Friday, June 29, 2018

Labor group slams criminalization of unionists



The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today condemned the criminalization of unionists in Cebu, Valenzuela and Cavite. In Cebu, a “wanted list” of unionists were posted at the gate of the Mactan Economic Zone and its security office last Wednesday. In Valenzuela, in the middle of negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a union president and vice president were arrested due to a criminal complaint also last Wednesday. Finally in Cavite, criminal complaints were also filed against union officers.

“We are alarmed at this disturbing pattern of unionists being treated as criminals. Unionism is not a crime. But with the prevailing culture of impunity, employers are emboldened to criminalize unionists and treat them as terrorists,” declared Rene Magtubo, national of PM.

Names and pictures of Myra Opada, Luzelie Gesta and Aurelia Parangan were on the “wanted list” in the Mactan ecozone. Opada is union president at Philippine Light Leather Corp. (PLLC), Gesta is secretary of the union and Parangan is an active member. All three have been terminated by PLLC management but the workers have filed cases of union busting, unfair labor practice and illegal dismissal.

Meanwhile, the president and vice president of the labor union at the Nation Paper Products and Printing Corp. (NAPPCO) were arrested and detained at a Valenzuela police station for two days already. The union is trying to raise the P36,000 total bail for the two. The CBA negotiations were cancelled as a result of the arrest and detention.

Cases for falsification of public documents by were filed against union officers at Jisoo Garments Manufacturing Corp. and Dong Seung Inc. in the Cavite ecozone more than a month ago. The criminal complaints followed other instances of harassment by management of active unionists in the two Korean-owned garments factories.

“While police are arresting tambays for crimes that have not been committed, employers are similarly engaged in criminalizing unionists for exercising their rights as workers. Police should instead arrest employers who are illegally employing endo workers, under paying workers for wages and benefits and not remitting deduction for SSS, Pag-ibig and Philhealth,” argued Magtubo.

The group is studying the possibility of a congressional investigation of the spate of incidents of union repression in the country. A global union body had listed the Philippines as among the worst countries for workers in its 2018 Global Rights Index. 

June 29, 2018

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

After citing the Philippines as one of worst: Global union body asked to probe recent cases of workers repression



The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) asked the global union body, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), to investigate recent cases of violent dispersals of strikes and harassment of striking workers. The ITUC had listed the Philippines as among the worst countries for workers in its 2018 Global Rights Index.

“If the ITUC report had noted very recent developments like the violent dispersal of the strike at NutriAsia and the harassment of picketlines at Lakepower Converter and Dong Seung in the Cavite export processing zone, the Philippines might even rise from being number 8 to number 1 in the list of worst countries,” stated Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

Magtubo was referring to the police dispersal last week of the picketline at the condiments giant NutriAsia that led to the arrest of a dozen workers and the wounding of several more. While in the strike at the electronics factory Lakepower Converter, two women workers were hurt when company and ecozone security guards repeatedly attacked the picketline in the dead of the night last December 2017. In the strike at the garments factory Dong Seung last month, ecozone guards tore down placards in the picketline and prevented striking workers from entering the Cavite export processing zone.

“All these incidents of impunity against labor rights at NutriAsia, Lakepower and Dong Seung are in blatant violation of the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines in the Conduct of Security Personnel During Labor Disputes. The guidelines was a reform enacted in response to findings by the International Labor Organization High Level Mission in 2009. Unfortunately the guidelines remain a piece of paper,” insisted Gerry Rivera, head of the newly established Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa.

Last Monday, some 200 members of PM and Kapatiran marched to the NutriAsia factory in solidarity with the striking workers. The groups are calling for a boycott of NutriAsia products such as Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC and Mang Tomas.

Tomorrow mediations meetings are to be held to resolve the pending disputes at Dong Seung and Lakepower. The DOLE National Office is calling the company and union of Lakepower to a meeting due to the termination of all seven union officers this month despite an agreement forged last April to reinstate all striking workers. Also the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in Cavite is meeting the management and union of Dong Seung because of the dismissal of 16 union officers.

“The mass termination of union officers at Lakepower and Dong Seung are black-and-white examples of union busting by companies. Workers in NutriAsia, Dong Seung, Lakepower and others are organizing in order to improve wages and working conditions but the response of employers is to suppress freedom of association,” concluded Rivera.

June 20, 2018

Monday, June 18, 2018

Workers march to condemn dispersal of NutriAsia picketline, call for boycott




Some 200 workers marched this afternoon in Marilao to the strikebound condiments factory NutriAsia. Members of the Bulacan chapter of Partido Manggagawa (PM), Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino, the Bulacan Motorcycle Riders Confederation and a newly established labor group, Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa, condemned the violent dispersal of the picketline of striking workers last week. Scores of strikers were arrested and several more were wounded as police enforced a court order against the picketline.

The PM-Bulacan and Kapatiran members assembled at the corner of Pantoc and Lambakin in Marilao at 1:00 pm before proceeding to the NutriAsia factory. Members of PM-Bulacan are among the NutriAsia strikers.

