news-and-stories

Church People Unite with Workers in Labor Day Celebration

Sun, 13 May 2012 10:14:06 +0100

A dialogue between the church people and the workers was held at the Marian Hall of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Rosario Cavite in conjunction with the celebration of the International Labor Day on May 1, 2012.

The church and the workers engaged with the theme Church’s Dialogue of Life with the Workers in Celebration of Labor Day. The said dialogue was sponsored by the Imus Diocese Ministry on Workers, Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW), Most Holy Rosary Parish, Philippine Independent Church Diocese of Cavite, Union Theological Seminary (UTS), and Workers Assistance Center, Inc (WAC).

The activity highlighted the testimonies of workers regarding issues on wage, right to unionize, job security, and poverty.

Richard a worker from EDS Manufacturing Inc. (EMI)-Yazaki, a Japanese company that manufactures and supplies lead wires and cables for cars, first discussed their situation. Richard asserted that even though workers wages in EMI-Yazaki is way above the mandated minimum wage, they are still struggling to make ends meet. He also added that they were able to secure increases in wages through Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the management company.

This was followed by the account of Marilou Pino, an illegally dismissed worker of Suminac Philippines, Inc. told their experience in establishing their union, Samahan ng mga Manggagwa sa Suminac (SMS). Marilou said that the management dismissed all active union officers and members including herself from the company. Suminac management actions according to her were done in order to foil the progress of their union. She also added that their dismissal was done at the middle of their motion to the Department Labor and Employment (DoLE) for a certification election.

Jeff, another worker from the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) owned and operated by the Gokongwei family that operates in First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE), Dasmariñas City, followed Marilou’s accounts. According to Jeff, what happened to SMS was something similar to their union, Universal Robina Corporation Labor Union (URCLU). URC management, according to Jeff, targets ‘stubborn’ union officers and members by transferring them to different URC plant or offering them separation pay the worker refuse to do so. Such actions from the management caused the union membership to dwindle, and like what happened to SMS, these were implemented by the management at the time of URCLU’s motion for a certification election before DoLE.

Shedding light to workers’ plight on job security, Crispin Recto recounted his experience as a contractual worker of Daeduck Philippines Inc. (DDPI) for nearly six (6) years and their pursuit to attain regular working status in the company.

Crispin said that he was initially hired directly by DDPI as a contractual worker but then transferred to a manpower agency. Crispin said that once the agency lets them sign five-month contracts after the other and later stopped but continued their job in DDPI. Crispin added that they finally challenged their situation after a conversation with the union in their company Daeduck Employees Union (DEU) and was assisted to WAC. They filed a case for their regularization in 2010 and gained favourable decision on August 2011 but then dismissed by the company a month after the decision was released.

On the other hand, Aurora Afable, a unionist of Kaisahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Phils Jeon Inc. (KMPJI) told her hardships as a worker and her present condition to the body. Aurora, first narrated their miserable conditions as workers in Phils Jeon Inc. that pushed them to form their union. She also went over the difficulties that they faced as unionists until the time they went on strike in 2006. She almost failed to say recounting the abduction that the unidentified masked men did on them while in their picket line in 2007. She broke in tears when she told that in order to tend for her family needs today, they scavenge garbage to look for recyclable materials that can be sold still after being jobless since 2006.

A workshop ensued after the testimonies to reflect upon on how the participants can contribute alleviate workers conditions on the said issues. The plenary resumed after the workshops where the results of the workshops were presented.

Earlier in the program, Ms. Xandra Bisenio from think-tank Ibon Foundation discussed before the participants facts on Globalization and how it affects workers while Mr. Danny Fabella, a famous singer-composer among the activists performed his compositions that clearly describe the everyday struggle of the poor and the marginalized for social change.

Korean Company Terminates Union Officers, Union Preps for Strike

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:23:39 +0100

Rosario, Cavite - Daeduck Employees Union (DEU) suffered a major blow in its fight to push for better workers conditions and benefits after the management of Daeduck Philippines Incorporated (DDPI) management terminated nine (9) officers of the said union including its president this September 23, 2011.

The termination was effected to DEUs officers namely: Romeo Elcano, president; Jerson Ballena, Treasurer; and Board Members Lazaro Babagay Jr., Romil Veroya, Pepito Valete, Rio Comintan, Annalyn Escalante, Syrel Canites, and Nilo Serna.

