August 15, 2013 — Holy Angel University Teachers and Employees’ Union (HAUTEU) officially conducts their strike at 6:00 this morning in front of Holy Angel University (HAU) gates.
The long-arranged strike of the union is now uprising outside the university.
After having 304 strike votes last December, the Union agreed to impend it for months with hopes of having good result from the negotiations among them and the HAU Management, according to Ms. Veronica Pangilinan, HAUTEU Spokesperson.
HAUTEU members walk in circles in the entrance points of the university while holding their placards and chanting their demands.
Security personnel deployed in the gates of HAU increased in number. Policemen were also deployed close to the union though they are supposed to be 50 meters away, as stated by law.
Elements of the military and the dispersal team were also sighted. Many students watched the protest. Some of them joined the Union on their picket line.
“Hindi kayo pwedeng i-FA [failure due to absences] ng mga substitute teachers niyo kapag hindi kayo pumasok. Ayon sa CHED, labag sa batas ang mag-FA ng mga estudyante habang may strike,” one union member shouted.
Numerous high school and college students gathered in front of the picket line and announced their full support to the Union members. They held placards and flags and chanted “Edukasyon! Edukasyon! Karapatan ng mamamayan! Ipaglaban!”
Students questioned the management’s warning that those who will support and join the strike can possibly attain expulsion.
“Democratic right namin ito at nakasaad sa Philippine Constitution ang aming right to organize and right to assemble. Sa labas ito ng school wala namang kamal sa loob. Edi kick-out nila ang daan-daang estudyanteng nagpoprotesta,” one student said.
Students also said that the Philippine Constitution is higher than the student manual, and that they should not solely be afraid of the repressive section of the student manual.
The strike got more intense when vehicles and cars were beeping as a sign of support to the Union. Noise barrage were also observed.
On the other hand, security personnel had been securing the student who enters the school.
Mr. Melvin Layon, Head of Faculty Office, spontaneously announced that students should enter their classes and that they have their substitute teachers.
Conversely, the Union said that they will be holding different forms of activities and programs to show their struggle in a not-so violent way.
“Hindi na ito usapin ng pera-pera, usapin na ito ng aming pinaninindigan. Kung hindi namin ito gagawin, patuloy na mangyayari ang represyon na nangyayari sa mga estudyante at sa mga guro’t manggagawa. Hindi lang para sa amin ang aming pinaglaban dito, para ito sa lahat,” outburst by one of the Union members.
