Enough Lies, Pass the Wage Hike Now

Once again, the Economic Team of the Office of the President has shown us whose side they’re really on: Big Business. And honestly - who’s surprised?

 

Their so-called “strong reservations” against the PHP 200 wage hike are nothing new. They’ve simply recycled the same tired scare tactics of employers - this time wrapped in pseudo-scientific jargon and dressed up as "economic modeling."

Let’s be clear:

 

- The numbers they’re using? Dubious at best.

- The assumptions? Hidden.

- The intent? To kill the wage hike and protect corporate profits.

 

Where were these numbers during months of public hearings in Congress? Nowhere. Suddenly they appear-just in time to sabotage the people’s demand for wage justice. It’s not policy - it’s propaganda.

 

And what do they offer workers instead?

 

More empty promises: enforce the minimum wage law (which they can’t even do), promote collective bargaining (in a country where union rights are under attack), and link wages to productivity (when workers don’t even get regular jobs).

 

Let’s talk about reality:

* Less than 5% of workers are unionized.

* Contractualization is rampant.

* Red-tagging and harassment of unionists continue—with the full knowledge or blessing of the State.

 

How can you bargain when you're not even allowed to organize?

 

How can you fight for better wages when your job is disposable?

 

The truth is this: Workers have waited long enough.

 

For far too long, workers have endured soaring prices, stagnating wages, and broken promises from both employers and government.

 

The wage hike is long overdue!

It’s not charity - it’s justice.

It’s not inflationary - it’s humane.

It won’t crash the economy - it will lift millions out of poverty and fuel real growth from the bottom up.

 

To Congress:

 

You can side with the spin doctors of the elite - or you can stand with the people who build this country every single day.

 

Enough delays. Enough lies.

 

Pass the legislated wage hike NOW.

 

Press Statement

10 June 2025

NAGKAISA Labor Coalition

Strikers being starved using covid lockdown as cover

Workers of garments factory Sejung Apparel Inc. have been on picket-protest since December. In recognition of the need to maintain social distancing, the number of people at the picketline was reduced by the union. From March 27 until today, all attempts to bring food and water to Jackie Elorde and Amer Taluba, the two workers at the picketline, have been stopped by security guards.

Sejung Apparel is a Korean-owned garments factory at the First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE) in Dasmarinas, Cavite (part of the industrial region just outside the capital Metro Manila). Guards have maintained a 24/7 cordon sanitaire around the picketline in violation of the 2011 Guidelines on the Conduct of Security Personnel During Labor Disputes which mandate that police, military and guards should be 50 meters away and not interfere in peaceful picketing. It appears that FCIE wants to starve Jackie and Amer into submission so as to dismantle the picketline.

On the morning of March 27, the union president Jopay Odchimar was prevented by FCIE guards from returning to the picketline to bring food. The guards said that this was upon the orders of FCIE estate manager Raffy Malanyaon and alleged due to the covid quarantine. However, workers continued to go in and out of the FCIE that day as the export processing zone was not shuttered.

After a standoff from morning to afternoon, the union president agreed not to proceed to prevent further argument. That night, FCIE guards stopped water from being given by friends from nearby factories allegedly upon the orders of the estate manager.

This is a clear case of harassment by the FCIE estate manager under the cover of the covid lockdown. Freedom of association and labor rights—including the guidelines on the conduct of security personnel—have not been revoked or suspended just because a quarantine is in effect. From a labor dispute the case has morphed into humanitarian issue.

The labor dispute is due to union busting and also non-payment of 13^th month pay and last salary. For more than four months, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial and regional office has not acted on the clear case of labor standards violation despite undertaking an inspection. The case has dragged on for so long that the covid pandemic and the resulting quarantine has further aggravated the sufferings of the workers.

Sejung Apparel has declared temporary shutdown for three times since October. The first shutdown occurred just one week after the union submitted a collective bargaining proposal and just three weeks after the union won the certification election. Again, the circumstances point to union busting by management. But action by the DOLE has been lacking to protect freedom of association at the export processing zones.

We call on the DOLE to act immediately to bring food and water to Jackie and Amer. Further, we call on FCIE to stop the harassment of the Sejung workers and respect the right to peaceful picketing. ###

April 8, 2020

Group calls for repatriation of Filipino crew of covid-infected ship

 

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called for the evacuation and repatriation of the crew of the Grand Princess ship, which includes 529 Filipinos. US authorities have only allowed passengers to disembark from the ship moored in Oakland, California, after which the Grand Princess will sail away with the 1,100 crew.

“The decision by US authorities to quarantine the crew on the Grand Princess means allowing the ship to be a petri dish and putting at risk the health and life of 1,100 workers. We demand their evacuation and repatriation to the Philippines of the Filipino crew,” stated Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

He insisted that according to the labor contract with the ship owners, workers have a right to be repatriated and the right to a safe workplace. But these rights are being violated since US authorities are preventing their evacuation from a contaminated ship. PM is thus condemning the discriminatory and racist policy of US authorities. Magtubo added that the group supports a similar demand by the labor unionists in the Bay Area.