The said termination came after from Federation of Unions of Rizal-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (FUR-TUCP) wrote a letter to DDPI management requesting the termination of said union officers. The said letter was signed by signed by its National President Eduardo B. Asuncion, National Executive Vice President Arturo A. Basea, and their appointed President Rizaldy Peji - Vice President of DEU.

Disaffiliation, Legal; Dismissal, Illegal

In FUR’s letter to DDPI then-President/CEO Dae Won Lee dated June 14, 2011, the federation requested DDPI management to dismiss DEU officers in accordance to Section 1 (c), Article III of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which state:

(c) Loss of membership in the Union shall not be ground for dismissal by the company, except where loss of membership is due to any of the following causes:

i. Voluntary resignation from the union during the term of the Agreement or any extension thereof;

ii. Organizing or joining another Union in representation of the bargaining unit represented by the Daeduck Employees’ Union-FUR.

FUR claimed that the officers who signed in the resolution disaffiliating from the federation severed their relationship to the said federation and are considered resigned from the DEU-FUR Chapter for they cannot be officers of an FUR chapter and an independent union at the same time.

Elcano, DEU President however, vehemently denied that their independent registration yielded the formation of a new union.

“We strongly condemn FUR-TUCP claims that we organized a new union. According to Article 234-A of the Philippine Labor Code, an affiliate union has the constitutionally-guaranteed right to disaffiliate from its mother federation or national union that may be invoked at any time. The matter of a union disaffiliating from its mother federation does not create a new entity inside the company. What we have inside the DEU like our Vice President Rizaldy Peji whom FUR-TUCP allegedly appointed as President of their chapter in DDPI is one of the disgruntled minority officers who do not concur with the majority’s decision of disaffiliating from the federation. We feel bad for Zaldy (Peji) and others who usurpingly pose as officers of an FUR chapter that does not exist in the company anymore,” Elcano stressed out.

Elcano even furthered, “DEU and DEU-FUR is one and the same union. That is an undeniable fact that FUR-TUCP along with the DDPI management wanted to subvert. Consciously or not, what they are subverting is the law that states our legality and legitimacy.”

Since DEU filed its independent registration and disaffiliation from FUR-TUCP in June 2010 and February 2011, respectively, DDPI management harassed the union with no let up reaching the ultimate action of dismissing union officers from the company. FUR-TUCP’s letter stating Union Security Clause of the CBA as basis of their request to dismiss officers who filed for disaffiliation was consequently used by DDPI management to terminate said DEU officers.

“Our actions are well-covered by the law. The basis of our termination clearly violates the provisions of the labor code which states that our disaffiliation from FUR-TUCP does not violate the union security clause,” Elcano insisted.

From the first action of the management to harass unionists, the union stood its ground and held silent and peaceful actions that did not disrupt the flow of production in the company like red ribbon wearing. However, this was dealt by disciplinary actions and memorandum from the management. The events prompted the Office the Provincial Governor (OPG) to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating.

DDPI: No word of honor

Cavite Governor Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla, jr. called for a dialog on May 24, 2011 to settle the dispute between the DDPI management and DEU at the Provincial Capitol in Trece Martirez City.

Main issues in the dialog put forward by the DEU were harassment of the management to unionists by way of disciplinary actions and memorandum; termination of Leo Ian Ternida, DEU board member, without due cause; and isolation of Jerson Ballena, DEU treasurer. On the other hand, DDPI insisted that DEU should stop all of its protest actions within company premises.

In front of Gov. Remulla, a pact was reached and that a status quo shall be enforced where DEU shall stop all its protest actions and the management on the other hand shall refrain from harassing its workers and give Jerson Ballena, DEU treasurer a job description if returning him to his original station is not possible.

DEU implemented their side of the agreement and halted all its actions in protest of the DDPI’s harassment but, DDPI did not fulfill its side of the bargain and consequently disregarded the understanding agreed upon in front of the provincial governor.

Instead of implementing what has been concurred into, DDPI continued its actions against unionists of DEU. Another round of talks was again called by the office of Gov. Remulla in September 29, 2011 after DDPI terminated nine DEU officers and members held a picket in front of the production plant on September 28.

The dialog was attended by both parties, representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Philippine Economic zone Authority (PEZA). No agreement was reached in the said dialogue.

