By Erma Edera The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) has expressed support to the Ugnayang Nagkakaisang Manggagawa-UST Hospital Union (UNM-USTH) in its struggle for the betterment of the nurses' welfare. “UNM-USTH cannot be faulted for utilizing other means such as strike, because management itself has become unresponsive to their employees' concerns. PNA agrees that this solution undertaken by the UNM-UST is acceptable, just and moral,” the association said in a statement. UST Hospital (PHOTO COURTESY OF UST HOSPITAL / MANILA BULLETIN) The association also condemned “any form of unlawful concerted means to coerce the employees to accept an otherwise unfair proposition in the bargaining processes.” On Feb. 11, the Department of Labor and Employment conducted a strike vote where at least 399 employees of USTH voted “Yes” to a strike referendum while only seven voted “No” on Feb. 11. “PNA agreed with UNM-USTH that the latter has exerted all efforts to bring all issues to the bargaining table where negotiation, discussion, and consensus-building should prevail,” the statement added. "Beyond shadow of any doubt, PNA believes that UNM-USTH is on the right path as it chooses freedom over oppression and justice over marginalization. It is time that its efforts must be appreciated as it vows to protect workers' rights, no matter the cost,” they said.