“We likewise demand that the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Foreign Affairs to make representation to the US authorities on behalf of the Filipino crew of the Grand Princess,” Magtubo averred.

He explained that “In contrast, both the passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess in Yokohama, Japan were evacuated and then repatriated. Although the three week period that the people in Diamond Princess was allowed to ‘quarantine’ only led to the spread of infection in the close quarters condition of a cruise ship. That mistake must not be repeated by letting the Grand Princess sail to nowhere with 1,100 crew. ”

“The 437 crew and 2 passengers of the Diamond Princess that were repatriated to the Philippines and then subsequently quarantined in a local facility were released last March 11 since they did not show any signs of infection. Another two however were positive for covid and are undergoing further quarantine,” Magtubo said.

The labor group’s call is part of its ongoing campaign for a worker-first policy regarding the employment impact of the covid epidemic. PM earlier demanded that the Labor Department issue an order mandating negotiations between management and workers before any layoffs and flexible work arrangements are implemented. The group is also asking for paid leaves and paid quarantine days.

March 14, 2020

DOLE slammed for inaction on 13th month pay issue of “Grinch” company in Cavite

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) slammed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for lack of action in enforcing the mandatory payment of the 13^th month benefit for workers of a garments factory in Cavite.

“December 24 has come and gone but the DOLE still refuses to use it powers to enforce the payment of wages and 13^th month pay for workers of a ‘Grinch’ company,” declared Rene Magtubo, PM national chair. Workers of Sejung Apparel Inc. in the First Cavite Industrial Estate have been on picket-protest since December 12.

Tomorrow, Senator Risa Hontiveros is set to visit the Sejung picketline to bring moral and logistical support to the workers.

“While DOLE officials in the national and regional offices are enjoying their happy holidays, Sejung workers had a sad Christmas and are facing a bleak New Year since labor standards are not being enforced,” Magtubo insisted.

Josephine Odchimar, president of the labor union at Sejung, stated that DOLE had already conducted a factory inspection last December 19 and promised to issue an order if management does not release the 13^th month pay on December 24 as mandated. However, she added that DOLE did not issue an order and instead is trying to schedule another inspection.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. What’s keeping the DOLE regional office from issuing a compliance order? Even during the mediation hearings, Sejung maintained its illegal and hardline stance that it will grant the 13^th month pay in March not December. Yet the DOLE dare not lift a finger even as Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello issued press releases reminding employers about the payment of the 13^th month benefit,” Magtubo averred.

Workers set up a picketline outside the factory to guard against machines being taken out of the factory and prevent a runaway shop. Sejung workers are also demanding a stop the transfer of machines and an end to subcontracting of production. “The company’s argument of lack of buyers is just an alibi. The truth is that production is being subcontracted by Sejung to other companies,” Odchimar asserted.

Workers believe management is maneuvering to bust the union. The union won the certification elections in August. The company temp closed down in October, a week after the union submitted a proposal for a collective bargaining agreement. After a month, the company reopened.

“The pattern of companies inside ecozones shutting down to bust unions is well documented. It appears that Sejung is following this modus operandi of union busting,” Magtubo asserted.

Photos of the company memo about the 13^th month pay and the workers protest can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10157676136334323?__xts__[0]=68.ARBGx-zVbDCc8zj4NMSQA7GQZzAcPSgrdNybQuh8TDrUfgPoGL0ifqHsC1shGb5r2mUeM6OC4LpkuDtw0LdTEh7KBQlilRY_iXcLklX-Vfq6LbKMnlp7xtpdf1JMLKpSrmYbkSeR1kwkomnr5RLkideH5PsxzoAloxtaDTdzpFDTKp4P_r4XmggowFpw-YSXCTnkmrTtD8eUslR-4IFoREjmkuHzUSd8E6lbMV1Gpp9DF69t0eZLnLiTdp_1_HXmiB4qiZiza_RhwNSXxgs9EVYTJ_o2EFKqMqtjRoEfd-SvYOgk5nkwSe_ZrGfHS-R5a6SFOAuf4E6QAF3x_cux&__tn__=-R

December 29, 2019

Iloilo truck drivers on strike

Iloilo City – After failing to settle through mediation the dispute between the Iloilo ARR Enterprises Labor Organization (IARRELO) and the management of ARR Trucking, the former decided to hold a union strike lamenting union busting and unfair labor practice.  This after what started to be a peaceful labor union formation by drivers of ARR Enterprises and their subsequent submission of a proposal for Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to the ARR management was met with harsh consequences.

            While the CBA negotiations were proceeding, ARR management dismissed the Union President, Mr. Elmer Blancaflor and the Union Secretary,Mr. Wilson Amatac, on a flimsy claim of redundancy by transferring their respective truck units to another province of operation of ARR.