Hope of an Agreement

DEU also sought the assistance of the PEZA in writing the office of CEZ Administrator Atty. Norma Cajulis on September 23, 2011. In their letter, the union prayed that the office could bridge the differences between the union and the management and resolve issues thereof.

Romeo Elcano, DEU president said in an interview that the union opted to exhaust all venues possible to resolve the dispute due to the long and tedious process of court proceedings.

“At our union, we see that there are other legal personalities and bodies outside the court system where we could address our complaints. So we sought their help and told before them the things that we perceive as unfair actions against union members and officers,” Elcano said.

Elcano further stressed, “Though no decisions are being rendered yet, we do hope that the office of CEZ Administrator Atty. Cajulis would take action on our letter. We are not losing hope. DEU is always true to its words and respect the authority before us. DEU played its part in the agreement in the first dialogue with Gov. Remulla even though we are continuously attacked by the management. We are really saddened and distressed to see that the management who does exactly our opposite can’t be compelled to act accordingly to law.”

DEU hoped that the office of Atty. Cajulis would act on their issues against DDPI management such as the termination of the said union officers; threat that regular and contractual workers may be dismissed after joining the union; non-recognition of the union; gross violation of the CBA; and protesting workers restricted entry in the ecozone.

Violation of the CBA

After the disaffiliation, the union wrote a letter to DDPI President/CEO Lee praying to put in grievance several provisions of the CBA that are not being implemented.

Some of which were the check off remittance to FUR where deductions were made to employees but the union thru its duly designated officer does not receive any remittance since the CBA’s ratification; non-implementation of the of Wage Order No. IVA-14b implemented on the January 15, 2011; paid leaves; and union office.

Elcano said that the management refused to act upon their letter.

Strike Vote

DEU filed their notice of strike and conducted their strike voting in response to DDPI’s unfair labor practice where it violated the provisions of the existing CBA and union busting.

DEU conducted their strike vote on October 8, 2011 and witnessed by Mr. Reynaldo Caparas of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Regional Branch IV-A.

“The management pushed us to the brink. They left us with no option but to fight. As we prepare for our strike, we urge the authority to respect our right to strike against a management that blatantly violates workers’ rights and in turn does not respect local authorities,” Elcano appealed.

Steel Worker Dies from Overfatigue

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:08:53 +0100

Mark Anthony Doctolero never woke up from sleep after working more than 24 hours in a Taiwanese-owned Enlin Steel Philippines Corporation (ESPC) operating inside the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ), Rosario, Cavite.

According to Roxanne, common law wife and mother to a nine-month old child, “My husband (Doctolero) left for work at 6:00 in the morning of June 25, 2011. They were told to work overnight and got home earlier than expected of 9:00 in the morning the next day, June 26.”

“Before going to sleep that day, Mark (Doctolero’s nickname) cradled our child in his arms while telling a story. We learned of his death at 4:00 in the afternoon, when I tried to wake him up from sleep,” Roxanne continued.

Roxanne suspected that her husband died due to over fatigue. She furthered that Mark had work as a contractual at ESPC since 2008.

“Mark was on his third year working as contractual since 2008. He’s 26 years old. We do not know any afflictions or health issues that may cause his untimely demise. We really suspect that Mark died due to over fatigue,” Roxanne stressed out.

Roxanne added that she never knew what specific department Mark is in at the plant. However, there were times that Mark told her of the accidents and deaths of co-workers inside the steel plant.

“Mark told me stories about work-related accident and deaths inside their plant. He even shared to me that at times while working in his station, abrasives hit his face.”

According to regular workers who knew Doctolero and refused to be named, before Doctolero died he was at the washing department where he did sandblasting. They further recalled that that Doctolero at times did welding tasks. Workers said that it is common practice inside the plant to force workers to work overnight. And, it happens when products are being rushed especially when there’s a huge amount of order to be put in production.

Edwin, Mark’s father, who arrived on June 29 came all the way from Masbate upon learning the death of his son. He (Edwin) maintained that they will not press any charges against the company after meeting with ESPC’s Human Resource Supervisor Lennie Condol.

According to Edwin, Condol asked their perception of the company. “I said that their company is nice and huge but your company also killed my son. Condol even said that if we are planning to press charges, the case shall be discussed between lawyers, a very tedious process. Our real problem now is we still lack money to travel Mark’s body to Masbate though the ESPC management has given us a total of P65,000 and more on July 1.”

