Health Workers breach Malacanang security, hold protest against low salaries, benefits and privatization

PRESS RELEASE

May 20, 2014

References:

Ely Estropigan, All-UP Workers’ Union-UP-PGH President
Mobile no: 0921-4668183

Robert Mendoza, AHW Secretary-General
Mobile No.  0921-2073631

Around 40 health workers from different hospitals stormed Malacanang today amidst strict security in the vicinity.

Mostly wearing white gowns and hospital uniforms, the protesters composed of nurses, doctors and other health personnel waved banners and placards and chanted calls for salary increase and adequate health budget in front of Vargas Gate.

“We have had enough! Our patience and hopes have run out! The Aquino administration is never a government for the poor! He has done nothing to alleviate our suffering and is doing everything to privatize our hospitals!”said Ely Estropigan, president of All-UP Workers Union-UP-PGH Chapter.

Health workers claimed that President Benigno Aquino III failed the Filipino people by privatizing Philippine Orthopedic Center and other public hospitals, and attacking job security through streamlining, retrenchment and contractualization.

The protesters said that worse than the previous administrations, Aquino administration had not given any salary increase. Instead of providing for mandated Magna Carta benefits, it sowed intrigues and disunity among health workers through controversial Productivity-Based Bonus (PBB) and “high-risk-low risk” classification in hazard pay provision.

Police security officers and non-uniformed men forcibly pushed the protesters towards Chino Roces bridge. Malacanang security PO1 JS Aguilar under the command of P/Supt FM Opellano tried to seize Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) secretary-general Robert Mendoza even if the protesters were already at Mendiola.

A health student who joined the protest, Mark Neri, sustained abrasions in left hand.

“What kind of “protectors” will hurt and try to abduct us health workers who are saving peoples’ lives? What kind of government will hit female health workers with shields when we are just exercising our right to assemble and freedom of expression? They are protecting corrupt officials and Napoles, but not the Filipino people!” cried Mendoza.

The health workers peacefully dispersed after the program in Mendiola. #

Nurses unite! Struggle for rights and people’s right to health!

PRESS STATEMENT

May 12, 2014

Reference: Jossel I Ebesate

AHW National President

Mobile No. 0918 927 6381

Today, on the occasion of International Nurses’ Day, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) -Philippines express our solidarity with the Filipino nurses and all nurses in the world who continue to offer their skills and knowledge in service of the people and stand up for people’s right to health amidst worsening economic and political crises and attacks on our rights.

As the national organization of health workers in the Philippines, we in AHW share the nurses’ dream of a united nurses and health care workers dedicated to providing services to those who need these most. We are one with the nurses and the people in our vision of a healthy society where the people and health workers are empowered and can contribute to health and development.

But we see that the people’s health situation is worsening as people’s health and interests are sacrificed in the name of profit and business interests.  We witness the suffering and deaths of many people who are impoverished, could not afford the increasing cost of public and private health care, and deprived of basic needs while those in power steal public funds, grab people’s lands and play puppet to foreign dictates. 

At the same time, we ourselves suffer from violation of our rights to jobs, living wage, benefits, and unionize. For instance, our fellow nurses in Tondo Medical Center go on duty for 16-32 hours. Nurses in government hospitals get a pay of P 18,549/month (Salary Grade 11), below the mandated Salary Grade 15 in Nursing Act of 2002 and way below the P30,000/month minimum cost of living in the NCR. Nurses in private hospitals and institutions suffer more with P6,000-P10,000 entry level monthly wages, without hazard pay and no job security. 

We realize that our commitment to serve the people is never easy when the situation that breeds poverty and ill-health continues to exist. We cannot fully save lives when lack of personnel, supplies, equipment and facilities, and poor governance ail our public health care system.   We cannot provide adequate and quality health services when our ranks need deliverance from chronic understaffing, contractualization, low and subhuman wages, poor working conditions, harassments and violation of rights. We cannot dream of better health for the people as long as the government privatizes public hospitals and health care, takes away whatever little free services the poor people receive and threatens to dislocate the poor patients and health workers.

We see that our duty to serve the people goes beyond learning the most advanced technologies and equipment in health care or reaching unreachable health statistics targets. As nurses of the people, we are duty-bound to work with the people, start where they are, uphold their interests alongside with our interests, and stand up for rights and justice.  Our duty brings us on the side of our patients and the people against threats to health and our rights, like privatization, fee for service, contractualization and streamlining, wage freeze, unreasonable power and water rates hike.  Our duty necessitates that we struggle together with our patients and the people for free, affordable, and accessible health care towards a society freed from local and foreign domination, oppression and exploitation.

This day and the days and years to come, we call on all Filipino nurses to serve the people and uphold our rights and people’s right to health, like Florence Nightingale and our own Filipino nurse-heroes like Nazaria Lagos (1851-1945), Minda Luz Quesada (1937-1995), and Mary Vita Jackson, who served the people and fellow health care workers inspite of risks and hardships. Let us stand up, unite with fellow health workers and the Filipino people, and together work for genuine societal change. # 

Mayo 7: Singilin ang Pamahalaang Aquino, Ipagpatuloy ang 30 taong pakikibaka para sa Kalusugan at Karapatan!

