Women riders hold unity ride for empowerment and fuel subsidy

 

As part of the buildup for the commemoration of International Women's Day, the riders’ group Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong) will hold a unity ride this afternoon from C. P. Garcia in UP Diliman to the People Power Monument. The event will highlight Kagulong's advocacy for women's empowerment and against gender discrimination. Also the group will reiterate its call for fuel subsidies for app riders.

 

“Women riders experience discrimination from police officers in checkpoints as well as from the public and fellow riders. Our ‘Women Can Ride, Women Can Lead’ advocacy aims to combat gender discrimination and promote women’s empowerment,” stated Yang Umali, Kagulong Women’s Collective spokesperson.

 

The group also insisted on its call for immediate release of fuel subsidies for jeepney drivers and app riders. “We are asking the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to meet with riders in order to clarify its plan to distribute fuel subsidies. Riders shoulder the weekly gasoline price increases and thus deserve ayuda,” Umali said.

 

She also added that the group is supporting the call of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan for the temporary suspension of the excise taxes on oil products to reduce pump prices. The suspension is provided for under the TRAIN law but subject to certain conditions. “We believe that the extreme difficulties brought about by the weekly oil price increases for more than two months already are more than enough as supervening conditions for the suspension of excise taxes. This will benefit jeepney drivers and operators, app riders, farmers and fishers principally and the rest of the people too as oil prices impact the whole economy,” Umali explained.

 

Kagulong is actively supporting the tandem of Vice President Robredo and Senator Pangilinan for their commitment to the riders’ agenda and track record of participatory good governance. “Aangat ang buhay ng riders sa isang gobyernong tapat sa partisipasyon ng nasa laylayan sa pamamahala,” Umali averred.

 

She added that while it welcomes the DoTr announcement that people engaged in full-time ride-hailing and delivery services are entitled to the fuel subsidy, there is no transparency in the plan. “In the first place, the DoTr does not know if the registered motorcycle owner is using his or her vehicle for platform work. Not even the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is aware of this due to the informal nature of the freelancer or independent contractor relationship. Only the apps know who their riders are. A social dialogue should involve all stakeholders so riders would have voice and participation,” Umali concluded.

 

The group declared that if riders were treated as employees not freelancers then ayuda provision would be much easier, similar to how workers were granted ayuda under CAMP or SBWS. The employment status of riders has been the subject of controversy, even sparking protests amidst the pandemic and prompting the DOLE to issue an “advisory” on the issue. 

March 6, 2022

Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong)

Women riders naglunsad ng unity ride laban sa diskriminasyon sa lansangan, trabaho at lipunan

 

Sa unang pagkakataon ay nagsagawa ng unity ride ang mga riders na kababaihan laban sa diskriminasyon na laganap pa rin umanong nararanasan ng kababaihan partikular sa lansangan, trabaho at sa buong lipunan.

Itinaon ang kanilang unity ride na may temang “Women Can Ride” sa bisperas ng pagdiriwang ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kaibabaihan.

Nagsimula ang unity ride Linggo ng umaga, Marso 7, sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at nagtapos sa People Power Monument sa Edsa. Pinangunahan ito ng Women’s Collective ng grupong Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong o KaGulong.

Ayon kay Jonalyn Batugon, tagapagsalita ng Women’s Collective ng KaGulong, layunin ng kanilang unity ride ang ipahayag ang damdamin ng kababaihang riders sa nararanasan nilang diskriminasyon sa kalsada, sa trabaho, at sa buong lipunan at hilingin sa pamahalaan ang angkop na mga patakaran upang ito ay maibsan.

“Nagmamaneho kami ng motor, o bisekleta. O kaya ay nakaangkas sa aming mga mister o partner para makarating sa trabaho, makapunta sa palengke o saan mang lugar para sa maraming bagay at pangangailangan. Women rider kami, at katulad din ng kalalakihang riders na kalakhan ay manggagawa, nakikipagsapalaran din kami sa mapanganib na lansangan habang nilalabanan ang kahirapan,” pahayag ni Batugon.

