The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) condemns the suspension meted out to a public sector unionist who used her social media account to forward contractual employees’ demands to the head of the government agency employing her. We believe that the suspension should be lifted immediately and is a bad sign for the right to freedom of expression and association in the country.

We condemn the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) management for suspending Ma. Theresa Gonzales, president of the Kapisanan para sa Kagalingan ng mga Kawani ng MMDA (KKK-MMDA), after she used her Facebook account to call on MMDA Chairman Don Artes to take action to uphold the rights of government employees.

Gonzales, who is also vice-president of national public sector union center Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), merely called on Artes to provide certain benefits to MMDA contractual employees – such as the Special Recognition Incentive and Gratuity Pay – and uphold the employees’ right to security of tenure.

What is wrong with using Facebook to call on the government to fulfill its obligations to its employees? How can the MMDA leadership justify its statement that Gonzales violated reasonable office rules and regulations and acted in a way that is prejudicial to the best interest of service? Asserting employees’ rights should be recognized by the rules and regulations of government offices and should be seen as enhancing employees’ service to the people.

The government should serve as an example in protecting workers’ right to freedom of expression and association. Gonzales’ suspension shows that the government itself does not practice what it says private employers are practicing. Stifling the voices of workers and unionists should stop. What the government should do is address their legitimate demands.

The demands made by Gonzales are for the most overworked and underpaid among government employees – the contractuals that are called Job Order and Contract of Service workers. These demands are most legitimate and urgent, given the continuing cost of living crisis in the country, and can easily be met by the government.

Gonzales’ demands also calls attention to an issue that the Ferdinand Marcos Jr government should act on – contractualization. Former president Rodrigo Duterte made a spectacle out of his promise to end contractualization, but years after his presidency, government employees themselves continue to suffer from contractual employment and the government’s refusal to regularize them.