Pambansang Araw ng mga Manggagawang Pangkalusugan ngayon. Kasabay ng paggunita sa mga tagumpay at aral sa 30 taong pakikibaka ng Alliance of Health Workers,  papanagutin natin ang Pamahalaang Aquino sa patuloy na pag-abandona sa kalusugan ng mamamayan at karapatan ng manggagawang pangkalusugan!

Itaguyod natin at ipaglaban ang mga tagumpay sa loob ng 30 taong pakikibaka ng AHW mula nang itatag ito noong 1984. Sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagkilos, naipagtagumpay natin ang:

Ø  Dagdag na sweldo mula pa 1980’s, ngunit nananatiling kakarampot at di nakabubuhay ang sweldong ibinibigay ng Pamahalaang Aquino;

Ø  Pagsasabatas ng Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305) na batayan ng mga benepisyong hazard pay, subsistence allowance, laundry pay, longevity allowance; bagamat paulit-ulit itong binabawi ng pamahalaan, sa pinakahuli sa klasipikasyong high risk-low risk sa pamamagitan ng DBM-DOH Joint Circular No 1; 

Ø  Pagpapatalsik sa kurakot, kontra-manggagawa at kontra-pasyenteng mga hospital direktor noong 1980’s hanggang 1990’s;

Ø  Paglaban sa tanggalan/streamlining – sa dalawang pagkakataon ng reorganissyon/tanggalan, nagawang mapanatili ang ilang daang libong mga posisyon at naisabatas ang RA 6655 na nagseseguro sa security of tenure ng mga kawani sa pamahalaan. Pero tinutuloy ng Pamahalaang Aquino ang streamlining tungo sa kontraktwalisasyon sa pammaagitan ng EO 366 /Rationalization Plan na basehan ng New Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern sa mga pampublikong ospital;

Ø  Paglaban sa pribatisasyon ng mga pampublikong ospital  – tagumpay na napatigil noong 1997 ngunit walang habas na itinutuloy muli ni Panguong Aquino sa PPP ng Philippine Orthopedic Hospital at 72 hospitals sa buong bansa, korporatsoasyon at iba pang porma; at

Ø  Pagtataguyod sa karapatan sa pag-uunyon, Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), pagpapahayag at paglulunsad ng kilos-protesta.

Walang makabuluhang napagbabago sa kalagayan ng mga manggagagawang pangkalusugan at mamamayan sa ilalim ng Administrasyong Aquino. Nagpapalit-palit ang mga pangulo ngunit kagaya ng mga naunang rehimen, itinutuloy ng Pamahalaang Aquino ang  kontra-mamamayan at kontra-manggagawang polisiyang papaliit na badyet para sa kagalingan ng mamamayan, streamlining at kontraktwalisasyon, pribatisasyon, mababang sahod at kulang na benepisyo.

Pinatunayan ng Pamahalaang Aquino ang pagiging sunud-sunuran sa dikta ng panginoong maylupa, burgesya komprador at monopolyo kapitalistang Estados Unidos. Tanging mga local at dayuhang burgesya at monopolyo kapitalista ang nakikinabang sa programang Kalusugang Pangkalahatan na nakapadron sa Obama Care. Sa Two-tiered Wage System lalong ipapako sa napakababang sahod ang mga manggagawa samantalang wala ni singkong dagadag sa sweldo na ibingay ang administrasyong Aquino sa mga kawani ng pamahalaan at manggagawang pangkalusugan.  Nitong Abril pinagkasunduan ni Pangulong Aquino at US President Barrack Obama ang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) na magbabalik sa base-militar ng Estados Unidos sa bansa, sa kabila ng pagtututol ng mamamayan batay sa unconstitutionality, mapait na mga karanasan ng paglabag sa karapatan ng tropang Amerikano, at pagyurak sa soberanya ng bansa.

Walang ibang pagpipilian ang manggagawang pangkalusugan at mamamayan kundi palakasin ang hanay at ipagpatuloy ang laban para sa ating karapatan bilang manggagawang pangkalusugan at karapatan ng mamamayan sa kalusugan. Tanging sa sama-samang pagkilos lamang natin malalabanan ang kontra-mamamayang polisiya at maitatayo ang isang sistemang pangkalusugang tunay na  magsisilbi sa mamamayan at manggagawang pangkalusugan.

Singilin ang Pamahalaang Aquino sa pag-abandona sa kanyang responsibilidad sa mamamayan at  mga manggagawang pangkalusugan!

Ipagpatuloy  ang 30 taong pakikibaka ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan para pang-ekonomiya, demokratiko at pampulitikang karapatan at kalusugan ng mamamayan!