Kapansin-pansin na bago pa man magkaroon ng pandemya ay dumarami na ang kababaihang riders at ang paliwanag dito ng KaGulong ay dahil ito sa malubhang krisis sa pampublikong transportasyon, di sapat na sweldo ng manggagawa, mahal na presyo ng mga bilihin, at kakulangan ng trabaho at hanapbuhay sa bansa.

“Mas matipid kaysa sa mamasahe, iwas-balyahan, at iwas-trapik ang pagmomotor. Nakakapag-enjoy pa sa ride kung may pagkakataon. Marami na rin sa amin ay nasa paghahanapbuhay gamit ang motorsiklo,” paliwanag ni Batugon.

Sinabi pa ni Batugon na nararanasan umano nila ang diskriminasyon sa kalsada sa harap ng mga macho at bastos na traffic enforcers, sa kapwa riders, at maging sa mga nakasakay sa apat na gulong. Sa trabaho naman ay marami nang uri ng diskriminasyon ang aming nararanasan tulad ng pahirapan sa hiring at paunahan naman sa tanggalan sa panahon ng krisis katulad ngayon.

“Sa loob ng bahay, ang mga women rider ay gumagampan ng tradisyunal na papel ng babae bilang nanay, yaya, at ngayon ay titser sa mga anak sa offline na pag-aaral,” pagtatapos ni Batugon.

Ang KaGulong ay isang rights-based na samahan ng mga riders kung kayat sa loob ng hanay nito ay nagtayo ito ng Women’s Collective upang harapin ang problema ng diskriminasyon sa kababaihan sa loob at labas ng samahan.

Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong
KaGulong
07 March 2021

As Cebu labor organizers released from jail, DOLE asked to act on mass layoffs

 

Labor groups welcomed the release from detention of three labor organizers who were arrested in a workers rally at the Cebu Mactan Ecozone last November 30. Cases of “disobedience against a person in authority” lodged against Dennis Derige, Joksan Branzuela and Jonel Labrador were dismissed yesterday afternoon. Their colleagues Myra Opada and Cristito Pangan, both union leaders at the Mactan Ecozone, were released earlier.

 

Partido Manggagawa (PM) and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) also asked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for pro-active measures to stem the series of mass layoffs in the ecozones.

 

“We condemn the double standard of police in implementing the quarantine rules. Police turn a blind eye to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque leading a mass gathering in Bantayan, Cebu last November 27 but without batting an eyelash arrest union leaders who were airing grievances on mass firings,” stated Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

 

Meanwhile Josua Mata, Sentro secretary-general stated that “I would like to laud the decision of the prosecutor in dismissing the cases against our organizers. It only shows that there are still people in our justice system who are courageous enough to uphold the constitutional rights of workers.”

 

Magtubo insisted that “Another double standard is DOLE’s inaction on employers engaging in mass layoffs for dubious reasons while police immediate suppress workers’ protests against indiscriminate firings. We demand that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello remind police that existing DOLE-PEZA-PNP rules on labor disputes prohibit security personnel from harassing workers’ concerted actions. We also ask him to convene a dialogue with labor groups on the continued hemorrhage of jobs inside and outside of the ecozones.”

 

Last November 30, the so-called MEPZ 5 led more than a hundred recently terminated ecozone workers in rally at the Mactan ecozone gate. But police dispersed the rally and arrested the MEPZ 5.

 

On November 27, First Glory Apparel fired 300 workers. This comes on the heels of mass layoffs at other firms in the Mactan ecozone. Earlier the Sports City group of companies retrenched 4,000 workers, Yuenthai fired 2000 workers, FCO laid off 100 workers and Kor Landa terminated 67 workers.

December 2, 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

PM sides with riders and commuters in opposing double big plate and ban on Angkas

Workers are both riders and commuters, thus, imposing rigid and prohibitive rules in the streets adds more burden to the working people and reinforces class discrimination in the guise of road safety and anti-crime campaign.

