Women workers of the electronics firm Lakepower in the Cavite ecozone held a protest today at the
DOLE main office to call on Labor Secretary
Silvestre Bello to intervene and
resolve the protracted dispute. The Lakepower workers have been on strike for more than two
months now. The strike commenced after management refused
worker’s demands that the termination and suspension of union officers and
members be stopped.
The
rally is also part of a series of protests by labor groups who are calling for
the signing of an executive order to abolish contractualization and action by
the DOLE on labor disputes at Lakepower, Coke and Philippine Airlines. The DOLE
main office will also be the site of rallies on February 23 (Friday) by KMU and
on February 26 (Monday) by the Nagkaisa labor coalition.
The strike has dragged on as
management has refused to take back the workers unless they are subjected to
disciplinary action for taking part in the strike. Management has hired
striker replacements since the strike began and continues to operate.
Immediately after the strike started
last December 7, the striking women workers were
repeatedly harassed by company and ecozone guards. Company guards, export zone security guards and
other men wearing ski masks but clad in ecozone police uniforms repeatedly tore
down placards and makeshift tents at the picketline. Two women workers—Maricar
Orque and Magdalena Peña—were hurt in
the commotion that followed the forcible dismantling of the picketline.
Unrest has festered at Lakepower since
last year. 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 numerous cases of workers suffering
from urinary tract infection. Workers also complained of excessive quota and
the exclusion of unionists from receiving Christmas packages.
Workers formed a union in June last year in a bid to resolve
various workplace grievances such as verbal harassment, health and safety, and
excessive quota. In response, management interrogated workers individually
regarding their union activity. Union leaders were given new work assignments
and overtime work was denied unionists and instead given to contractual
employees. Three line leaders were forced to resign since they were suspected
union supporters.
Photos of the rally can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10156031672514323
February 22, 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment