Labor union decries 'questionable' services of Red-linked group
By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The employees’ association of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has questioned labor group Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) over money issues and supposed “questionable” activities and services.
“The affiliation of SWEAP with COURAGE had been put into question in recent years particularly the fees being collected and its utilization, the activities being engaged and the services being provided to affiliate members,” the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines (SWEAP) said in its Resolution No. 001 series of 2021.
SWEAP issued the resolution on Jan. 21 after conducting a series of meetings and debate before voting on the issue.
SWEAP first became an affiliate of COURAGE in 2000 after its leadership passed National Council Resolution 007.
COURAGE, an umbrella organization of labor unions in different government agencies, is one of the organizations under the Makabayan Bloc.
During SWEAP’s fourth quarter national council meeting in December 2020, it agreed that a vote of two-thirds from all the members of the national council is required for the move to disaffiliate.
Association members started to question money matters and activities “being engaged into” by COURAGE, leading them to evaluate the affiliation.
On Jan. 14, 2021, SWEAP approved to disassociate the union from COURAGE after 20 years, with 13 voting for the discontinuance of the affiliation and only three voting for its continuance.
SWEAP national president and concurrent National Capital Region (NCR) chapter president Alan Balaba led the signing of the resolution of SWEAP’s withdrawal from COURAGE.
SWEAP, which currently has 2,500 employee-members and 17 chapters nationwide, said the decision to cut ties with COURAGE also repeals Resolution 007 s2000.
The social welfare union said it would also cease from paying its membership dues to COURAGE.
Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite also served as president of COURAGE.
During the 9th national congress of COURAGE IN 2010, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison, in a message, congratulated the organization, saying COURAGE is a founding member of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) where he currently serves as chairperson emeritus.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier backed the military's assertion that Makabayan bloc organizations are fronts of the CPP. (PNA)