According to Partido Manggagawa (PM), the ban on Angkas operations, a popular motorcycle taxi denies thousands of working people a faster and safer mobility in NCR while the recently enacted law requiring double big plates for motorcycles is an added cost and poses safety concerns for riders whose vehicles were not designed for such anti-crime innovations.

"Banning Angkas and requiring double big plates on motorcycles will neither improve traffic conditions and road safety nor contain criminal activities of organized crime groups. Only organized communities, a disciplined police force, and a modern mass transport system can solve these age old public services deficit," said PM in a statement issued during the indignation activities conducted by thousands of motorcycle riders in Quezon City this morning.

The group said workers utilize motorcycles as the most economical and faster mode of bringing themselves to their workplaces or as the means of livelihood themselves as in the case of app-abled Angkas and other courier services.

"The government must adopt a flexible policy on this issue as rigid and discriminatory rules impacts heavily on workers," added PM.

At the same time it urges the riding community to help the government in ensuring road safety by raising the level of training and professionalism among riders in particular and by actively involving themselves in anti-crime, environment, emergency response and other social mobilizations at the community levels.

16 December 2018

FOA issue at electronics supplier Lakepower Converter

Women workers of the electronics company Lakepower Converter Inc. at the Cavite export zone have been on strike since December 7 and 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. The men arrived in motorcycles and bearing side arms. Two women workers—Maricar Orque and Magdalena Peña—were hurt in the commotion that followed the forcible dismantling of the picketline.

An ecozone firetruck along with security guards went to the picketline area. They also set up barricades at two points leading to the factory and refused entry to workers going to the picketline. All these are violations of the official “Guidelines on the Conduct of Police and Security Personnel During Labor Disputes.”

The strike commenced after management refused worker’s demands that the termination and suspension of union officers and members be stopped.

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 numerous cases of workers suffering from urinary tract infection. Workers are also complaining of excessive quota and the exclusion of unionists from receiving Christmas packages.

Workers formed a union around June this 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.

The union filed a case for union busting and unfair labor practice. In the mediation proceedings convened by the Labor Department, management promised to respect freedom of association and acceded to union demands that the company post a memo that it will not interfere in the right to unionize and prohibit management personnel from talking to workers about union activities.

However, management interference did not stop but merely changed its form. A company union was formed at the instigation of management. The company union intervened in the union’s petition for certification as sole and exclusive bargaining agent. As a result, the petition was dismissed but a certification election was ordered Labor Department.

This October, a certification election was finally held and the real union garnered more votes than the company union. This was despite management interference in the elections such as granting “cash productivity bonuses” to favored workers which was effectively vote buying for the company union.

After elections, management continued its discriminatory behavior against unionists. Unionists were served disciplinary charges on flimsy grounds such as allegedly taking too much time in the restroom while members of the company union were left untouched.

With the looming declaration of the real union as the certified bargaining agent for the workers, the company then terminated the union president and five other union officers and members on the basis of flimsy reasons. Afterwards management also suspended scores of other union officers and members for alleged infractions going back months ago. These discriminatory acts precipitated the December 7 strike.

Lakepower is 100% Taiwanese owned according to the records of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and exports all of its production to Coil Technology Corporation (CTC) that is based in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

Lakepower and CTC are suppliers to Texas Instruments, Arrow Electronics, Recom Power and A.M. Components. Striking women workers are calling on these companies to enforce their commitment to respect the right to unionize and freedom from discrimination all along their supply chain.

December 30, 2017

Ecozone workers protest continuing harassment of women strikers

Workers from the Cavite Economic Zone, together with their supporters, staged a rally at the main gate of the zone in protest at the continuing harassment of striking women workers of electronics company Lakepower Converter Inc. Yesterday, there was another incident of ecozone guards trying to prevent strikers from entering the ecozone. Another mediation meeting is scheduled tomorrow between the union and management.

