The group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today called for the resignation
of the head of the Cavite Economic Zone for being responsible for the harassment
of striking women workers that resulted in injuries to two strikers and the
imposition of “martial law” in the country’s biggest export processing zone.
Yesterday afternoon PM and other groups rallied at the Cavite ecozone in
support of the women strikers and vowed to hold more solidarity actions next
week.
“The violent attacks on women strikers by armed security guards
contracted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) lies squarely in
the hands of Atty. Norma Tañag, head of the Cavite
ecozone. Her resignation would be a fitting celebration of International Human Rights
Day tomorrow,” asserted Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.
Maricar Orque and Magdalena Peña, both workers of
Lakepower Converter Inc., a Taiwanese-owned electronics company, were hurt in
the commotion that followed the dismantling of the picketline last Thursday
night. Lakepower workers went on strike that afternoon after mediation meetings
convened by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board collapsed as
management refused workers demands that the termination and suspension of union
officers and members be stopped.
Magtubo added that “On the eve of human rights day, Tañag has imposed martial law in the Cavite ecozone with
guards of the Jantro security agency and the PEZA police as her goons and
thugs. Workers and supporters who want to bring food, water and supplies to the
strikers are stopped and prevented from proceeding to the picketline. Jantro
guards repeatedly intimidate strikers who put up protest placards and signs at
the picketline. All of these are blatant transgressions of the DOLE-PEZA-PNP
Guidelines on the Conduct of Personnel During Labor Disputes.”
PM assailed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for
inaction despite the incidents of violence at the Lakepower picketline. “While
the DOLE celebrated its 84th anniversary yesterday in Bulacan,
Cavite workers were facing violent repression by PEZA personnel. DOLE has the
power to assign a peacekeeping team at the Lakepower picketline and the
responsibility of convening an inter-agency committee to prevent violence
during labor disputes. Pero natutulog sa pansitan ang DOLE habang dinadahas ang
kababaihang manggagawa,” insisted Magtubo.
Unrest has festered at Lakepower for
the last few months. Among workers 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. Workers are also complaining of
excessive quota and the exclusion of unionists from receiving Christmas
packages.
Last November 16, the
Lakepower workers held a protest at the Cavite ecozone against company abuses.
The protest was the third such picket over the last month at the country’s
biggest export processing zone. 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.
Photos of the solidarity action yesterday at the
Cavite ecozone can be accessed here:
https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10155833112704323
December 9, 2017
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