Sulpicio employees see resumption of operations

As the Board of Marine Inquiry is expected to release the results of its investigation into the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars anytime this week, Sulpicio Lines Inc. workers are optimistic that the government will allow the shipping firm to resume its operations so they could finally go back to work.

Members of Sulpicio Lines Employees Union have staged a picket in front of the regional office of the Maritime Industry Authority last Friday to pressure the government to lift the hold order against Sulpicio’s passenger ships.

Joy Lim, information officer of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said the workers are hoping that the BMI will recommend for the resumption of operation of the Sulpicio vessels.

SLEU is under the umbrella organization of ALU-TUCP, which has been helping the workers since they were laid off last week.

So far, 136 employees have been temporarily laid off but many of the remaining more than 5,000 employees fear they will also eventually suffer the same fate if the grounding of Sulpicio vessels continues.

With this, they are pressuring the government not to prolong the investigation and audit of the vessels and to allow them to operate soon so that no more additional workers will get laid off.

“Right after the workers picket, we are hoping that the MARINA will act on our demands soon because the grounding of the vessels has very big impact not only on the workers but also the business sector.” Lim said.

She said they are also calling on the officials of MARINA to allow the ships to operate while the audit is on going “because Sulpicio is also doing its best to ensure that they meet the safety standards.”

To help the laid off workers, Lim said they will be negotiating the Sulpicio management to give the employees financial assistance as what have been required under the collective bargaining agreement with the union.  — Wenna A. Berondo/LPM