Women
workers of the Taiwanese-owned electronics factory Lakepower Converter Inc. in
the Cavite Economic Zone held a protest today against company abuses. Among
their grievances is the removal of the door of the women’s restroom so that the
company can spy on workers. Almost all of the 200 workers in the factory are
women.
They are
also outraged at the unreasonable limits on the use of the restroom which has
led to cases of workers suffering from urinary tract infection. The dispute
over the restroom is just the tip of the iceberg of worker grievances at
Lakepower.
Aside
from the dispute over the women’s restroom, workers are also complaining of
excessive quota, discrimination against unionists resulting in suspensions and
their exclusion from receiving Christmas packages.
“Management
is reneging on an agreement reached a few months ago to redress our grievances.
Before, we complained that the restroom door was always kept open. Through
mediation, they agreed to close the door to protect the privacy of workers. But
now, they removed the door entirely,” stated Mercy Tanginan, president of the
Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Lakepower Converter Inc.
The
picket today is the third protest at the Cavite ecozone over the last month.
Earlier, garments workers held protest actions against “factory shutdown-cum-union
busting.” After two protests and a strike threat, the union leaders at the Korean-owned
garments factory Sein Together Phils. Inc. were eventually accepted back to
work.
“ASEAN’s
slogan of prosperity for all is just fake news as long as investors from
Taiwan, Korea and others abuse and exploit Filipino workers. ASEAN is just
facilitating a race to bottom in wages and working conditions with workers in
the Philippines made to compete with workers in Vietnam, for example,” asserted
Rene Magtubo, PM chair.
Media reported the exodus of Korean companies from the Philippines
to Vietnam due allegedly to the high cost of doing business. Workers insist
that some of the companies may just be relocating to avoid unionization.
The
groups are calling on the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine
Economic Zone Authority to intervene. Workers are unionizing to improve their
working conditions but are being met by extreme interference from capitalists
unwilling to share the fruits of production.
The
picket also coincides with a “Global Day of Action against Union Repression” to
be participated in by workers in Australia, Asia and North America. ###
Photos of the protest can be
accessed at:
https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/1015577757231432316 November 2017
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