Work-related accidents and deaths hound ESPC’s operation in CEZ. A recent case involved the of 23-year old Ranreh Porquiado, welder and maintenance crew working as contractual in ESPC.

Porquiado accidentally fell into the massive water tank where forged metals were being cooled down sustained second-degree burns in different parts of the body.

Porquiado was able to swim out of the tank and immediately rushed to the hospital on that same day of March 21, 2011 but succumb to infection from the sustained burns after five days.

Last year, five (5) cases of work-related deaths and accidents inside ESPC plants were monitored by WAC. The said cases include that of Alex Secoya who was hit in the face by a metal as large as a basin while working past midnight on July 9.

Jovert Jabillo whose two (2) fingers (middle and ring fingers) were cut after being crushed by the power press machine he operated on July 24.

On August 26, Ruben Ledesma, department head, died while working on his grinding machine when he was hit by scraps of metal from a broken machine near his station, caused him to lean forward toward the grinder that cut his stomach.

Then, regular worker Rogelio Soriano’s middle and ring toes had to be cut after being crushed by the lathe machine he operated on the afternoon of October 31.

And, on November 24, a newly-hired contractual worker assigned in the maintenance department fell to his death after climbing up to the roof of company.

ESPC started its operation inside the CEZ on 1994. As of August 2010 the company produce Forged flange stainless, Stainless steel cast, Stainless Fittings and butt welds shipped overseas mainly countries across Asia, America, and Europe.

Korean Electronics Company Secludes Union Officer

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 06:14:55 +0100

Dae Duck Philippines, Inc. (DDPI), a Korean-owned electronics company inside the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ) in Rosario, Cavite secluded Jerson Ballena, Dae Duck Employees Union-Independent (DEU-Ind) treasurer apart from other workers and unionists in placing him in the counseling room inside the company’s administration office since May 18, 2011.

“I was given a memorandum from the Human Resource Department (HRD) stating my transfer from the QM-QP (Quality Management-Quality Program) Department to the HRD effective on May 18, 2011. The purpose of the said transfer was for me to support the closing of the EMS-OHSAS (Environmental Management System-Occupational Health and Safety Auditing System) audit findings and activities,” Ballena explained in an interview.

In the said memorandum, Ballena was ordered to work from 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. But, on his first day of transfer, he learned that he is left with nothing to do as the management did not give a description of his new job.

“On May 19, I sent a letter addressed to Mr. Dae Won Lee, Chief-Executive-Officer (CEO) of DDPI asking to return me to my previous station in the calibration process until they can give me a real job,” Ballena said.

DDPI and DEU-Ind are in the middle of a labor-management dispute being heard at the National Conciliation Mediation Board (NCMB) in violation of provisions of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and representation issue of the union.

Cavite Governor Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla, jr. mediated a dialog between the DDPI management and DEU-Ind. on May 24, 2011 in an attempt to resolve the dispute. The union also raised Ballena’s issue which prompted the management to assure before Gov. Remulla to resolve said case.

“Until now, the management is not giving me my job description . This is even after the management gave their word before the Gov. Remulla,” Ballena ended.

WAC Chair Elected Supreme Bishop

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:59:00 +0100

The Workers Assistance Center congratulates its chair of the board, The Most Reverend Ephraim Fajutagana, as the newly-elected 12^th Supreme Bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) following its 12^th Triennial General Assembly on May 10, 2011.

The Most Rev. Fajutagana served as WAC’s chairperson since 2007 during his reign as the General Secretary of IFI. He was the Diocesan Bishop in the province of Cavite from 2002 until his election as General Secretary in May 2005.

He assumed the chairmanship of the WAC’s Board of Trustees at the height of political repression and extra-judicial killings of activists during the Arroyo presidency. He replaced the late Bishop Alberto Ramento, who was found murdered in his parish in Tarlac City in 2006.

