Strike at National Bookstore

By Ray Fulcher and Rachel Evans

MANILA -- Workers at the Philippines' largest book and stationery chain, the National Bookstore (NBS), have been on strike for over a month.

Of the 1800 people employed in 25 branches throughout Metro Manila, 90% are women, and 1200 are members of the Alliance of Concerned Employees of the National Bookstore (ACE-NBS).

The union is demanding a five peso (A$0.25) per day wage increase by December and a further 20 peso increase in 1995. In 1991 the union signed a five-year contract which gave the workers increases of five pesos in the first year, eight pesos the second, and 12 pesos in the third year. Under Philippines labour law, a contract is signed for five years, but details for the last two year cannot be negotiated until after the third year.

The current wage for NBS employees ranges from 172 pesos per day for up to 10 years' service to a high of 216 pesos per day for 40 or more years' service.

The National Economic Development Agency (a quasi-governmental body) has set a “living wage” for a family of six at 250 pesos per day.

NBS is the largest bookstore in Asia; in a list of the top 1000 Asian companies, it comes in at 998. The owner is a close friend of President Fidel Ramos.

NBS management is refusing to negotiate or offer terms to the workers. According to the management, the Manila Rizal Wage Board order for all employers to increase wages by 27 pesos (effective last August ) was all they were required to pay.

The Department of Labour has issued a compulsory arbitration order which, according to ACE-NBS officers, will mean the arbitrator settling the dispute rather than an agreement between the union and management. If the workers are ordered back to work, they will have to consider continuing their strike in the face of police (or military) intervention.

Messages of support or financial assistance may be sent to the NBS workers via Victor Siapno Jr, President ACE-NBS, 301 Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz, Manila.

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