The group Partido Manggagawa (PM) also 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. The picket today was the second solidarity action since last Friday.

“The violent attacks on women strikers by armed security guards contracted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) lie squarely in the hands of Atty. Norma Tañag, head of the Cavite ecozone. We demand her resignation,” 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 “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 84^th 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. ###

Video of PEZA guards harassing women workers can be accessed here: https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/videos/10155838242124323/?hc_ref=ARTTkrYEnSNaX8zLsqvJjTHW0fqVZkd0rLkd6ZcJXEG5KWCuqBd6VZCyyY7SaWbQRbY&pnref=story

Photos of the picketline can be accessed here:

https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10155840604999323

Photos of the rally at the Cavite ecozone can be accessed here:

https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10155837768874323?pnref=story

December 11, 2017

Cavite women workers go on strike

The women workers of an electronics factory in Cavite walked off their jobs this afternoon as a make-or-break meeting between management and the union ended without an agreement. The workers of Lakepower Converter Inc., located at the Cavite Economic Zone, declared a strike due to union busting and unfair labor practices of the company.

“We tried for more than a week to resolve the issues of illegal termination and suspension of unionists and other discriminatory acts against workers but management was not willing to settle the grievances in good faith. Thus we have no choice but to go on strike,” declared Mercy Tanginan, president of the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Lakepower Converter Inc.

She explained that “We demand a permanent stop to the harassment and discrimination of unionists. The pending termination of six unionists and suspension of other officers and members must be totally scrapped. Workers’ grievances must be settled.”

Dennis Sequena, a Cavite coordinator of the militant Partido Manggagawa (PM), which is assisting the Lakepower workers, averred that “PM chapters and Cavite ecozone unions will give 100% support to the Lakepower workers. Ang laban ng isa ay laban ng lahat.”

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.

“Workers are unionizing to improve their working conditions but are being met by extreme interference from capitalists unwilling to share the fruits of production,” asserted Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

December 7, 2017

Women electronics workers in Cavite on brink of strike

Women workers of the Taiwanese-owned electronics factory Lakepower Converter Inc. in the Cavite Economic Zone filed a notice of strike today over union busting and unfair labor practice. The union president and five other unionists were terminated last week on the flimsiest of charges while scores of other union officers and members have been suspended for a week.

“The mass termination of unionists is just the latest episode of a pattern of union busting schemes by management. Since Lakepower workers started organizing some months ago in a bid to redress workers’ grievances, the company has been discriminating against known unionists,”stated Mercy Tanginan, president of the Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Lakepower Converter Inc.

 The Department of Labor and Employment immediately set a conciliation meeting between the union and the company on December 1 to avert the planned strike. More than a week ago, the Lakepower workers held a protest at the Cavite ecozone against company abuses. Among their 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. The dispute over the restroom is just the tip of the iceberg of worker grievances at Lakepower.

Aside from the dispute over the women’s restroom, workers are also complaining of excessive quota, discrimination against unionists resulting in suspensions and their exclusion from receiving Christmas packages.

“Management reneged on an agreement reached a few months ago to redress our grievances. Before, we complained that the restroom door was always kept open. Through mediation, they agreed to close the door to protect the privacy of workers. But now, they removed the door entirely,” explained Tanginan.

Workers unrest at the Cavite ecozone is brewing. The protest by Lakepower workers was the third such picket over the last month. 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.

Partido Manggagawa, which is assisting the Lakepower workers, is calling on the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to intervene.

“Workers are unionizing to improve their working conditions but are being met by extreme interference from capitalists unwilling to share the fruits of production,” asserted Rene Magtubo, PM national chair. ###

Photos of the protest by Lakepower workers can be accessed at:

https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10155777536464323

https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10155777572314323

November 27, 2017

Gap does not confirm claim of lack of orders for Faremo’s closure

In Gap’s response regarding the labor dispute over the permanent closure of its supplier factory Faremo International Inc., it cites that the mother company Hansoll made such a “business decision” due to its “global business strategy.” This is in glaring contradiction to the allegation of Faremo management that it shutdown due to lack of orders from its buyers, among them Gap.