Related story at: http://www.ifi.ph/main.htm

International Organizations Denounce Labor Leader Killing, Wife Decry Slow Probe

Sun, 08 May 2011 14:03:31 +0100

International organizations wrote letters of appeal to Philippine authorities expressing grave concern over the killing of Celito Baccay, founder-leader of Maeno Giken Workers Organization-Independent (MAGIKWO-Ind) on March 8 while driving his way home from Maeno Giken Inc. in First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE), Langkaan, Damariñas City.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) through its president, Mr. Kenneth Georgetti wrote to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III that read, “On behalf of its 3.2 million members, the Canadian Labour Congress wrote the previous administration stating our concern about the murder of, arrests and intimidation against union members and leaders in the Philippines.”

CLC further stated, “The world expected this murderous campaign to an end under your new government, but human rights group Karapatan has registered 40 extra-judicial killings in the first 9 months of your administration, with the case of Celito Baccay counting as number 41. When will the killing stop?”

Meanwhile, Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis Party, a party list representative of workers, farmers, and urban poor in the Philippine Congress introduced House Resolution No. 1155. The resolution directs the house committee on human rights to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the killing of Celito Baccay, Board Member of MAGIKWO on April 5, 2011.

However, the resolution was not acted upon as it caught the Congress on early break for the Lenten season and regular session would only resume on May 9.

Mrs. Leonila Baccay, widow of Celito Baccay, conveyed her disgust over the slow investigation done by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Dasmariñas.

“Walang kwenta! Kung dito naganap [ang insidente] sa Carmona, madaling maso-solve [iyan] (Incompetent! If the incident happened here in Carmona it will be solved immediately!),” Mrs. Baccay expressed in a phone interview.

“[Sana] maging fair ang pulis Dasma[riñas] at hindi empleyado lang ang iniimbetigahan. Parang lumalabas panig sila kay Garto (I hope that police from Dasmariñas will be fair and not only workers are being investigated. It seems that they have taken the side of Garto), Mrs. Baccay pled after being highly emotional on the sluggish development of investigation on the killing of her husband.

Maeno Giken Inc. Vice President for Operations Gart Dennis Melchor popularly known as Garto was Mrs. Baccay’s suspect whom she identified that Celito’s open enemy after the founding MAGIKWO. Mrs. Baccay said that Garto is yet to be investigated while workers are forced to resign due to further pressure and intimidation from management.

“We further request that your administration take all necessary measures to investigate human rights abuses and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Republic of the Philippines has ratified ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize. We call and protect the rights of workers and trade unionists,” CLC continued.

Organizations under CLC who likewise wrote the authorities were Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW); Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP); Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC); and the Union of Teaching Assistants and Contract Instructors at Carleton University (CUPE 4600) asked the government to conduct an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the murder of Celito Baccay; file criminal charges against the perpetrators without delay; ensure the protection of the families and co-unionists of Celito Baccay; investigate reports of harassment and surveillance of leaders and members of MAGIKWO-Ind; and, use all available means to protect the rights of the workers in Maeno Giken Inc. to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) also sent letters to local authorities expressing their alarm over the murder of Celito Baccay.

Said organizations also furnished copies of letter to government agencies concerning the renewed attack to the workers movement in the province of Cavite. Government offices include; Ms. Loretta Anne Rosales, Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR); Dir. Gen. Raul Bacalzo, Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP); Hon. Leila de Lima, Secretary of the Department of Justice (DoJ); Hon. Rosalinda Baldoz, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE); and Atty. Lilia B. de Lima, Director-General of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

On the other hand, Action Network Human Rights – Philippines, a network of organizations based in Germany was the first one to send appeal letters to CHR Chair Rosales and PEZA Director-General De Lima.

Action Network human Rights-Philippines strongly condemned the killings and called CHR and PEZA to carry out an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation on the murder of Celito Baccay; a possible involvement of the Maeno Giken management, and to investigate about the reported harassments and surveillances of leaders and members of MAGIKWO; and take all necessary steps to protect the Maeno Giken’s right to organize.

Stop Repression, Abate Poverty: Workers Call for Unity, Assert Union Formation

Thu, 05 May 2011 13:56:24 +0100

Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW) led the 500-strong marching workers unions and sectoral organizations on the 122^nd International Labor Day at 8:30 in the morning on May 1 to rally behind this year’s theme to unite and fight against poverty and repression of rights.

“The May One commemorative rally this year is very significant to us. This is the first Labor Day celebration of the Aquino Administration and this is also the first time that unionized workers were able to march inside the economic zone since the violent dispersal of the Kaisahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Phils Jeon Garments Inc.-Independent (KMPJI) and Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Chong Won Fashions Inc.-Independent (NMCWI) picket lines in 2006 and 2007 respectively,” Merly Grafe, SCW Chairperson said in a phone interview who at the time was in South Korea campaigning justice for workers of KMPJI.