Health workers, patients, seek high court intervention to stop privatization of Orthopedic Hospital

PRESS RELEASE

February 3, 2014

References: Sean Herbert Velchez, RN, NOHWU-AHW President, 0949-9775037

Jossel Ebesate, RN, AHW National President, 0918-9276381      

  

Health workers, patients and people's health advocates from Philippine Orthopedic Center and other hospitals and institutions filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition today in the Supreme Court in a bid to stop the privatization of the only government orthopedic hospital in the country.

"President Benigno Aquino IIII and Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona are deaf to the peoples' clamor to stop privatization. We hope the Supreme Court justices will have the heart and mind to listen and consider the people's health and welfare," said Sean Velchez, president of National Orthopedic Hospital Workers' Union - Alliance of Health Workers (NOHWU-AHW), and one of the petitioners in the case.

The petitioners raised the questions of constitutionality, procedural concerns and negative effects to poor patients and health workers of the privatization of POC.

“This is a fight not only by POC health workers and patients but by the entire Filipino people. This is a fight for our right to health,” said Jossel Ebesate, national president of Alliance of Health Workers and a chief nurse in the Philippine General Hospital.

Atty. Edre Olalia, chief legal counsel for the petitioners and secretary-general of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) said that it is high time that people's health be taken up as a demandable right in our justice system. The counsels took inspiration from retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno's statement in July that socio-economic rights like housing and health are justiciable rights.

Aside from Velchez and Ebesate, the petitioners also include, among others, patients from POC,  Dr. Amelia Maglacas, former World Health Organization (WHO) nurse-scientist,  Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna PartyList, Representative Terry Ridon of Kabataan PartyList, Dr. Fresco Yapendon of Philippine Association of Medical Specialists, Dr. Joseph Carabeo of Community Medicine Development Foundation, and Eleanor Nolasco of Nars ng Bayan.

The group vowed to continue their protest against the privatization of POC and other public hospitals and health services. #

Suportahan ang kaso sa Korte Suprema laban sa pribatisasyon ng Orthopedic Hospital! Labanan ang pribatisasyon

Ngayong Lunes, ika-3 ng Pebrero 2014, isasampa sa Korte Suprema ang petisyon ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan, pasyente, mga kinatawan ng iba’t ibang organisasyon sa kalusugan at komunidad laban sa pribatisasyon ng Philippine Orthopedic Center.

Bulag, bingi, at manhid ang Pamahalaang Benigno Aquino III, at Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona sa malawak na panawagan ng mamamayan sa pagbasura ng pribatisasyon ng POC at pampublikong serbisyong pangkalusugan. Rurok ng kawalang puso nang aprubahan ni Pangulong Aquino ang proyektong Public-Private Partnership ng POC noong Nobyembre 21 sa kasagsagan ng relief operation para sa mga survivors ng Bagyong Yolanda. Disyembre 6, inilabas ng DOH ang pormal na notice of award sa Megawide-World Citi Consortium para sa 25 taong pagtatayo at pagpapatakbo ng bagong Orthopedic Hospital.

Negosyo ang nasa likod ng pribatisasyon ng POC. Sa loob ng 25 taon, na maaaring maging 50 taon, pagkakakitaan at pagtutubuan ng pribadong Megawide-World Citi Consortium ang Orthopedic Hospital. Madidisplace ang libu-libong mahihirap na pasyente at manggagawang pangkalusugan ng POC.

Taliwas sa ipinagyayabang ng DOH at Pamahalaang Aquino na para sa mahihirap ang bagong Orthopedic Hospital, 70 lamang na kama ang nakalaan sa mahihirap na pasyente, kumpara sa 560-630 bilang ng mahihirap na in-patients sa POC ngayon. 80-90% ng halos 200,000 pasyente ng POC noong taong 2010 ay mahihirap.

Nanganganib ang kaseguruhan sa trabaho at karapatan ng mahigit 900 manggagawang pangkalusugan sa POC dahil ang pribadong investor ang mamimili at kukuha ng empleyado at hindi obligadong kilalanin ang kasalukuyang union ng mga manggagawa.

Kapag napatupad ang pribatisasyon ng POC, hudyat ito ng tuluy-tuloy at lubusang pribatisasyon ng iba pang pampublikong ospital at ng pampublikong serbisyong pangkalusugan. Krisis pangkalusugan ang hahantungan nito dahil wala nang tatakbuhan ang mahihirap na pasyente.

Huwag tayong magsawalang-kibo!  Huwag nating hintaying lubusang mawala ang kakaunting libreng serbisyong nakukuha natin sa mga pampublikong pagamutan. Responsibilidad ng pamahalaan ang pagbibigay ng libre hanggang abot-kaya, kumprehensibo at de-kalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan.  Buwis mula sa pawis at dugo ng mamamayang naghihikahos ang nagpapatakbo sa mga pampublikong ospital at sa pamahalaan, kaya dapat lamang na maibigay ng gubyerno ang libreng serbisyong nakalaan sa mamamayan!

Ipaglaban ang karapatan sa kalusugan!