay-buhay at gumagalaw para sa ang ating union at taliwas sa kinakalat nila na wala na raw tayong union at walang magagawa. Ang union ay di ako! Ang Union ay ikaw, sila o siya...ito ay tayong lahat...ito ang boses ng pangkaraniwang mamayan at manggagawa! Ito ang bumubuo ng pangkaraniwang mamayan (middle class family) ng Amerika. At ito tayo rin ang dahilan kung bakit nangunguna ang bansang Amerika sa kasalukuyang panahon.

"In Solidarity There Is Power, and Union There Is Power!"

Cris Valse's Incident Update

The decision of the management to the harassment incident between Alex Alcarion and Cris Valse is unjust and unfair for everybody and will endangered anyone of his co-workers while at work.

Any form of harassment is against the law and against the company's policy and not be tolerated.

We, as workers of the UT Packaging Department have the right for a safe and free-harassment environment in a workplace.

The management should be fair and treat this incident seriously for everybody's safety. They have no legal reason for bringing him back to work because this is an act of assault.

A lot of my co-workers want to sign and file a petition against this unlawful practice!

Read this: Asserting Your Rights In The Workplace

The Penakbet Aftermath! And a meeting of an old friends!

Today I had received a lot of information about the Penakbet incident aftermath. The incident spread so quickly among my co-workers, sharing facts and views.
Another issue that's being talked about is Marina's resignation. I was informed that she can't stand the pressure anymore! Well we don't know how true is this? I am really amazed how the news spread so quickly among my co-workers!

I also hope the same thing works especially if our union representatives has done a good job we should give them credit when it is due! More power to our union-negotiating team Steve, Sinbad, Benny, Ken & Lynn. We should always be sensible and well informed to what's happening. Take the intiative first. Keep updated! Be informed! All they need is our all-out support and encouragement to succeed. We should get up and stand up and speak out! Let your own voice be heard. So that we protect our rights as a worker! Anyway see you this Sunday on the meeting!!!

But before anything else I just want put on record that Me & Ernie Bayalan were asked by Gregg Johanssen to go to the office and gave our statement to Michael Connors about the incident. With respect to them we did our part as honestly and professionally as it is. Michael Connors told me that he had received an e-mail from Andy Smith about the incident since last night. And Michael C. gave his words to me that he'll do some action on this.
My co-worker Pam Uppal told me that she did saw Alex Alcarion having a meeting with Andy Smith and sent him home yesterday (Friday) and not let him work! Well, that's fair!
I also had a little conversation with Cris Valse ( the Victim). He is still upset about the incident and showed me his medicine, and he is trying to see his doctor as soon as possible! Why not an attorney for some legal actions, right? I told him, Go ahead it is your right!
This time I cannot conclude that the management had done it fairly... we have just to wait 'til next week!

Penakbet...Getting Too Violent!

While giving a lunch break for system 2 crew at around 8:45PM. Alex Alcarion again showed his weird and unsafe attitude towards his co-workers.
While Ernie Bayalan & Cris Valse working together on a hopper Alex Alcarion approached them from behind and gave a strong punch to Cris' left shoulder. And he said arrogantly " Now... you can go ahead and apply for your disabilty!" and while proudly walking through the System 1 reject station he daringly looked at the two guys. This is the time I realized that from coming from system 3 he just go around our machine and did this foolish incident. Im working by myself on the jacket, the A hopper. And saw him went back to his machine ( the sytem 3).
So Cris V. and Ernie B. was really caught by surprised for his attitude & they call me and tell me about the real situation. At first I thought it was not that serious but Cris for the second time he told me that he got hurt and really hit so hard by Alex Alcarion and showed me his left shoulder, it was so red! So I told them that it's only proper that we informed the supervisor. And we (Me,Ernie & Cris) decided to go to the control room and talked to Andy Smith(Shift supervisor) and informed him what happened( Craig was also inside the control room). And Andy S. took Cris' own statement what really has happened. And Cris told him he really got hurt and it is not a joke! In closing, Andy reviewed us the recap of what he will put on his record. He also told us he will get Alex A. own statement seperately which is just fair. I really do appreciate Andy Smith professionalism treating the situation. I know this is not only the first complain has been filed against Alex Alcarion's bad attude. A lot of guys had a complain against him but never reported and put on records and they just keep quiet. And this is not good for " Evil will prevail if good men do nothing!!!"
He doesn't deserved the position and the job he has! I hope this incident will have a fair investigation! Importantly, necessary disciplinary action should be done for the safety of every worker in this department.
Because "We just come to work, and we do not want to die!!!"