            This prompted the filing of an Illegal Dismissal case, Unfair Labor Practice and Union busting against ARR management with the NLRC and a Notice of Strike at the NCMB.

            “Indi nagid ni ya ensakto ang ubra ka management. Nagpungko pa kami para maistoryahan ang amon CBA, tapos gulpi lang wala na kami ya unit kag hambalon nga redundant na kami sang akon Sekretaryo”, lamented Elmer Blancaflor, IARRELO President.

            Blancaflor was optimistic that their proposed CBA will be granted by the management since every negotiation between them and the ARR management, the atmosphere is cordial and all are amenable to the suggestion of each other.

            “Nakibot lang kami nga pitik sintas, wad-an kami ya ubra.  Nga kabalu gid sila nga union officers kami kag gapungko pa sa negotiating panel sang Unyon sa CBA negotiation,” said Union Secretary Wilson Amatac.

            With the seven (7) days cooling off period expiring without a clear settlement after NCMB personnel mediated between the parties, IARRELO is now set to put up the strike.

            “Ang katapusan namon nga alatrasan, strike na gid lang. Indi man tani namon ini luyag himuon apang kun amo ini ang pamaagi nga mapalab-ot namon sa mga natungdan ang amon problema, pasensya sa maapektuhan. Indi kami magpasugot, bilang mamumugon, nga basta lang lapakon ang amon kinamatarung kag pagkatawo”, declared Blancaflor.

           The Partido Manggagawa (PM), which has been assisting IARRELO, declared its full support to the decision of the Union to stage a strike.

            “Kun kinahanglan sang mamumugon nga manindugan kag maghulag para pamatukan ang mga kalakaran sa sulod sang ulubrahan nga nagapakanubo sang ila pagkatawo kag nagalapas sang ila kinamatarung bilang mamumugon, ang PM handa, sa ano man nga pamaagi, para suportahan ini”, concluded Mario Andon of Partido Manggagawa (PM).  

August 16, 2017

Meralco meter readers to hold protest as notice of strike matures

MEDIA ADVISORY

August 1, 2016

Contact: Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

WHAT: Protest by a hundred Meralco meter readers to coincide with mediation meeting called by DOLE

WHEN: Tomorrow, August 2, 2016, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: NCMB Imus @ MYP GBY Building, Bayan Luma 7, Aguinaldo Highway

DETAILS:  Meralco meter readers employed by its subcontractor Calapar Services Inc. are gearing up for a strike by holding a protest action tomorrow. The rally coincides with a mediation meeting called by the DOLE between the management and union. Some one hundred Calapar employees and their supporters are expected to participate in the protest.

The collective bargaining negotiations at Calapar is presently deadlocked over the issue of wage increases and the notice of strike filed by the union expired yesterday. The last remaining requirement for the holding of a work stoppage is a strike vote by union members.

Calapar services Meralco customers in the whole province of Cavite and the cities of Las Pinas and Paranaque. Meter reading was formerly done by Meralco employees but were outsourced to contractors like Calapar in the mid-1990's.

Cavite EPZA garments workers conclude CBA after days of protests

Kudos to the workers of garments factory Faremo International Inc. in the Cavite EPZA for winning their remaining demands and concluding a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after days of protests and the threat of a strike.

"What we failed to achieve in more than three months of bargaining at the table, we won with the help of three days of mass protests by union members who wore red ribbons at work to express their fervent demand for a decent CBA and were determined to go on strike if necessary," explained Jessel Autida, president of the Faremo labor union.

He added that "Salamat sa pagkakaisa at pagkilos ng mga manggagawa ng Faremo, member man ng unyon o hindi. We owe this victory to their unity and action."

The Faremo workers won their demand for retirement pay, paid leaves and other monetary benefits. These issues were previously unresolved and caused the deadlock in the CBA negotiations.

Last Monday the Faremo union filed a notice of strike due to CBA deadlock and workers also started tying red ribbons in their shirts or around their heads. The ribbon protest continued until last Wednesday when the DOLE/NCMB called for a factory level mediation hearing to resolve the strike threat.

While the negotiations proceeded, hundreds of workers who clocked out of work stayed just outside the factory gate to show support for the union panel. The conclusion of the CBA negotiations was met with joy by the Faremo workers. The notice of strike has been withdrawn by the union while the draft CBA will next be submitted for formal ratification by the union members.

Faremo is a subsidiary of the Korean multinational Hansoll and produces for global garments brands Gap, JC Penney and Kohl's. Aside from the Philippines, Hansoll has factories in Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

May 27, 2016

Cavite EPZA workers preparing for strike

Workers of the biggest garments factory at the country’s largest export zone are preparing to go on strike to break a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations. The union of workers at Faremo International Inc. in the Cavite ecozone filed a notice of strike yesterday after bargaining talks remained inconclusive last Friday.

