Hustisya para sa mga manggagawang biktima ng pagguho ng gusali

 

Photo from Bureau of Fire Protection Central Luzon

Kinokondena ng Partido Manggagawa sa Central Luzon ang naganap na trahedya ng pagguho ng itinatayong gusali sa bahagi sa Pampanga kung saan dalawa na ang kumpirmadong patay.

 

Ayon sa huling mga ulat, 26 pa lamang sa mahigit 40 katao na pinaniniwalang na-trap sa gumuhong gusali ang na-rescue. 

 

“Malinaw na may pananagutan dito ang may-ari, kontraktor, DOLE, at maging ang lokal na pamahalaan, dahil ito ay malinaw na kapalpakan, bukod sa kapabayaan sa occupational health and safety (OSH) standard na dapat pinaiiral sa lahat ng workplace, lalo na sa construction sites,” pahayag ni Ver Estorosas, tagapangulo ng Partido Manggagawa sa Bulacan. 

 

Pangunahin aniyang layunin ng OSH law na pigilan ang workplace accidents sa manggagawa kaya nangangahulugan ito ng regular na inspeksyon lalo na mga construction sites.

 

Dapat magkatulong ang DOLE at LGUs sa enforcement ng OSHS standards sa kanilang nasasakupan dahil ang aksidente ay palaging risko sa construction sites. 

 

“Pero kung parehong natutulog sa pansitan, ang kapahamakan ng manggagawa ay palaging naisusugal,” dagdag pa ni Estorosas.

 

Nananawagan din ang PM sa mabilisang imbestigasyon sa naging sanhi ng aksidente, gayundin sa agarang medikasyon at kompensasyon para sa mga biktima. 

 

Nangangamba rin ang grupo na kung walang SSS coverage ang construction workers dito, na siyang kalakaran sa industriya, hindi sila masasaklaw ng benepisyo ng Workmen’s Compensation Act. 

 

“Ang kawalan ng SSS at iba pang benipisyo ng manggagawa sa konstruksyon ay dagdag na pananagutan sa batas ng mga employer,” diin ni Estorosas.

PRESS STATEMENT

Partido Manggagawa-Bulacan

25 May 2026

Labor standards violations at garment export firm

FCO is a garments manufacturer in the Cebu Economic Zone that supplies to brands Victoria's Secret, Champion and Black/Pink. The company retrenched more than a hundred workers last September without paying separation benefits due them according to law. Aside from this, FCO also did not grant holiday pay to its workers. The firm likewise hires workers on short-term contracts then rehires them on new ones to avoid the regularization of its employees. All of these are in violation of Philippine labor laws or regulations.

Shutdown POGOs, protect victims of crime and labor rights violations – Partido Manggagawa

The Partido Manggagawa (PM) added its voice to the growing public clamour to shutdown the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, both legal and illegal. But at the same it urges the government to protect and save their workers, both foreign and local, from further injustice after having been victimized by human trafficking and other crimes committed against them by their recruiters and operators.

“Kahit saan tingnang anggulo matapos ang pagdinig kahapon sa Senado ay operasyong sindikato ang lumalabas na pag-iral ng mga POGO na ito sa ating bansa. Sino mang protektor ng operasyong ito ay dapat malantad at maparusahan,” declared PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda.

POGO operations in the country has come under close scrutiny from the public after news of their illegal operations, tax evasion, and the proliferation of crimes related to it such as human trafficking, sex trafficking and kidnapping, among others, began to surface one after another.

At a public hearing conducted Wednesday, a female worker who was a victim of human trafficking told the senate committee that she was also a victim of sexual abuse in her workplace. Said witness also mentioned a ‘powerful protector’ of POGO operations in the country.

“History would tell us that high-end gambling operations, legal or not, are always accompanied by crimes especially against women as most of the victims of human trafficking, prostitution and sexual abuse are women. Whoever is allowing these things to happen should be guilty of the same crime hence must be prosecuted,” said Miranda.

