'Sampolan ang endo lords," labor and church groups demand

A test of sincerity to the government’s anti-endo campaign was launched today through caravan by an alliance of labor and church groups promoting dignity of labor and decent work.  Several members of labor coalition Nagkaisa also joined the caravan.

 

In a statement, the Church-Labor Conference (CLC) said, “a progressive version of ‘tokhang’ befits the country’s labor relations environment where power imbalance between workers and employers is so pronounced.”

 

Yelling ‘sampol!’ in a picket held in front of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) building in Intramuros Manila, CLC members demanded, as a test of guts, immediate action on pending cases related to contractualization effected by the country’s richest and biggest endo lords. 

 

A particular case was the 2011 massive outsourcing program that resulted in the loss of 2,400 regular jobs at the Philippine Airlines (PAL).  The two-year dispute ended with a Settlement Agreement in 2014 between PAL and PALEA.  Under the Agreement, PAL will re-hire as regular workers PALEA members who were locked out by the company in October 1, 2011.  Said provision of the Agreement has yet to be implemented by PAL.

 

“Sec. Bello: Kailan ba ang hustisya namin sa endo lord na ito?” read a poster with a smiling picture of Lucio Tan held by a PALEA member.  Lucio Tan presided over the mass layoff of PAL employees in 1998 and the outsourcing program in 2011. 

 

Aside from PAL, CLC and Nagkaisa members have also raised the issue of contractualization in companies owned by the richest businessmen such as Henry Sy, Gokongwei and the Araneta family who’s Pizza Hut was recently involved in mass termination of its sub-contracted employees.

 

After the kick-off protest at DOLE, the CLC-Nagkaisa caravan proceeded to the PAL Office at Macapagal Avenue where they held a program until lunch time.  Their next destination was the Senate where a hearing was supposed to be held the following day but which was moved to a later date. 

 

In the Senate, Partido Manggagawa (PM) and CLC co-chair Renato Magtubo urged the senators to pass the security of tenure (SOT) bills despite their non- inclusion in Malacanang’s priority legislative agenda.

 

“As independent policymakers you can move beyond the Palace’s pre-occupation to crime by enacting more coherent anti-poverty and social justice measures such as the SOT and pay hikes,” said Magtubo. 

 

He also warned lawmakers not to fall into the trap of the proposed “win-win” solution proclaimed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which promotes, rather than prohibits, contractualization through a more devious scheme of outsourcing. 

 

From the Senate, the protesters drove towards the airport area to hold their final program, first at PAL’s In-Flight Center in Terminal 2 and at Gokongwei’s Cebu Pacific in Terminal 4.  A candle-lighting at Nichols concluded the anti-endo caravan.

September 19, 2016

Advisory: "Sampol" of endo lords demanded in end endo caravan today

Labor groups ask Korean government to take action on Hanjin’s labor rights violations in PH

PRESS RELEASE

29 June 2001

Labor groups belonging to an anti-contractualization group Koalisyon Laban sa Kontraktwalisasyon (Kontra), trooped to the Korean embassy in Makati City this morning to ask the Korean government to take immediate action on the growing number of employees’ deaths and accidents at Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines, a South Korean owned shipyard located northwest of Manila.

“We urge the South Korean government to guide its shipbuilders operating abroad to strictly comply with safety regulations and other labor standards to avoid their shipyards being labelled as ‘graveyards of workers’ rights’ by the international labor community,” stated Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda.

Labor groups in the country are getting more incensed with the unabated cases of deaths and accidents at Hanjin, many of them reported and documented yet largely ignored by the company and government officials.  Aside from this, there are other major violations of labor standards at the shipyard that warrant immediate action from the government.

Miranda said the latest count puts the number of work related deaths at Hanjin to 31; 11 cases of maltreatment by Korean superiors; 63 illegal termination; and 20 illegal suspension. 

The giant shipyard also implements massive contractualization of its entire workforce, with 21,000 workers hired as contractual employees from 19 sub-contractors. It is the fourth largest ship-builder in the world, investing at least a billion dollars in the country. 

But the shipyard earned notoriety for its accident record and labor standard violations, prompting the Philippine Senate to conduct an inquiry.  The inquiry saw many lapses in safety and violated labor laws.  Unfortunately there was no sanction imposed on Hanjin.  Hence, accidents continued afterwards while strong-arm management rule reign upon its workers. Media coverage is also not allowed in the complex.

Miranda added that, “While we are not opposed to the entry of foreign investments in the country, the leniency extended towards Hanjin by the Philippine government should not be viewed by the Korean capitalists as a free ticket to maximum exploitation of Filipino labor.”

President Benigno Aquino III himself thanked Hanjin for investing some P24.2-B worth of investment in the country. 

“But that is no reason for the government to sleep on its job in enforcing safety and other labor standards in the country,” said Miranda. 

On July 3 the groups leading today’s rally will hold a “Caravan for Decent Jobs and Humane Working Conditions.” The caravan will proceed from Manila to Subic in order to highlight the dire plight of contractual workers especially in Hanjin.