“Workers are asking for just a little more than 5% of the net profit on a per capita basis of Faremo’s mother company yet the company refuses to budge on our just demands. The union has patiently negotiated for the last four months but management has been intransigent. It has even showed bad faith in bargaining for withdrawing a previously agreed upon offer of paid leaves,” explained Jessel Autida, union president of the Faremo International Inc. Workers Association.

Provisions on retirement pay, paid leaves and other monetary benefits remain pending at the bargaining table. On Wednesday, the Department of Labor and Employment is calling a mediation hearing in a bid to resolve the bargaining dispute and avert a strike.

Despite years on the job, almost all workers at Faremo are paid just the regional minimum wage of P315 plus P25.50 in allowances. A handful of so-called pioneer workers are paid wages P1 higher than the minimum. Workplace grievances like low pay impelled the formation of a union at Faremo last year.

“Management keeps on saying that Faremo was in the red for the past several years and only showed a small profit last year. The union believes this is simply due to the magic of transfer pricing. Faremo sells its products at low prices to its mother company Hansoll and thus the profit is reflected in the latter not the former,” Autida insisted.

In its website, Hansoll proclaims that it has revenues of USD 1.23 billion and a target net profit of 5% on sales by year 2017.

There are more than a thousand workers at Faremo, some 800 of whom are regular and represented by the union. Faremo is a subsidiary of the Korean multinational Hansoll and exports to the US and Europe for global garments brands.

Yesterday Faremo workers started wearing red ribbons to symbolize their demand for a decent collective bargaining agreement. More mass actions are planned to highlight the plight of workers at Faremo.

May 24, 2016

Sanofi med reps win wage hike, conclude CBA after four days of natiowide protests:

After days of nationwide protests and bringing the company on the verge brink of a strike, the med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Aventis (Phils) Inc. won their demand for a wage hike and concluded their new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA was signed by the union and management late last night after a marathon whole-day mediation meeting called by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to avert a planned strike.

“What we were not able to achieve in four months of protracted negotiations at the table, we won in four days of nationwide protests in the streets. We owe this victory to the unity and activism of the union members, first of all, and then next to the solidarity of our sisters and brothers in the labor movement. Ang panalo ng Sanofi med reps ay panalo ng lahat ng manggagawa,” declared Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU).

SAEU members with a tenure of 10 years and above will get a P2,800 monthly salary increase every year for three years and a merit pay increase of P600, equivalent to a 9% hike in average monthly wages. Employees with less than 10 years tenure will get P1,800 per year for the duration of the CBA and a merit pay hike of P400.

“The salary hike we obtained will ensure we remain at the living wage and that our compensation is competitive with our labor productivity and company profitability. Further, the CBA we have attained will hopefully set a benchmark that will benefit all workers in the pharmaceutical industry,” averred Joseph Corpuz, a SEAU officer.

Sanofi had been in the news recently because the Department of Health had ordered just for this year some P3 billion worth of anti-dengue vaccines that is solely manufactured by Sanofi. According to media reports, executives of the French-owned global company met President Benigno Aquino III on the sidelines of the Paris climate change talks ostensibly over the vaccine contract.

CBA negotiations between SAEU and Sanofi were deadlocked in October last year which led to a notice of strike. After the strike notice matured more than a week ago, SAEU organized daily protests in the Sanofi office in Makati and the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Calamba in Laguna, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao. The mediation yesterday was billed by the union as a make-or-break meeting which would have led to a strike if no “fair deal” was reached.

Renato Magtubo, chair of Partido Manggagawa (PM), among the groups which supported SAEU, said that “The hard-won victory of SAEU is an inspiration and a lesson to colleagues in the labor movement. SAEU the David slayed the goliath Sanofi through unity and action. Sanofi blinked when it was brought to the brink of a strike that SAEU had prepared well.”

Aside from PM, labor groups such as the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), Bayer Philippines union, Federation of Free Workers and Industri-ALL global union had participated in the Sanofi med reps mass actions. 

January 26, 2016

SAEU

Sanofi med reps all set for strike if “fair deal” not reached

Sanofi med reps prayer rally at DOLE Calabarzon in Calamba, Laguna

The restive med reps of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Aventis declared their readiness to go on strike should the make or break mediation meeting today produce no breakthrough in the deadlocked collective bargaining negotiations. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz called for the mediation in  bid to avert a work stoppage at the Philippine subsidiary of the French-owned global giant.

“If it takes a strike to make management realize that it is the labor of their employees that creates their profit, then we are all set for it. Still we hope that Secretary Baldoz can broker a fair deal today. A fair deal, a decent collective bargaining agreement should mean a salary that we deserve,” insisted Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU).