Daeduck Employees Union-Independent (DEU-Ind) marched their way from their production plant to the CEZ main gate to join the Labor Day protest action only after workers brushed aside metal barricades and Jantro security guards.

“We, unionists from DEU have made Daeduck Philippines management to understand today that we are neither fools nor ignorant and dumb and born with a sound judgment. We hope that all workers in CEZ would realize our right to freedom of association in forming unions which is the only effective tool to achieve higher wages and deter repression from the management,” said Syrel Canites in the program, DEU-Ind Board Member.

DEU-Ind was formed in August 4, 2005 under the Federation of Union of Rizal-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (FUR-TUCP) but disaffiliated on February 22, 2011 after irregularities in the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) facilitated by FUR-TUCP.

On the other hand, Nolan Maquincio Public Relations Officer of Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Hoffen Industries (NMHI-OLALIA-KMU), a failed victim of extra-judicial killing under the Aquino Administration called for workers to organize unions inside their plants to effectively promote their rights against exploitation and repression.

“I, myself is a victim of trade union repression. Someone tried to kill me on the 22^nd of November last year. I am calling on workers to unite and be brave to stand against repression,” Maquincio asserted firmly.

He further claimed that workers cannot expect anything more from the Aquino Administration with the rotten system of contractualization, low wages, and trade union repression being in effect.

The protesters marched to disperse after the program lasted for two and a half hours under the scorching heat. A delegation of 50 workers pushed their way to join the Regional mobilization in Calamba, Laguna by 1:00 in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, a coordinated protest actions were held in Districts 2 and 3 of Batangas led by Batangas Labor Solidarity (BLAST). Protest actions were simultaneously held at Sto. Tomas and Batangas City where workers demanded for the enactment of House Bills 374 and 375.

“The enactment of the said House Bills No. 374 and 375 would ensure private and public sector workers of a substantial wage increase across the nation,” said Reiner Rolle, BLAST Secretary General.

Rolle further said that the wage increase is timely especially at the time that price increases on oil prices, basic commodities, and fares remain unabated.

Mobilizations from both districts then merged in Lipa City market where they held their main program. Batangas workers focused on issues for a living wage, secured jobs, and resistance against trade union repression and political persecution. Estimates of 500 workers with support from organizations in other sectors were mobilized in Batangas. 200 of which came from Kaisahan ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Tubuhan (KAISAHAN), an organization of sugarcane farm workers, and held a separate protest action in Balayan market at 1:00 in the aftfernoon.

Rolle asserted, “No matter how viscous is the attack they direct to the workers and the people up to the extent that they kill our leaders across the province, they can never stop the working class in advancing the fight for the democratic rights as to what history has foretold.”

On the other hand, Samahan ng Manggagawa sa EMI-Yazaki (SM-EMI) gathered 300 of its members in front of the company gates in Anabu, Imus where they held their demonstration.

“Let this May One [protest actions] be a fair warning for Mr. Aquino that soon he will earn rejection if his apathy to workers rights and welfare continue. We are calling on all workers to unite and confront poverty and human rights violations and repression in forming genuine workers unions and organizations in tens and folds! Only through this would challenge the government’s attitude of perpetual callousness towards the working class,” Grafe firmly said in conclusion.

Cavite Workers Welcome Sen. Revilla Wage Hike Bill

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 04:06:12 +0100

The Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW) welcomed with high hopes Sen. Bong Revilla’s filing of Senate Bill 1981 to strengthen the workers clamour for the P125 legislated wage increase.

SCW chair Merly Grafe said “The workers with the Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW) hails Sen. Bong Revilla in filing a bill that would benefit the workers much. Especially during this time that prices of basic commodities and fares in public transport soared rendering the seventeen-peso increase in the minimum wage in January this year in the CALABARZON Region useless.”

“It is a relief that there is still one lawmaker in Cavite who has not failed his duty for his constituents. Not like Cong. Jesus Crispin Remulla who opposed the P125 wage hike bill in 2004,”Grafe added.

