Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (SENADO) president Rosel Eugenio, and Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero led the signing of the 2024-2028 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) on December 5 in the Senate plenary hall in Pasay City. The union secured decent wages, job security, humane working conditions, and other basic rights for rank-and-file employees in the new CNA.

The new CNA provisions include union leaders’ tasks in the Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) as recognition of their contributions to the organization; support for the expansion of the Step Increment System for casual and contractual Senate employees; and the creation of the Senate Secretariat Merit Selection and Promotion Plan to ensure the professional development of employees. Members of SENADO recognized this as their victory after a long struggle for their rights and welfare.

In his speech at the event, Escudero acknowledged and praised the employees for their contributions. “The true measure of a successful CNA is whether it serves as a means to further improve and enhance the relationship within the community, work, and service,” Escudero stated.

The Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) commended the SENADO for its successful CNA negotiation. “Mabuhay ang SENADO! Sulong sa Militante, Progresibo at Makabayang Unyonismo!” (Long live SENADO! Onward to Militant, Progressive, and Patriotic Unionism!) the group said. SENADO is one of the member organizations of COURAGE.

The new CNA between the employees and the Senate leadership is a testament to the strength of the union. It is a slap in the face to the National Task Force-Elcac and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, which in 2021 accused SENADO and its leaders of being “operatives of the Communist Party of the Philippines” and of “hijacking” the programs and plans of the reactionary state.