The group argues that closer ties with China should not make the country more tolerant of these kinds of crimes, including violations of labor rights.

Crimes against women and violations of labor standards, Miranda stressed, have no boundaries hence the Philippine state is duty-bound to apply them to all workers, local or foreign.

“Hindi dahil malayang pinagnenegosyo ng administrasyon ang mga POGO sa bansa ay malaya na rin nilang mapagsamantalahan ang mga manggagawa,” concluded Miranda.

13 February 2020

DOLE hit for inaction on violations of “Grinch” company in Cavite

The militant Partido Manggagawa (PM) hit the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for continued delay in enforcing the mandatory payment of the 13^th month benefit for workers of a garments factory in Cavite. In a hearing yesterday at the provincial DOLE office in Trece Martirez, Cavite, officials gave the management of Sejung Apparel Inc. another 10 days to pay the 13^th month benefit and the last salary due of workers.

“Christmas and New Year has come and gone but the DOLE still refuses to use its enforcement powers against a ‘Grinch’ company,” declared Rene Magtubo, PM national chair. Workers of Sejung in the First Cavite Industrial Estate have been on picket-protest since December 12.

“While DOLE officials in the national and regional offices enjoyed their holidays, Sejung workers had a sad Christmas and 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 conducted a factory inspection last December 19 and promised to issue an order if management did not release the 13^th month pay on December 24 as mandated.

“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 to 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 temporarily 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

January 3, 2020

Press Release: Cavite workers call on Congress to investigate ecozone investors

Workers embroiled in a labor dispute in a Korean-owned factory in Cavite called on Congress to investigate violations of workers’ rights and labor standards by foreign investors in economic zones. The demand by workers of Sejung Apparel Inc. coincided with a solidarity visit this morning by Sen. Risa Hontiveros to their picketline.

“When foreign investors violate our labor laws with impunity, then Filipino workers are second-class citizens in our own land. We ask Congress to make incentives to foreign investors conditional on their respect for workers’ rights,” asserted Josephine Odchimar, union president.

The proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Act (CITIRA) removes incentives to foreign investors in ecozones. The Department of Finance and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority are openly debating the provisions of the bill. Labor groups on the other hand take an independent position and ask that incentives be tied to labor rights.

Odchimar added that “We welcome Sen. Risa and her staff to our picketline which has served as our home for the holidays. Similar to the story of Jesus being born in a lowly manger, we spent Christmas in a humble picketline.”

Sejung workers are demanding the release of the mandated 13^th month pay, the latest salary due workers, a stop to the removal of machines and an end to the outsourcing of production to other factories.

Meanwhile the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) slammed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for lack of action in enforcing labor standards at Sejung.

“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. 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,” declared Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

Odchimar explained 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.

Photos of the solidarity visit can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/donnaescueta.nano/posts/10216599085550453 and https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10157724749314323?__xts__[0]=68.ARAFRCJop2H-p1EpVO643elmAgPyuPLojo7ntrHEok9UjAnCbDRsjazTpvQJm0pOiw3Wfm0l6iKYQ5Q03Vs7ihV5zCyKl8BgsZFOXd5pSU9fFxGrBdZ_S4GKz0Qe8yVlMYyIPvgF_i8ey4XOWl_VWQfSgq-sJFXCJ4PRVJdlEP1CgdDpj8hx3A8HLDjSdLHA440vlGYjhsarXPUVO5agzpTrGtquexNdTLPtKnD8bt6Ff5JZgoLW8cgz7GbQyrvhBL9Hld2mWolWi53ktLpYXMFCyOafGQOKwT0FoYiW0RCfqbzKtiLb13VfIPRj3XGPe_9iEzhpmb9zgFsP8u8N&__tn__=-R

December 30, 2019

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

Riders’ appeal to President Duterte: Don’t send us back to pre-Angkas status

Members of nationwide umbrella of motorcycle riders’ clubs and organizations, the Riders of the Philippines (ROTP), joined fellow bikers who gathered at Mendiola Bridge Friday morning to bring their grievance directly to the attention of the President.