The legality of Faremo's closure is contingent on the veracity of its claim that it lacks orders from Gap, among others. In its notice of closure, in the mediation hearings, and in its meetings with the union, and even in Faremo general manager's letter to PM--they all say that Faremo lacks orders.

Now Hansoll says Faremo's closure is part of "global business strategy." This is in conflict with this claim of lack of orders. Gap is silent on the claim that they don't have any more orders from Faremo or Hansoll.

This lends credence to the assertion of the Faremo labor union that there are orders and yet Hansoll closed Faremo in order to bust the one-year old union and destroy the collective bargaining agreement concluded five months ago.

The Faremo labor union calls on Gap to remediate the violations of its supplier Faremo according to the provisions of its code of conduct. The complaints of the Faremo labor union of union busting and blacklisting of unionists are in breach of Gap’s commitment to respect freedom of association and non-discrimination.

Further the Faremo labor union wishes to inform Gap that the Faremo management had already notified its workers it will not pay their wages from Oct. 27 to Nov. 21 because of the “no work, no pay” principle even though it filed a notice of permanent closure only on Oct. 21 and thus is obligated to pay workers up to Nov. 21 based on the 30-day notice rule.

Finally, the Faremo labor union seeks to notify Gap that Faremo continues to operate to this day as admitted by management in the latest mediation hearing of Nov. 8. Although most workers were locked out on Oct. 26, scores of workers are still entering the factory to work. Faremo declared in the mediation that all work will cease only on Nov. 12.

November 10, 2016

Anti-job discrimination ordinance in San Juan welcomed

Press Release

September 23, 2015

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) welcomed the enactment of an ordinance in San Juan outlawing some forms of discrimination in the workplace. Last month San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez signed the ordinance that was unanimously passed by the city council. PM however called for its strict implementation and passage of legislation against other prevalent forms of discrimination.

“Kudos to the local government of San Juan for its pioneering ordinance. Respeto pa more. Skills and attitude do matter. Age and looks don’t,” stated Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary general.

PM is calling for the passage of similar ordinances in other cities and industrial towns. Also the group is lobbying for the enactment of pending bills against age discrimination in the workplace, such as the one authored by Senator Pia Cayetano. “Also discrimination against LGBT workers is another front in the fight for equality in the world of work,” Miranda reminded.

She added that “It is common knowledge that employers and recruitment agencies blatantly and regularly discriminate against workers in terms of sex, age, looks and marital status. An online search results in examples of these discriminatory practices popping up like so many unwanted ads. Enough is enough. Workers demand respect and equality in the workplace.”

Miranda however noted that “The San Juan ordinance stipulates very light fines thus it may not deter incorrigible employers.”

She said that the Labor Code already bans and imposes fines on discrimination against women workers in the terms and conditions of employment such as wages, benefits and promotion on account of sex. Further discrimination against married and pregnant women workers is also expressly outlawed. “Still, like other labor standards, these rights are violated with impunity by employers,” Miranda argued.

She called on women and LGBT workers to be aware of their rights in the workplace, ensure the implementation of these entitlements and fight for the outlawing of other forms of discrimination.

Miranda insisted that “Women workers in the Philippines have won some rights but we still have a lot more to claim. For example, in the Australian state of Victoria, aside from the usual prohibition against discrimination based on sex, marital status, pregnancy, disability and religion, workers are protected in all stages of employment against discrimination with regards to physical features, gender identity, sexual orientation, and even personal association with people who have or assumed to have such personal characteristics. A progressive workplace in the Philippines should be similar.”