While SAEU representatives attended the mediation at the Department of Labor and Employment, scores of union members with their supporters picketed outside. The highlight of the protest was a flash mob by several med reps who danced while wearing Guy Fawkes masks. The masks have become an icon of anti-corporate protests since it was popularized in the movie “V.”

Since October last year, bargaining talks have been deadlocked over ten items from salary hike to hospitalization plan. The notice of strike filed by the med reps union matured two weeks ago.

“A strike is the Rx for deadlocked negotiations over a wage increase. This may be our first time to go on strike but we are ready as ever. We appeal to management to hear our reasonable demand for a salary hike which is a mere drop in the bucket of Sanofi’s income,” argued Joseph Corpuz, SAEU officer.

He added that “Aside from robust revenues due to sales quotas achieved by med reps for the past two years, Sanofi has bagged the contract for anti-dengue vaccines. For this year alone, the government is buying PhP 3 billion worth of vaccines from Sanofi. Health Secretary Janet Garin has been quoted as saying that the anti-dengue vaccine is expensive because it is a monopoly of Sanofi.”

Renato Magtubo, chair of Partido Manggagawa (PM), explained that “Labor groups are supporting the fight of Sanofi med reps not just because their demand for a wage hike is justified given employee productivity and company profitability. But also because the fight for a living wage is a cause of all workers. Ang laban ng Sanofi med reps ay laban ng lahat ng manggagawa.”

PM and the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) were among the groups which joined SAEU in the protest today at DOLE. Other labor groups like the Bayer Philippines union, Federation of Free Workers and the Industri-ALL global union have also participated in the Sanofi med reps mass actions.

Since last week, SAEU has held daily protests in cities across the country in preparation for the strike. Pickets and prayer rallies have been organized in the Sanofi office in Makati, and the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Calamba in Laguna, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Davao.

Photos and videos of protests and events can be accesses at Facebook page "Sanofi Aventis Employees Union"

January 25, 2016

Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU)

Advisory: Sanofi med reps protest/flash mob @ DOLE during make or break mediation tomorrow

MEDIA ADVISORY

January 25 2016

Contact: Joseph Corpuz @ 09175451276

   To coincide with make or break mediation today:

Sanofi med reps protest/flash mob @ DOLE

WHAT: Med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis to hold picket-protest and flash mob/dance

WHEN: Today, January 25, 2016, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Department of Labor and Employment main, Intramuros

DETAILS: The mediation today called by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz between the union and management of Sanofi Aventis (Phils) Inc. is a make or break meeting as the notice of strike has already matured last week and the union has already been preparing for a work stoppage for the past several days through sustained protests.

The highlight of the protest at the DOLE today is a flash mob/dance by several SAEU members wearing Guy Fawkes (movie “V”) masks as an expression of their determination to fight for a wage increase and decent benefits.

Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU), stated that “We have already reduced our demands, including for a wage increase, in an effort to break the collective bargaining deadlock. But since October, management has refused to meet its employees halfway. We are simply asking for a salary we deserve. We are just claiming a wage increase proportionate to labor productivity and company profitability.”

Since last week SAEU has organized daily protests in cities across the country. On the first day of protests pickets were held in the Sanofi office in Makati and the DOLE regional offices in the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. Last Thursday, prayer rallies were held in the cities of Makati, Calamba in Laguna, Angeles, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao.  Last Friday, SAEU members previewed in Makati the flash mob/dance that they will perform in the protest tomorrow.

Advisory: Restive med reps to hold prayer rally tomorrow on 2nd day of protest

MEDIA ADVISORY

January 21, 2016

Contact: Joseph Corpuz @ 09175451276

Pharma firm Sanofi on the verge of a strike:

Med reps to hold prayer rally on 2^ndday of protest

WHAT: Med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis to hold prayer rally

WHEN: Today, January 21, 2016, 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sanofi-Aventis, Feliza Building, 108 V.A. Rufino St, Makati

DETAILS: On the second day of protests over a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations, med reps of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi-Aventis are holding a prayer rally this afternoon. Since October last year, CBA talks have been deadlocked over ten items from salary hike to hospitalization plan.

In protests held nationwide yesterday, some 100 med reps launched a rally at the Sanofi corporate headquarters in Makati while scores of other union members picketed the Department of Labor and Employment regional offices in the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao.

Any day now the union Sanofi-Aventis Employees Union(SAEU) can organize a work stoppage as their notice of strike already matured last Friday. SAEU vowed to sustain daily actions to push for the resolution of the CBA deadlock.

Lei Lucido, president of the said that “We call on management to meet halfway the demands of its loyal, hardworking employees. Sanofi med reps are just asking for a salary we deserve. We are appealing for a fair share of the fruits of our labor.”

Media Advisory: Sanofi med reps to hold protest over CBA deadlock

MEDIA ADVISORY

January 19, 2016

Contact: Joseph Corpuz @ 09175451276

WHAT: Med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis to hold picket-protest

WHEN: Tomorrow, January 20, 2016, 7:00 a.m.

