Police authorities broke the picket line blocking entrance and exit at the port of Dumaguete City Saturday, in compliance with the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the National Labor Relations Commission in Cebu.

The NLRC Fourth Division in Cebu has issued a 20-day temporary restraining order to prevent the strikers from obstructing a public street, and effectively denying free ingress to and egress from the port premises.

The petitioners, which included the Prudential Customs Brokerage Services Inc., said that since assuming the cargo handling operations, the Dumaguete Port Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative had continually coerced and intimidated them with actual and threatened violence, effectively denying them entry to the port.

This, the NLRC said, has resulted in the paralization of the arrastre and stevedoring services at the port, and brought damage to the economy of the province of Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City.

The issuance of the TRO was also subject to the condition that the petitioners undertake to answer for damages and recompense those enjoined for any loss, expense or damage caused by the improvident or erroneous issuance of such order, including all reasonable costs.

Meanwhile, the hearing on the petition for injunction will be held at 1:30 p.m. on April 10at the NLRC Cebu.

PCBSI lawyer Joel Obar said the strikers may still air their sentiments but should not to impede and obstruct the free flow of traffic in and out of the port.

Striking union vice president Sopriano Sabanal said they will continue with their mass action whether “legal or illegal” for survival, even as they have been advised by ALU-TUCP to express their sentiments within the bounds of law.

Calimpong had earlier said they will comply with the restrained actions under the TRO, but they cannot totally control the actions of their members, especially the women and the children.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority finance department confirmed Friday the release of more than P2 million for 210 port workers, even as some of them, especially the strikers, are awaiting the go signal from their officers.

Striking and non-striking members of the Dumaguete Port workers association are given separation pay by their former employer after arrastre and stevedoring works had been turned over to a new management.

Records show that more than 40 have already claimed their separation pay.

Calimpong said, that with or without the strike, PPA is duty bound to extend separation pay to 210 port workers.

He added that they were advised by their legal department to accept the separation pay, which raising questions about deductions on medicines and from the cooperative.*RG/JG/MA

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