The group said the government must review Hanjin and its contractors for compliance with safety regulations, payment of wages and benefits, observance of working hours, among others.

Workers hold caravan for wage hike, regular jobs

Press Release

April 29, 2011

The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) together with the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) held today a “workers caravan” to press for a wage hike and campaign against labor contractualization. The motorcade of vehicles and motorcycles started early in the morning, passed through many industrial estates in Cavite and ended by the late afternoon at the country’s biggest economic zone in the town of Rosario.

“We want to bring the good news of the campaign against contractualization to the export zone workers, many of whom are themselves contractual employees rather than regular workers,” explained Renato Magtubo, PM chair.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair added that “The workers caravan is also part of our initiative to seek the support of the public on the planned strike at PAL to force management to accede to our demands.”

At 8:30 a.m. the initial groups of vehicles assembled at the

Diosdado Macapagal Highway

near the Uniwide Coastal Mall. It then proceeded along

Quirino Avenue

to SM Bacoor where they met the contingent of the United Cavite Workers Association.

From there they passed by the Yazaki-EMI factory in Imus and then the First Cavite Industrial Estate in Dasmarinas before stopping for lunch at the Freedom Island workers community in General Trias. At 2:00 p.m. the caravan went to the Cavite Economic Zone in Rosario for a program that lasted until 4:00 p.m.

The workers caravan is a buildup activity for the May 1 rally. On Labor Day, PM will assemble at Mehan Garden in Manila then march to Mendiola for a labor unity rally and mass to be officiated by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo. Labor Day protests will also be held also in Cebu City, Davao City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, General Santos City, Iligan City and Dipolog City.

“There will be no good news for the workers on May 1, just a consuelo de bobo. Non-wage benefits should complement not replace a wage hike,” declared Magtubo. PM claimed that the cost of living in Metro Manila for a family of six is already PhP 1010 as of March. PM based its estimate on its own cost of living study last year and the inflation rate over the past year.

Meanwhile Rivera insisted that “The good news that we wish on May 1 is PNoy announcing that he is against outsourcing. With our motion for reconsideration pending at the Office of the President, it is timely for PNoy to declare if he favors the straight road of regular jobs or the crooked path of contractualization.”

Labor group says cost of living has breached P1,000/day

Press Release

April 28, 2011

The labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) estimates that the cost of living for a family of six in Metro Manila has breached PhP 1,000 a day as of March this year. PM based its estimate on its own cost of living study last year and the inflation rate over the past year. Thus the group criticized the declaration of Malacanang and the Labor Department that no wage hike is forthcoming on Labor Day.

“There will be no good news for the workers on May 1, just a consuelo de bobo. Non-wage benefits should complement not supplant a wage hike. But even if NCR wage board later grants the PhP 75 petition, it will not be enough to bridge the yawning gap between the minimum wage and the cost of living,” declared Renato Magtubo, PM national chair.

PM announced that their conservative estimate of the cost of living is PhP 1010. They arrived at the figure using PM’s PhP 984 April 2010 survey of the daily cost of living and the National Statistics Office’s 2.6% estimate of the inflation rate from April 2010 to March 2011 [1010 = 984 + (984 X 2.6%)].

Magtubo also slammed employers for threatening layoffs and closures in the response to the demand for a wage hike. “This is just the usual capitalist black propaganda and blackmail. Employers will not go bankrupt with a wage hike but they will lose some of their profit,” he explained.

Tomorrow, PM together with the Phillipine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) will lead a “Workers Caravan for Regular Jobs and Living Wage” that will go around the economic zones of Cavite. The workers caravan is a buildup to the nationwide May 1 protests. On Labor Day, PM together with PALEA will assemble at 9:00 am at Mehan Garden in Manila then proceed to Mendiola for a labor unity rally at Mendiola and mass to be officiated by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo. PM will also lead Labor Day protests in Cebu City, Davao City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, General Santos City, Iligan City and Dipolog City.

“The gap between the PhP 404 minimum wage in the NCR and the cost of living is PhP 606 or 150% of the ordinary wage. Even if two members work—which is the buy one, take one policy of the government—then their combined income will not be enough to feed the entire family,” stated Magtubo.

The group is pushing for the establishment of a National Wage Commission. “The National Wage Commission will be different from the wage boards in that its mandate is to fix wages based on the single criterion of cost of living. And despite the huge difference between the minimum wage and the cost of living, the National Wage Commission can bridge the gap by a host of mechanisms among which are direct wage increases, tax exemptions, price discounts and social security subsidies for workers,” Magtubo explained.

He added that “The National Wages and Productivity Council's (NWPC) cost of living estimate of PhP 917 in September 2008 has to be updated in the light of this study and in the face of continuing inflation. We wonder if the NWPC stopped releasing cost of living estimates because it unwittingly exposes the cheap labor policy of the government.”

