23 March 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General hosted officials from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Chicago Regional Office at the 6th Pagkikita sa Konsulado held on March 18 at the Consulate General’s Kalayaan Hall.
NLRB Supervisory Field Examiner Paul Prokop and Field Examiner and Outreach Coordinator Elizabeth Galliano discussed the salient aspects of the NLRB’s mandate and functions while providing clarification on the rights and duties of both employer and employee under the National Labor Relations Act.
Mr. Prokop and Ms. Galliano explained that aside from labor unions, the law also protects concerted action by employees and expressions of concern over their working conditions using social media. They also explained how protections may be lost.
Noting the different countries of origin of workers in the United States, the NLRB officials said that their office assumes that all who file complaints with their office carry authorization to work in the country. However, since the NLRA intersects with other federal statutes, including the Immigration and Nationality Act, being out of status can eventually impact negatively on a worker, as shown in a particular case decided by the US Supreme Court.
Philippine Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge thanked the NLRB officials for their enlightening presentation and cooperation with the Consulate General, which is an outcome of the local-level alliance agreement signed between the two offices last October, for the benefit of the Filipino community.
Consul General Calonge also made some important announcements and reminders to the community regarding the 10th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTCT) from July 06 to 10; Filipino American Youth Leadership Program with the deadline for applications falling on March 30; accreditation of Notaries Public in all sixteen states under the Consulate General’s jurisdiction; registration of Filipino community organizations; and the ongoing overseas voters registration.
While the Consulate General is set to surpass its target of 3,760 new voting registrants in the next few days, Consul General Calonge asked the community for support to encourage more Filipinos to register and vote, and for former Filipinos to apply for dual citizenship in order to play an active and direct part in shaping the nation’s future.
Filipino community leaders were also given the opportunity to make announcements on their respective activities and events, such as the Gawad Kalinga Roadshow in April; the NaFFAA Illinois celebration of the International Women’s History month on March 29; and the ongoing search by the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration for Filipino-American mothers with teenage children to take part in a paid survey and long-term study. END