WHERE: Sanofi-Aventis, Feliza Building, 108 V.A. Rufino St, Makati

DETAILS: Scores of Sanofi-Aventis med reps are holding the protest tomorrow to call on the company to end the deadlock over collective bargaining negotiations by meeting workers’ demands for a wage increase. Since October last year, CBA talks have been deadlocked over ten items from salary hike to hospitalization plan. Last Friday, the notice of strike filed by the med reps union matured and a strike can be launched any day according to law.

Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi-Aventis Employees Union(SAEU) said that “We call on management to meet halfway the demands of its loyal, hardworking employees. For two straight years, med reps have met their tough sales quotas and revenues are increasing while the number of employees are decreasing. Sanofi med reps are just asking for a salary we deserve. We are appealing for a fair share of the fruits of our labor. We aim to conclude a good CBA that will be an industry benchmark which should benefit all pharmaceutical workers.”

SAEU represents some 200 med reps working for the company over the whole country. Similar pickets will be held by SAEU members in cities of Angeles, Cebu and Davao. The protest tomorrow is the start of daily actions to push for the resolution of the CBA deadlock.

Media Advisory: Protest today at DOLE vs. PAL layoffs

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact Manny Gan @ 09275307230

  

WHAT: PALEA to bring to the attention of DOLE the dispute over the mass layoff of 117 PAL workers

WHEN:  Today, September 18 (Friday), 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: DOLE main office, Intramuros

DETAILS: In the second week of protests against the latest round of mass layoffs at Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) will hold a picket at the main office of the Department of Labor and Employment to bring to its attention the pending dispute. More than a week ago PAL announced the retrenchment in November of 117 employees all working at domestic airports all around the country.

PALEA will ask the DOLE to act on the mass layoff as it is empowered by the Labor Code to resolve cases of mass layoff that results in labor disputes.

Aside from opposing the latest retrenchment, PALEA is also calling for the opening of collective bargaining negotiation and the full implementation of a settlement agreement that ended the dispute over the last mass retrenchment in 2011.

No collective bargaining negotiation between PAL and PALEA has happened since 1998 when a 10-year CBA suspension was imposed. After a two-year fight, PALEA and PAL forged a deal to settle the labor dispute of 2011 yet some 600 retrenched members have not been re-employed as provided for in the agreement.

The mass actions are the start of a renewed campaign to oppose contractualization and outsourcing. It will continue on to PALEA’s 69^th year anniversary on September 21 and then escalate in November in time for the APEC summit.

PALEA slams new round of PAL layoffs

Press Release

September 11, 2015

PALEA

The union Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) slammed the planned mass layoff at Philippine Airlines (PAL). Today PALEA is holding a protest at PAL’s offices near the airport, which comes on the heels of another last Tuesday. Last week PAL announced the retrenchment in November of 117 employees all working at domestic airports all around the country.

“PAL sent a formal notice of separation due to redundancy to PALEA last September 2 to inform the union. Yet no redundancy will happen since the workers to be retrenched will be replaced by employees from so-called service providers. In some airports, employees served by the notice of separation were immediately replaced by contractual workers The new round of layoffs is another wave of contractualization, changing regular unionized workers with contractual employees using manpower agencies,” insisted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of the militant Partido Manggagawa (PM).

In last Tuesday’s protest, dozens of PALEA members picketed PAL offices in Nichols at the Airport Road and PNB at the Macapagal Boulevard. Aside from blasting the latest layoffs, the PALEA protesters also called for the opening of collective bargaining negotiations and the full implementation of a settlement agreement that ended the dispute over the last mass retrenchment in 2011.

No collective bargaining negotiation between PAL and PALEA has happened since 1998 when a 10-year CBA suspension was imposed. After a two-year fight, PALEA and PAL forged a deal to settle the labor dispute of 2011 yet some 600 retrenched members have not been re-employed as provided for in the agreement.

Today more PALEA members together with a contingent from PM will picket PAL’s main office at Macapagal Boulevard. Rivera said the protests this week are the start of a renewed campaign to oppose contractualization and outsourcing.

He added that “PAL has given no clear criteria in implementing the supposed redundancy program except to announce the separation benefits. In fact we suspect that the 117 regular PAL workers to be retrenched may just be rehired as contractual employees by the service provider since they possess the skill set needed for the job. Meaning this is a contractualization scam similar to the 2011 outsourcing program that affected more than 2,000 workers.”

Further Rivera argued that the latest round of layoffs is another expression of PAL owner Lucio Tan’s “no union policy.” He called for the solidarity of the labor movement and allied groups for PALEA’s continuing fight for regular employment.

“Ang laban ng PALEA ay laban ng lahat. We call on our brothers and sisters in the trade union movement and supporters in the Catholic Church, student groups and NGO’s to close ranks for the struggle for labor rights,” Rivera stated.

