My Friend - A Labor Union Leader

 

        By Vic Odarve

 He was one of those young and aggressive labor union leaders in the wood industry, as if by chance or fate, lead the leading company into a closure due to labor unrest. Like Hitler, he typically spoke with strong and remarkable persuasion and became the influential figure as one of the most feared worker’s local union leaders in the democratic country. Because of standoff between worker's union and the company, his close friend and supervisor Vic earnestly advised him what his best decision would be.” Monching, the wage increase is justifiable, why not accept the company’s reasonable offer instead of going a strike?” But Monching argued persuasively, “We don’t believe this company is losing. We will fight valiantly to the end”.

PICOP Bislig, Surigao del Sur

After a week of tedious negotiation with the arbitrary committee promptly formed by the local government, the company and the local labor union did not reach an agreement. Hence, labor strike ensued. The company stopped instantly its local operation, and the daily wage workers brought placards on the bustling streets demanding fiercely their wage increase. The strike incurred heavy loses to the company until it declared total closure. As in most big companies with labor unrest, this resulted to hundreds of families displaced and jobless. After a year, the affected workers tried landing any job just to have both ends meet.

Abandoned and dilapidated building

 Forty years had passed, Monching looked old now. He had become weak, thin, and rough like all the men of impoverished households. With hair half combed, with dirty shirt, and dirty hands, he sat down near the window and always remembers the excellent advice from his plant supervisor Vic at the plywood department so long ago, when he was so powerful and so admired as a union leader. What would have happened if he had agreed and signed the agreement? Who knows, who knows? For sure, the company would still be operating, he mumbled.

One Sunday afternoon, as he walked leisurely along the Esperitu St. to refresh himself after the hard day’s work, suddenly he saw a decent man walking with a child. The man was Vic, his former supervisor and close friend, still looking young, still strong, still charming. He felt ashamed and emotional. Should he speak to him? Yes, of course. Why not?

"Good afternoon, Vic", he said with a smile. But Vic, astonished to be addressed by his name, did not recognize him. But after few breathless minutes, he precisely recalled his friend Monching and said gently, "Oh! ... my poor Monching, you have changed a lot! ..." "Yes, I have had some hard times since the company’s closure and encountered many miseries. It is because I did not heed your valuable advice." "Me? How can that be?" "You remember that instead of having to sign the stalemate labor agreement as what you’ve advised, I opted to have a strike? “, recalled Monching.

Technical Services Department

  "Ah…Yes, well", said Vic with instantly dropping shoulders. “Well, I lost the job. As well as likely hundreds of daily wage earners. I did not see it. That advice was just taken for granted. “, added Monching.

 Today the plant buildings and other edifices still stands out there … abandoned and dilapidated. It is a gruesome reminder of how Monching’s key decision as union leader collapsed the big company!

  “Well, that is life. We can learn from our mistakes, but we must move on. Do not let regret gets you down,” added Vic. Life must go on!

Sometimes a friend’s advice must not be taken for granted. Regrets come always at the end.

 Thanks for watching.