“The dispersal of the NutriAsia picketline exposes the double standard of the so-called justice system and also of the present administration. A court order to allow free ingress and egress at the factory is forcibly enforced while a DOLE order to regularize workers remains unimplemented. We have an administration that promised to end endo yet police violence is inflicted upon workers fighting against contractualization,” averred Gerry Rivera, head of the Kapatiran.

The group is calling on the public to boycott products made at the factory until the workers’ demands for regularization is met. NutriAsia manufactures Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC Ketchup and Mang Tomas among others.

Kapatiran was formed by several unions and workers associations as a “solidarity space” for unaffiliated and federated organizations. It aims to complement ongoing labor unity efforts even as it plans to campaign for urgent labor reforms.

“We call on the police to observe the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines on the Conduct of Security Personnel During Labor Disputes. Police are not allowed to escort scabs into a strikebound factory and they should maintain a 50 meter distance from the picketline,” argued Ver Estorosas, chair of the PM-Bulacan.

Rivera called on the labor movement to close ranks in solidarity with the workers of NutriAsia and other labor struggles. He recalled that another workers strike in the Cavite export processing zone in Rosario was also harassed by security guards.

“Solidarity among workers is necessary to defend the right to peaceful concerted actions, including strike and advance the campaign against endo,” argued Rivera. Rivera is also union president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) which has waged a bitter struggle against contractualization at the national flag carrier. PALEA and Kapatiran are calling on the DOLE to expedite the release of the results of a labor inspection of PAL and its sister company PAL Express.


Partido Manggagawa-Bulacan

June 18, 2018


Sunday, June 17, 2018

Media Advisory: Workers march today to condemn violent dispersal at NutriAsia

Media Advisory
June 18, 2018
Partido Manggagawa
Contact Ver Estorosas @ 09339680449

Workers march to condemn violent dispersal at NutriAsia 

WHAT: March of some 200 workers in solidarity with strike at NutriAsia

WHEN: Today, June 18 (Monday), 1:00 pm

WHERE: Assembly at corner of Pantoc and Lambakin at Marilao, Bulacan then march to NutriAsia factory 

DETAILS:
The Bulacan chapter of Partido Manggagawa (PM) and a newly established labor group, the Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa, will march this afternoon to condemn the violent dispersal of the picketline of striking workers of condiments giant NutriAsia. Members of PM-Bulacan are among the NutriAsia strikers.

The groups are also calling for a boycott products made at the factory until the workers’ demands for regularization and union recognition are met. NutriAsia manufactures Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC Ketchup and Mang Tomas among others. 

“The dispersal of the NutriAsia picketline exposes the double standard of the so-called justice system and also of the present administration. A court order to allow free ingress and egress at the factory is forcibly enforced while a DOLE order to regularize workers remains unimplemented. We have an administration that promised to end endo yet police violence is inflicted upon workers fighting against contractualization,” averred Gerry Rivera, head of Kapatiran. ###

Friday, June 15, 2018

Labor group condemns dispersal of NutriAsia picketline, calls for boycott



A newly established labor group, the Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa, condemned the violent dispersal of the picketline of striking workers of condiments giant NutriAsia. Yesterday some 200 police arrested scores of strikers and wounded several more as they enforced a court order against the picketline.

“The dispersal of the NutriAsia picketline exposes the double standard of the so-called justice system and also of the present administration. A court order to allow free ingress and egress at the factory is forcibly enforced while a DOLE order to regularize workers remains unimplemented. We have an administration that promised to end endo yet police violence is inflicted upon workers fighting against contractualization,” averred Gerry Rivera, head of the Kapatiran.

The group is calling on the public to boycott products made at the factory until the workers’ demands for regularization is met. NutriAsia manufactures Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC Ketchup and Mang Tomas among others.

Kapatiran was formed by several unions and workers associations as a “solidarity space” for unaffiliated and federated organizations. It aims to complement ongoing labor unity efforts even as it plans to campaign for urgent labor reforms.

“We call on the police to observe the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines on the Conduct of Security Personnel During Labor Disputes. Police are not allowed to escort scabs into a strikebound factory and they should maintain a 50 meter distance from the picketline,” argued Ver Estorosas, chair of the Bulacan chapter of Partido Manggagawa (PM).

Estorosas also warned the administration against a bloody confrontation in the Kadamay occupation of NHA housing units in Rodriguez, Rizal. Yesterday President Duterte issued an ultimatum for the urban poor to leave the NHA site by noon today or be killed as they are evicted. He asked “Why is it that under this administration the poor and workers are killed in the war on drugs and hurt in violent dispersals of strikes and occupations?”

PM-Bulacan and Kapatiran are supporting the strike of contractual workers of NutriAsia. Several PM-Bulacan members are among the strikers in the factory.

Rivera called on the labor movement to close ranks in solidarity with the workers of NutriAsia and other labor struggles. He recalled that another workers strike in the Cavite export processing zone in Rosario was also harassed by security guards.