While the bill of Sen. Revilla proposes a wage hike of P125, it will be given for three consecutive years. However, this is far better than the Aquino Administration’s position on giving the workers non-wage benefits. With this bill, if passed into law, it will benefit all workers across the country.

On the other hand, Rev. Fr. Jose Dizon, Executive Director of the Cavite-based Workers Assistance Center (WAC) calls on the Aquino administration to abandon its opposition on the legislated P125 wage hike and certify the two bills in Congress and Senate as urgent.

“Mr. Aquino is not only doing a disservice to lowly-paid workers in this time of crisis, he is blatantly showing his indifference to the fullest,” said Fr. Dizon.

“There is still a long way to go before this legislated wage increase could be passed into law but we would continue to struggle for its realization. We hope that lawmakers would immediately pass the House Bill 375 and the Senate Bill 1981 into law,” Grafe said with optimism.

Workers Appeal for Nth Time: Hold picket in Imus and Seoul

Tue, 03 May 2011 03:22:55 +0100

Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW) led a picket in front of the office of Provincial Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco in Imus, Cavite on April 28, at 9:00 in the morning and submitted a letter of appeal to resolve pending cases of workers for the fifth time.

Dismissed workers from Mitsuwa Philippines Inc. (MPI) and SP Ventures Corporation, and union members from Kaisahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Phils Jeon Garments Inc.-Independent (KMPJI-Ind), Nagkakaisang Manggagagawa ng Chong Won Fashions Inc.-Independent (NMCWI-Ind) staged the protest action.

The workers, union members from KMPJI, went to appeal for the fifth time urging the Cavite Prosecutors Office to resolve the complaints they filed against individuals Mr. Dong Gon Kim, Allan Dela Cruz, Cecille Esperado, Leomar Aratan, Noel Buenaflor, Emil Servo, Salvador Bonita, Iniego Servo, Rizalino Fuentes while Mr. Yong Ryul Kim, Antonio Felismino, P/Col. Jose Joel Sarasua, P/Maj. Jose Redada, P/Sgt. Jessie Santos and Atty. Lilia De Lima who were responsible for the violent dispersal of their strikes almost five years ago. Likewise, unionists from NMCWI appealed before the Cavite prosecutors to act upon their complaint against the violent dispersal of their picket line and grave threats to seven (7) striking workers on the night between June 10 and 11, 2007.

Picketing workers also urged Cavite Prosecutor Velasco to dismiss the qualified theft charges filed by MPI management to its workers to sever from paying benefits. Terminated workers served more than five years already and some had worked for 15 years in the company.

The workers left the prosecutor’s office after they submitted their appeal but assured themselves to monitor the action of the said office and will not stop coming back until their cases are resolved.

On the other hand, SCW Chair Merly Grafe with unionist from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS) also held a picket in front of the KB building, Mother Company of Phils-Jeon Garments Inc. (PJGI), in Seoul, South Korea on the same day.

The picket was held from 8:00-9:00 in the morning (Seoul time) during the stockholders meeting of KB. SCW, KCTU, and KHIS demand the PJGI management to immediately reinstate the 120 illegally dismissed workers who went on strike in 2006 and start the negotiation for a collective bargaining agreement with the KMPJI-Ind.

Before the picket ended, one of the KB stockholders went down and said ‘Sorry’ to what PJGI had done to its workers.

Time, Too Short for Peace Forum

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:12:24 +0100

TIME WAS TOO SHORT for the participants in engaging the speakers and having lively interactions when Workers Assistance Center Inc. (WAC), Cavite People’s Advocacy for Good Governance (CPAGG), Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) Tanza Chapter, and Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW) collaborated and held a peace forum at the Bp. Felix Perez Hall at the Holy Cross Parish in Tanza, Cavite on April 9.

The theme of the forum was Prospects of the Ongoing Peace Negotiations and the Role of the Church and the Communities in Achieving Peace where more than a hundred participants attended the event.

Participants were workers from different unions under the Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW); civil society organizations in the communities from Tanza, Rosario, Noveleta, and Bacoor; members of the academe from the La Sallian Community Development Center and Alliance of Concerned Teachers; the youth; and the two municipal councillors of Tanza namely, Hon. Joselito Diosana and Hon. Angelito Langit.

The program started at exactly 2:00 in the afternoon where Rev. Fr. Calixto Lumandas, parish priest of the Holy Cross parish, led with a prayer and welcomed everybody in the hall afterwards.