The action is part of their rolling struggle against the impending dislocation to be imposed by LTFRB next year against the pilot testing operation of motorcycle taxis.

“Nakatawid na po kami sa bagong industriya kaya’t hiling namin sa Pangulong Duterte ay huwag na kaming ibalik sa dating iligal at impormal na paraan ng paghahanapbuhay,” stated Robert Perillo, President of Bulacan Motorcycle Riders ConFederation (BMRF) and one of ROTP core Convenors.

Many bikers who enrolled to Angkas came from organized motorcycle riders’ club affiliated with ROTP. They include some of BMRF’s members from Bulacan and Central Luzon. But prior to Angkas, Perillo explained that most of those who bike for a living were either in the informal and illegal state (habal-habal) or in the formal sub-sector of the services industry, as employees in offices and factories, or in trading and delivery services.

“Bilang bikers and tawag namin sa isat-isa ay ‘kagulong’ pero dahil 99% sa amin ay manggagawa, itinuturing din naming sila bilang ‘kamanggagawa’,” thus as workers,  their principal concern is job security and working conditions as business, competition and profit is to Angkas, Move It and Joy Ride, said Perillo.

Perillo contends that the loss of privilege for Angkas and the gain for Joy Ride and Move It should not be at the peril of workers who by next year, according to LTFRB, will be placed under three masters.

Perillo who is also a member of the National Council of Partido Manggagaw (PM) echoed his party’s view that as workers in a sunrise TNVS sector, government regulations must now go beyond numbers, safety and franchise concerns, but also on labor rights. The government, according to PM, must support the transition of bikers and drivers from the informal to the formal sector.

“Ang mga bagong regulasyon at patakaran sa kompetisyon ay dapat nakabubuti, hindi nakamamatay,” added Perillo.

In its prepared letter to the President, the ROTP also complained about the group’s unexplained removal from LTFRB’s TWG headed by General Gardiola. It was the TWG which came out with a resolution cutting to 10,000 the maximum number of Angkas bikers and assign the remainder of 20,000 for the newcomer Joy Ride and Move It.

“Naging bulag kaming mga rider sa tinakbo ng TWG kaya’t hindi rin namin alam kung may nangyari nga ditong kababalaghan,” concluded Perillo. ###

Photos of the Mendiola rally can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10157716183019323?__xts__[0]=68.ARA8VH2oTOYx0MkV7EWU5fG39tJQR49F_pWtNQCikaUgyHrwhKCSwnk3TxAcwEpR_kUhbWUTtv52hMKbkt3n92PUv8lBgC_Rn6KipE9Pix2na3a-lhyQnTGn6z6EFBXF7c3Nul6ItwulSSP9BxrJezwy1utTWcVL3vQ59eJytXG2aS8ZctVF9SXgIbVfXxQn9KMbaRbkkbltFfDpCvHIPN5jmnp9UwnwOtRsz-aLUtzNOT0GIjSxzLfP0qnuciIk2AHWClU-DO7sNxKYLjDBDDzWs1MB98nz68NNomwqi8cJf-lOfgaDiwed3O9PtyvDs75EcK08MugeMnKmuR46&__tn__=-R

Robert Perillo
President, Bulacan Motorcycle Riders ConFederation
ROTP Convenor
27 December 2019

Union busting at Kohl’s supplier in the Philippines

Workers at a Kohl’s supplier in the biggest export zone in the Philippines are complaining of management interference in the exercise of their freedom of association. The newly formed workers union at Daegyoung Apparel Inc. is calling on Kohl’s to remediate the violations of their supplier in line with their code of conduct.

The workers of Daegyoung formed a union in April with the aim of resolving workplace grievances such as low pay, lack of benefits, precarious work and violation of labor standards. As soon as management learned of the formation of the union, supervisors and line leaders started talking to workers to withdraw support from the union or desist from enlisting with the union.