“Solidarity among workers is necessary to defend the right to peaceful concerted actions, including strike,” argued Rivera. Rivera is also union president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) which has waged a bitter struggle against contractualization at the national flag carrier. PALEA and Kapatiran are calling on the DOLE to expedite the release of the results of a labor inspection of PAL and its sister company PAL Express. 

Kapatiran



June 15, 2018

Thursday, June 7, 2018

P1,300 daily, P39K monthly needed to live decently—labor group study



A cost of living survey by the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) found that a family of five in the National Capital Region needs P1,300 daily or P39,000 monthly to live decently as of May 2018.

PM’s cost of living estimate is in stark contrast to the “hypothetical scenario” of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) of a P10,000 monthly budget for a family of five.

“NEDA’s assessment is utterly erroneous. Just to cite one flaw. NEDA alleges that P959 out of the P10,000 is allotted for rice. Such a budget can only buy 30 kilos of P32 NFA rice—which is hard to find in the market—for one month or 1 kilo per day to be shared by 5 people. This translates to just one cup (200g) per person per day or around 250 calories, far below the recommended daily calorie intake of 1,500-2,000. P10,000 means malnourished and stunted workers and children,” explained Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

In PM’s own study, P3,150 monthly are needed to buy daily 2.5 kilos of the cheapest commercial rice at P42. Of the P39,000 monthly budget, 44% is earmarked for food and 56% for non-food items. Utilities like electricity, water and cooking gas make up 8%, house rent 15%, transportation expenses 11% and education needs 13% of the total budget.

“Our cost of living study is in fact an underestimation as it does not provide for leisure and recreation, savings or social security which should comprise 10% as a standard or for a house help which is a necessity if the government insists that both parents must work to sustain the family,” Magtubo averred.

PM is calling for a substantial wage hike and national minimum wage as promised by President Rodrigo Duterte. The group is supporting pending bills calling for a national minimum wage of P750 to P800.

Magtubo insisted that “The focus now is on worsening inflation that has eroded workers nominal wages. But hardly noticed is growing inequality due to the stagnation of real wages while productivity is booming. From 2001 to 2016, labor productivity grew by at least 50 percent, yet the real wages did not grow at all. Workers have been denied their fair share in the fruits of production.” 





Cost of Living Estimate
for a family of 5 living in NCR (May 2018)


Items

Volume/Cost
Daily
Cost
Monthly
Cost
%
share
Food & Beverages


17,446.50
44.33
rice
2.5kg/day x P42 (sinandomeng)
105
3,150

ulam & gulay
3 servings (P82/pax/day x 5 pax)
410
12,300

seasoning
2kg onion (P97/kilo),
1kg garlic (P110/kilo)
10.13
304

fruits
4kg  x P60 (banana)
8
240

cooking oil
2 liters x P106
7.07
212

sugar
2kg x P56.25
3.75
112.5

soy sauce
1 liter P42
1.40
42

vinegar
1 liter P34.50
1.15
34.50

fish sauce
1 liter P53
1.77
53

coffee
2 (100g) x P76.25
5.08
152.50

milk
3 (900g) x P282
28.20
846

Utilities


3,358
8.53
electricity
200kwh (P10.90/kwh)
72.67
2,180

water
20cu.m. (P23.95/cu.m)
15.97
479

LPG
1 cylinder
23.30
699

House rental


6,000
15.25

1 month rent
200
6,000

Toiletries


1,027.05
2.61
soap
6 bars (135g) x P40.50
8.10
243

shampoo
2 (180ml ) x P101.90
6.79
203.80

sanitary napkins
3 (packs of 8) x P42.75
4.28
128.25

toothpaste
2 (150ml) x P77.50
5.17
155

laundry soap
24 (70g pack) x P5.50
4.40
132

deodorant
2 (40ml) x P82.50
         5.50
165

Education


5,170.83
13.14
miscellaneous fees
3 pax x P750 = P2250/schoolyear
6.25
187.50

school allowance
100 x 2 pax & 50 x 1 pax/day x 22 days x 10 months = P55,000/yr

152.78

4583.33

theatre tickets
1 ticket x P200/grading x 4 periods x 3 pax/schoolyear = P2,400
6.67
200


school projects
2 subjects x P100
/grading x 4 periods x 3 pax = P2,400/schoolyear

6.67

200

Health


450
1.14
ascorbic acid
5 (1 tablet ascorbic acid generic) X P3
15
              450

Communications


1,500
3.81
phone or cellphone
at least P25/day load x 2
50
1,500

Transpo expenses


4,400
11.18
fare to and from work
2 pax x P100/day x 22days
146.67
4,400

Total

P1,311.77
P39,352.38


NOTES:

1.     Family is composed of a couple with 3 children. Children are all in public schools (2 HS level and 1 elementary), school supplies, work books expenses, internet use for research are not yet included
2.     Basket does not include bill for a house-help
3.     Utilities such as electricity and water vary from time to time depending on consumption
4.     No item for leisure/recreation
5.     Health budget does not include medical expenses
6.     No budget allotted for savings.  NWPC basket provides 10% of the total

June 7, 2018