Mr. Danilo Encinas, Head of the Technical Committee of the GPH Peace Panel discussed first amongst the panel of speakers in place of GPH Peace Panel Chair Padilla. Padilla, initially booked for the forum a month ago but had to attend to an important matter at Dumaguete City on the day of the activity.

Encinas welcomed the forum and encouraged common folks to engage the government in a dialogue and actively participate in the negotiations and hoped that similar activities would be held as venue for the people to listen and speak. He further said that the role of the Church and labor sector in the peace negotiations is to provide valuable inputs through public dialogues and consultations. He also enjoins the participants to create a “forum” to provoke meaningful discussions of the issues impacting on the peace negotiations such as socio-economic reforms and provide pressure to keep the parties at the table. He further said that people should extract accountabilities from parties and bridge the parties to common platform for a successful negotiation.

Mr. Agcaoili of the NDFP, immediately made a rebuttal and clarification on the statement of Mr. Encinas. He said that all throughout the speech of Mr. Encinas there’s no mention of justice. He said “there is no peace if there is no social justice”. He also addes that it is the GPH who are in the present dispensation and in the authority to make a change. They are the ruling regime and they are in the position to implement social, political, and economic reforms. He enlightened the participants with the two-decade old peace negotiations where oftentimes GPH suspended the talks. Although, he shared that in an on and off conduct of the formal negotiations, both parties had reached numerous pacts with which the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) former President Joseph Estrada signed in 1998. Agcaoili later asked the GPH to refrain from basing their optimism to achieve peace on a set time-frame but on the willingness of both parties to ending the conflict in the country by addressing its root causes.

Dr. Rommel Linatoc, program secretary of the NCCP completed the battery of resource persons presenting in behalf of Fr. Rex Reyes, Jr. Linatoc stressed the importance of people’s active involvement on the peace negotiations through massive education campaign, relentless organizing and mobilizations, and aggressive broadening of peace advocates. He also pressed the importance of the people’s active involvement in the current peace negotiations as parties are due to deliberate the aspect of socio-economic reforms which would tackle problems such as landlessness of tillers, inhumane working conditions in manufacturing plants, unemployment, and others.

Afterwards, the reactors gave their statement on what they have to say on the speakers’ discussion. Ms. Merly Grafe, Chairperson of SCW and Rev. Fr. Jose Dizon, Director of the Diocesan Labor Ministry gave their respective views.

Merly Grafe agreed to what Mr. Agcaoili have presented that truly there is no peace if there is no justice. And for the workers it is a good chance that both parties are now discussing the socio-economic reforms where the workers can really relate and participate in terms of their wages and aspirations for a decent wage.

Fr. Dizon on his part, said that it is a welcome move on the part of the GPH in appointing Atty. Alexander Padilla as the chairperson of the peace panel of the government. He said that if Atty. Padilla was present in the forum he would tell him to grab this opportunity for a Padilla to leave legacy, and that is the conclusion of the peace talks between the GPH and the NDFP.

Further, he congratulated the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) for their active role as a Church institution in the peace negotiations. “Sila ang aktibong gumagampan ng tungkulin ng Simbahan sa pakikialam, pakikisangkot, sa usapang pangkapayapaan (They actively perform the role of the church in mediating, getting involved, with the peace talks)."

He also said that he fully agree with Dr. Linatoc’s speech that the Church should not be an outsider in the peace talks and peace negotiations issues.

Lastly, he said that as the two parties seriously discussed about the agreements made on human and international human rights and other agreements, one issue that they have to address is the issue of landlessness and its response should be a genuine land reform. He further explained that even for the Pope, land reform is also one of his priority issue and the idea should be land to the tillers and here is the major role and challenge to President Aquino and his political will because for him, this involves Hacienda Luisita.

The forum ended in Ms. Rio Ramos-Mazo’s, Director of the La Sallian Community Development Center, synthesis that things that have discussed should not end in the forum venue but actions must be made to realize a just and long lasting peace soon. She also posed a challenge both to the GPH and NDFP. For the GPH, how can they implement a comprehensive and genuine socio-economic reforms and for the NDFP on how they will handle the worries on the sincerity of the GPH to talk about peace. Further she said peace is just simple and we should start peace with ourselves, quoting the song, “Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me."