Workers were threatened that the company will shutdown if the union pushes through. At the start, management personnel blatantly asked workers to sign anti-union statements at the production lines. Management personnel also openly held a town hall meeting in the factory canteen and repeated the threat of a factory closure. Later, workers were asked to go in pairs to management offices where they were subjected to anti-union propaganda.

In response to management’s union busting maneuvers, the union filed for preventive mediation with the Labor Department. Nothing was resolved in the first hearing. Another hearing is set this week.

The union has also filed a petition for certification elections and in the proceedings, management submitted it opposition and offered separation pay to workers—moves which evidently tie in with the company’s union busting scheme.

Korean-owned Daegyoung employs some 1,000 workers, mostly women. Workers estimate that around 80% of the production is earmarked for Kohl’s. The factory is located in the Cavite Economic Zone in the industrial town of Rosario, Cavite.

Labor party calls for shorter not compressed workweek

Photo from Philippine Star

The Partido Manggagawa (PM) today declared its opposition to the proposed bill on compressed workweek as it called the proposal a “scheme to overwork and underpay workers.” Instead, PM is calling for legislating a shorter work day.

Members of PM joined the labor group Sentro in a picket at the Senate this morning to coincide with a hearing on proposed bill. The bill providing for a compressed workweek passed the House of Representatives on third and final reading last August 24.

“Legislating the compressed workweek will lead to the derogation if not destruction of the historic eight-hour work day. Instead of lengthening the working day, it should be shortened without lost of pay for workers. The compressed workweek will lead to health and safety issues while shortening the working day will vastly improve work-life balance,” insisted Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

Also being heard today at the Senate are proposals for 15 minute breaks and service charge in the hotel industry. Members of PM ans Sentro chanted “Workers need a break, We are not robots,” “No to compressed work, Yes to 8-hour law,” “Compressed workweek is hazardous to our health.”

Magtubo added that “Imagine workers laboring for 12 hours a day without overtime and travelling hours more through traffic. This is a recipe for killing workers through overwork and stress.”

He added that “Millions of workers already work 12 hours day because they avail of overtime as a way of augmenting their meager daily wages which are not enough to sustain their families. The compressed workweek will legalize this epidemic of overwork but worsen it by taking away overtime pay. The compressed workweek is a ploy to cheapen salaries, similar to the regionalization of wages.”

“In the exceptional cases where workers find that flexible work arrangements like flexi-time or compressed workweek is advantageous to them, there are already rules that allow for that on the condition that workers are consulted and agree to it. These must remain exceptions to the rule and the norm should be that the workday is eight hours and work beyond must be paid overtime,” Magtubo elaborated.

September 13, 2017

Workers reinstated in deal to end Cavite EPZA strike

The five day strike at an electronics subcon in the Cavite EPZA, the country’s biggest export zone, ended yesterday with the reinstatement of workers earlier fired for union activities. Striking workers of Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp. (SYTIC) will go back to work next week, including eighteen illegally terminated employees, in a deal reached at a mediation meeting convened by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Two retrenched workers earlier accepted the separation offer of management and are not covered by the agreement.

“We will report for work with our heads held up and with our dignity as workers recognized. We owe this victory to the determination of our union members who paralyzed the operations of SYTIC for almost a week and forced management to accede to our just demand for reinstatement. We hope this is the start of management’s change of heart that it needs to give workers their due and respect their rights,” stated Frederick Bayot, president of the SYTIC workers union.

The striking SYTIC workers earlier threatened to escalate protests inside and outside the Cavite EPZA if their demands were not met. More than a hundred members of the partylist group Partido Manggagawa (PM) and the union Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) occupied the DOLE office in Imus, Cavite while the mediation meeting was ongoing yesterday. While Thursday night the SYTIC strikers and their supporters marched around the export zone and hopped from one factory to another to solicit support from EPZA workers.