PM’s cost of living study did not provide for savings and social security which in the government’s basket of goods and services constitutes 10% of the cost of living. Furthermore, PM's study did not include items such as leisure and recreation, and the family budget for health excluded medical expenses. Magtubo said that “If we include such items, and we must in a more accurate survey, then the cost of living will even be bigger.”

He also argued that “Since we should not impose the burden of household chores and child rearing to the female parent, then the basket of goods should provide for a house-help. That is not anymore a luxury especially in the light of the insistence of the state that both parents must work instead of having just a single breadwinner.”

PALEA wants PNoy to declare policy on outsourcing on May 1

Press Release

April 27, 2011

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) mobilized hundreds of its members in a rally today to coincide with the first arbitration hearing at the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). PALEA’s planned strike against Philippines Airlines for its alleged refusal to bargain had been stopped by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and the dispute certified to the NLRC.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) vice chair, said that “The good news that we want to hear on Labor Day is PNoy declaring that he is against outsourcing. But whether it is good or bad news, we want to hear PNoy speak on his personal position on the issue of contractualization. With our motion for reconsideration pending at the Office of the President, it is high time that PNoy say to the PAL employees, if he favors the straight road of regular jobs or the crooked path of contractualization.”

PALEA members assembled at 9:00 am at the Sto. Domingo Church and then marched along

Quezon Avenue

to the NLRC building at

Banawe St

. They chanted “Na-Baldozer na kami sa DOLE, Ayaw naming ma-Palacol sa NLRC” in reference to the fact that NLRC Commissioner Palacol is handling the case. Secretary Baldoz had earlier decided adversely on a separate dispute regarding the legality of the outsourcing scheme at PAL. PALEA also handed out fake money to passersby in parody of alleged corruption at the Labor Department.

On Friday PALEA and PM will lead a workers caravan to highlight the call against labor contractualization. The caravan will go around the economic zones of the province of Cavite including the biggest one at the town of Rosario. “We want to bring the good news of the campaign against contractualization to the export zone workers, many of whom are themselves contractual employees rather than regular workers. This is also part of our initiative to seek the support of the public on the planned strike at PAL to force management to accede to our demands,” explained Rivera.

The workers caravan is a buildup to the nationwide May 1 protests. On Labor Day, PM together with PALEA will assemble at 9:00 am at Mehan Garden in Manila then proceed to Mendiola for a labor unity rally at Mendiola and mass to be officiated by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo. PM will also lead Labor Day protests in Cebu City, Davao City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, General Santos City, Iligan City and Dipolog City.

The five main demands on May 1 are the stop to contractualization at PAL, the passage of the security of tenure bill, wage hike, price control and an end to the death of workers at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic.

PALEA organizing protest and strike through Facebook

Press Release
April 6, 2011
PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) is organizing its planned protests and even strike through Facebook and social media aside from the traditional forms. “We plan to test the law, and defy the assumption and certification order of the Labor Secretary which has been abused to deny workers their means of defense. We will be maximizing Facebook and social media in organizing the strike and other protests just as the people of Egypt and Tunisia did,” revealed Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and Partido ng Manggagawa vice chair.

PALEA has not announced any date for the planned “Facebook strike” but has been busy building support for it. Today PALEA and other labor groups will meet with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who is also head of the National Secretariat for Social Action of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, to seek the support of the Catholic Church and map out coordinated actions. Also today, PALEA will sit with TUCP officials to plan a “workers caravan” that will make the rounds of industrial areas and economic zones to popularize the campaign against contractualization.

In the two big rallies that PALEA has called, one in Ayala, Makati in November 25 last year and then last Friday at the airport, the union has used Facebook to mobilize its own members and gather support from public. “Since a majority of PALEA members are on Facebook, it is easy to connect with them social media. We have tried it and it is effective. The Labor Secretary can abuse her power to suppress the right to strike but the government cannot afford to shutdown the internet,” Rivera explained.

Rivera clarified that he himself is not on Facebook but there is a Sulong PALEANS! group through which some 700 PALEA members communicate. There is a separate PALEA Women’s Committee Facebook group which has more than 200 members, mainly female PAL ground crew, that also serves as a tool to organize and mobilize. The November 25 Day of Action and the strike dress rehearsal last Friday were both announced as events on Facebook to which friends and the public were invited to attend.

These Facebook pages were set up last year as the protests against the planned layoff and contractualization escalated. Besides the PALEA Facebook groups, the protest campaign is also echoed in the pages of allied organizations. The Facebook group of Partido ng Manggagawa mirrors many of the exchanges, images and videos posted on the PALEA pages. The Facebook page of the blogger Juan Manggagawa similarly carries the content of PALEA’s campaign against contractualization. PALEA’s campaign is also featured on the website of the International Transport Workers Federation, the 4.6 million-strong global union to which PALEA is affiliated.

Other than images and videos of PALEA protests and activities since April 2010 when PAL gave termination notices to its employees, posted on these Facebook sites are leaflets, posters and even scanned copies of the decisions rendered by two Labor Secretaries and the Office of the President on the controversial outsourcing plan.