Strike at Korean factory reveals myth of APEC’s “inclusive growth”

Press Release

February 12, 2015

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today slammed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) theme of “inclusive growth” as a myth as it cited the strike at a Korean factory in Cavite as microcosm of labor’s plight. An APEC senior officials meeting just concluded last weekend in Clark, Pampanga.

“APEC, which includes the Philippines and South Korea, is all about investor rights and none about labor concerns. Thus its call for inclusive growth is just a marketing gimmick in the face of worsening inequality amidst economic development. A case in point is this Korean investor in the Philippines which refuses to share productivity gains to its struggling workers,” insisted Wilson Fortaleza, PM spokesperson.

The strike at Tae Sung Philippines Co. Inc. in the Cavite economic zone entered its second day. A marathon mediation meeting yesterday failed to break the deadlock in negotiations. The union Tae Sung Employees Association asserts that management remains intransigent in bargaining and refuses to meet workers demands halfway. Another mediation session is scheduled this afternoon.

Fortaleza explained that “Tae Sung is earning more than USD 14 million (PhP 600 million) annually since 2011 but it is merely offering its 250 unionized workers a pittance of P3 million in wages and benefits or just half of one percent of the fruits of their employees’ labor!”

He added that “Tae Sung is the rule not the exception among investors in Philippine export zones and all across the industrial areas of Asia and the Pacific. Cheap labor and precarious work means a regime of exclusion and belies APEC’s lip service of inclusive growth.”

Production at Tae Sung remains paralyzed as regular workers are outside the factory picketing. Aside from bad faith bargaining, the union alleges that Tae Sung is attempting to weaken the union by firing eight union members, including one union officer, and suspending others including the union president and vice president. Workers have set up tents and a picketline outside the Tae Sung factory.

“Most of the Tae Sung workers earn just the floor wage of P315 plus allowance of P25.50 which is not even half of the cost of living in Calabarzon, which hardly differs from Metro Manila which we estimate is at least P1,000 per day for a family of five,”  Fortaleza argued.

Strike at Korean factory exposes bankruptcy of new wage system in Calabarzon

Press Release

February 11, 2015

A strike broke out today at a Korean-owned metal factory inside the Cavite Economic Zone, the biggest in the country, due to a dispute over wage increases during collective bargaining negotiations. The militant Partido Manggagawa (PM) explained that the dispute exposes the bankruptcy of the two-tiered wage system being implemented in Calabarzon for the past few years.

“The two-tiered system pioneered in Calabarzon sets a very low floor wage—the new name for the minimum wage—and only productivity-based schemes allow workers to receive above the floor wage. But at Tae Sung and other export zone factories, despite yearly profits, capitalists refuse to share productivity gains to its workers. Thus most Tae Sung workers earn no more than the floor wage despite their company supplying metal parts to big electronics and auto multinationals like American Power Conversion, Honda, Caterpillar, Mitsubishi, Siemens and Deif of Denmark,” argued Wilson Fortaleza, PM national spokesperson.

Production at Tae Sung is now paralyzed as all regular workers for the 6:00 a.m. morning shift are now picketing company gates. Tae Sung's human resource manager has talked to the picketing workers and she was told that only a collective bargaining agreement will make them go back to work.

Fortaleza added that “How can a two-tiered wage system work—in which productivity-based pay are dependent on negotiations—when the vast majority of workers are unorganized and the few unionized are disadvantaged by weak enforcement of labor laws and the willing connivance of government officials—from the Labor Department to the local government units—with foreign and local capitalists? No wonder inclusive growth remains elusive and instead inequalities prosper despite the much-vaunted economic growth that is monopolized by big capitalists.”

The Tae Sung Employees Association, the union at the Korean factory, alleges that the company has been engaged in bad faith bargaining for the past seven months of negotiations. The union has reduced its wage demand from P100 each year for three years to P25 in a bid to reach an agreement but the Tae Sung management has barely moved from insisting on no increases to offering merely P5 each year for three years. Aside from wages, almost all provisions in the union contract proposal have been rejected by Tae Sung. Since 2011, Tae Sung has been earning annually more than USD 10 million, according to the union.

Aside from being hardline in negotiations, the union claims that Tae Sung is attempting to weaken the union by firing eight union members, including one union officer, and suspending others including the union president and vice president.

Carmen Copper mine union statement on settlement of labor dispute

PAMCC press con announcing planned strike

Press Statement

February 27, 2014

PAMCC-AGLO-PM

Today we announce that the looming strike at the country’s biggest mine has been averted with the union gaining significant concessions in its demands, especially a major advance in the fight against contractualization.

We have withdrawn the Notice of Strike (NOS) we have filed before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) as the union has reached an agreement with Carmen Copper Corp. (CCC) management yesterday afternoon during a conciliation conference at the NCMB.

We welcome management’s willingness to meet union demands in order to avoid a costly strike. The reasonableness of our demands combined with the support of the entire union membership made this settlement with the management possible.