Over firing and suspension of union members: Workers of Korean-owned factory in Cavite restive anew

Workers strike at Tae Sung last February

Press Release

March 17, 2015

Workers of a Korean-owned metal factory in the Cavite economic zone, the biggest in the country, are restive once more because of a series of dismissals and suspensions of union members. The Tae Sung Employees Association, the labor union at Tae Sung Philippines Co. Inc., filed a notice of strike last Friday as it alleged unfair labor practices of the management.

In the three weeks since the settlement of a previous strike by the Tae Sung union, management has dismissed two union members and suspended six more, including one union officer. The Tae Sung union is alleging that the terminations and suspensions of active unionists are retaliatory acts and thus a violation of a settlement agreement that no such actions should be undertaken.

The National Conciliation and Mediation Board of Region IV-A has called for a meeting tomorrow between union and management in a bid to settle the new labor dispute. Just last February the Tae Sung workers launched a two-day strike over a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations that has lasted for six months without an agreement between the union and management. The strike was settled with workers winning a wage hike and added benefits.

The Tae Sung union is citing the case of three workers in the spray department who were all charged with a case for eating in the production area. Two of them, who are active union members, were fired as a result but the third worker, who scabbed during the February strike, was given a “slap in the wrist” of just a five-day suspension.

The union is arguing that minor infractions by workers have been meted the maximum of 30-day suspensions thus constituting discriminatory acts. A 30-day long suspension means the loss of a month’s wage for the concerned workers.

Further, the union is complaining that management has delayed by a month the signing of the collective bargaining agreement even though the settlement provided it shall be finished in just one week.

The Partido Manggagawa warned of protests to support the embattled Tae Sung workers in case there is no breakthrough in the mediation meeting tomorrow. The union is also planning to hold a strike vote among its members.

Solidarity Statement from Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines) to the Hong Kong Protest Against Racist Demonstration

The Partido ng Manggagawa as the political party of the working class in the Philippines extends its hand of solidarity to the Hong Kong progressive workers and youth protest against the racist demonstration. The progressive workers and youth counter-demonstration communicates a message of unity and solidarity among peoples of different cultures and nationalities while the racist rally of councilor Paul Tse highlights the propaganda of discrimination and hate between locals and foreigners.

The workers in the Philippines support the anti-racist counter-demonstration not simply to assist our fellow Filipinos working in Hong Kong who are vulnerable and victim to discrimination and abuse. We back the counter-demonstration because we believe in working class unity that in a place like Hong Kong necessarily means solidarity among workers of different nationalities.

There are an estimated 150,000 Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong, most of who are domestic helpers and they comprise a third of such workers in this city. They obviously share the same conditions and interests as other migrant workers such as from Indonesia and Vietnam but also from mainland China, despite the differences in countries of origins, languages and cultures.

Contrary to the lies and propaganda of Paul Tse, migrant workers also share the same concerns and demands as local Hong Kong workers and youth. Because of their common destiny as waged labor, the interests and plight of locals and migrants are bound together. The colors of our skin may be different and we may speak diverse dialects but we are all workers who suffer from the exploitation and oppression of employers.

In fact it is capitalists and their agents like Paul Tse who benefit from splitting the ranks of workers and putting a Chinese wall between local and migrant labor. Only by uniting can workers advance its interests while disunity weakens our cause. Improving the wages and working conditions of migrants will ultimately lead to the betterment of local workers. And vice versa.

As can be seen from the track record of Paul Tse, he is not only a rabid racist but an anti-labor legislator. He was the only one who voted last year against a minimum wage in Hong Kong. Clearly he is not a superman as he advertises himself. But moreover he is not a defender of Hong Kong locals, a majority of whom are workers, as he claims. He is simply a protector of capitalist interests. In pursuit of this agenda, he wants to pit local against migrant workers. In this way, the ranks of the workers will weaken and our demands cannot be advanced by a united labor movement.

The Partido ng Manggagawa calls on our brother and sister migrant workers or OFWs as they called in the Philippines, to join and participate in the anti-racist counter demonstration on August 21.

Workers of the world unite! Manggagawa ng buong mundo, magkaisa!