This settlement is a victory for the union in general and specifically it is a step forward in protecting job security at the mine.

Out of four main issues we raised as basis for the NOS, only one outstanding issue was left:

1. Management commits to regularize 250 casual employees by March 8, 2014. For its smooth implementation, an oversight committee will be set up composed of union and management representatives;

2. Both the management and union agree to respect due process concerning the alleged infractions of 33 employees. On the complaint of double standard in the implementation of company rules ad regulations, management commits to be transparent with the union on all the administrative hearings and furnish copies of pertinent documents relevant to the relevant cases;

3. Management commits to act on the complaint of union Interference and unfair labor practice. Union will give the management free hand on the investigation and subsequent findings as a result of the said investigation.

The outstanding issue left is complaints regarding violations of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The union and management have agreed to put the issue on preventive mediation. The NCMB has set a preventive mediation hearing on March 13, 2014 to start the ball rolling on the resolution of the remaining issue.

The union remains vigilant in the implementation of the settlement agreement. We remain committed to industrial peace on the basis of respect for workers rights and welfare, especially compliance with the existing CBA between the union and the company.

CARMEN COPPER UNION STATEMENT ON IMPENDING STRIKE

Press Statement

February 13, 2014

The Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC) management is creating a scenario similar to the 1980’s. An all-out attack against workers and repression of the labor union are in progress right now. But just as in the 1980’s, the old union called PAMA survived and won, we will again prove to the management that they have picked the wrong fight. We, the entire 3,000-strong membership of PAMCC, will stand our ground and we will prevail. It is because history is on our side.

It is our time to counter and fight back with all the means available to us. We will strike where it will hurt the most. Today we filed a Notice of Strike (NOS) before the NCMB on the grounds of CBA violations and unfair labor practices. We will respect the cooling off period but after that we will hold a strike! This will be a winner take all battle, its either us who will surrender or them. This is our demand. We’ve been here before and we’ve done this before. PAMA then is the PAMCC now.

During the rehabilitation stage of our Company, we fully cooperated in order for recovery to proceed. Indeed, from 2007 to 2012 not a single labor dispute took place. A harmonious relationship between labor and management existed at that time. Even though the salary was meager compared to the industry standard, we endured the sacrifice n the spirit of rehabilitation. In short, we let ourselves be used by the management in order for the company to take off.

CCC did take off after 5 years, earning P800 million pesos per shipment. The company was able to attract new investments like the Henry Sy group. CCC kept on expanding its operations with the workforce growing continuously.

But the management wants more from us. To further boost profit, the management must get rid of the genuine workers union – the PAMCC. At the final stage of rehabilitation, the management organized, supported and funded a company union – the CCWLO. It became clear that the last phase of rehabilitation meant busting the genuine union! But the management did not succeed because their own creation exploded in front of their face. CCWLO registration was cancelled and delisted from the roster of legitimate labor organizations.

The Management wants more from us. Little by little they are taking back the welfare and benefits enjoyed by the workers under our collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Medicine allowances are limited to only P6,000 per year. The next of kin provision on hiring of new employees is not being followed and instead workers not related to any of the union members are hired. Wage discrimination is rampant. Issuance of company uniforms are overdue. The Mining Act of 1995 is blatantly violated, specifically on priority hiring of residents of barangays affected by mining. Finally a double standard exists on the implementation of company rules specifically on AWOL cases.

The management wants more from us. Little by little they are contracting out jobs in the mine site that are necessary and desirable to the business of CCC while casual employees remain even beyond the six months of continued service in the company.

PAMCC will not take this sitting down. We will resist and fight back. There is no choice left to us but to end the 5 years of “harmonious relationship” between PAMCC and CCC. So far, We have been able to defend our ranks from the attacks of management but they are becoming more hard-headed and unreasonable.

Last year, management used the PNP to harass our leaders by conducting two illegal raids in the house and office of our union president and union treasurer. The raiding team planted explosives and ammunitions as manufactured evidence for the filing of criminal cases against our two union leaders. But the objective of their harassment was a complete failure. Our two leaders further deepened their resolve to fight for our union and workers. We raised the issue before the ILO, government agencies and human rights groups.

Two weeks ago, management used the DOJ thru the hoodlums in robe in the Toledo RTC to issue a warrant of arrest against our two leaders. This judge violated all protocols and process on issuing the warrants. Again, this will not succeed because all the charges are fabricated and therefore will be dismissed in due time.

We will be demonized by the management through its paid hacks in the media. That is why we are doing this media conference so that the public would understand us, the issues involved and why did we arrived at this decision.

PANAGHIUSA SA MAMUMUO SA CARMEN COPPER – ASSOCIATION OF GENUINE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS – PARTIDO NG MANGGAGAWA (PAMCC-AGLO-PM)

MEMBER: NAGKAISA