Union officers and members were fired by SYTIC management in an attempt to bust the union that was formed to address numerous workplace issues. SYTIC workers complained of wages that partly are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, illegal deduction on wages for company events, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule, and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed, as provided for in the Labor Code.

“We call on the DOLE to act on the complaint we earlier filed at the provincial office about labor standards violations at SYTIC to ensure that they are appropriately and promptly addressed,” Bayot insisted.

He added that “We also would not have won without the solidarity of fellow workers in other EPZA factories and labor groups like PM, PALEA and Sentro who extended moral and logistical support for our picketline. The workers united will never be defeated.”

SYTIC manufactures plastic products that provide protection to integrated circuits and electronic components from physical and electrostatic discharge during storage and shipping. Its three biggest customers are ON Semiconductor Philippines Inc. in Carmona, Cavite, Analog Devices General Trias Inc. in the Gateway Business Park in General Trias, Cavite and Texas Instruments factories in Baguio and Clark ecozones. All are local subsidiaries of US multinational companies. ON Semiconductor is a spinoff of Motorola. SYTIC also supplies to Cavite-based factories of local subsidiaries of US electronics companies Maxim Integrated and Cypress. It exports part of its production to C-Pak Cergas in Malaysia.

April 16, 2016

Back-to-back rallies held in support of strikers in Cavite EPZA

Protest rallies were held today and yesterday in support of the demand of striking workers in the country’s biggest export zone for the reinstatement of illegally fired employees. The strike entered its fifth day as the Department of Labor and Employment convened another mediation meeting today between the union and management of the strikebound Seung Yeun Techonology Industries Corp. (SYTIC).

“We demand the reinstatement of the SYTIC 21 who were terminated for their union activities and the redress of labor standards violations. If not then protests inside and outside the Cavite EPZA will escalate,” stated Frederick Bayot, union president of the SYTIC workers.

This morning more than 100 members of the partylist group Partido Manggagawa (PM) and the union Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) staged a solidarity rally to express for the striking workers while the mediation meeting was ongoing. Last night the SYTIC strikers and their supporters marched around the export zone and hopped from one factory to another to solicit support from EPZA workers.

Union officers and members were fired by SYTIC management in an attempt to bust the union that was formed to address numerous workplace issues. SYTIC workers complained of wages that partly are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, illegal deduction on wages for company events, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule, and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed, as provided for in the Labor Code.

“We call on SYTIC’s customers to make good on their code of conduct pledge. These big electronics companies have promised to respect freedom of association and labor standards in their supply chains, which includes SYTIC,” urged Bayot.

The three biggest customers of SYTIC are ON Semiconductor Philippines Inc. in Carmona, Cavite, Analog Devices General Trias Inc. in the Gateway Business Park in General Trias, Cavite and Texas Instruments factories in Baguio and Clark ecozones. All are local subsidiaries of US multinational companies. ON Semiconductor is a spinoff of Motorola. SYTIC also supplies to Cavite-based factories of local subsidiaries of US electronics companies Maxim Integrated and Cypress. All these companies are members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) which pledges to uphold freedom of association and labor standards in their companies and its supply chains.

In its website, EICC avers that it is “a nonprofit coalition of electronics companies committed to supporting the rights and wellbeing of workers and communities affected by the global electronics supply chain.” EICC members are bound and accountable to a “code of conduct.” The code is a set of standards on social, environmental and ethical issues in the electronics industry supply chain.

“Partido Manggagawa (PM) through its allies and contacts have made representation to the EICC and directly to SYTIC’s customers about the ongoing dispute. We ask that they respond in accordance with the provisions of the EICC code of conduct,” explained Dennis Sequena, a PM-Cavite coordinator.

Since the strike begun last Monday, strikers were joined at the picketline by supporters from PM, PALEA, the labor center Sentro and workers from nearby EPZA factories.

Advisory: Militants to rally today while DOLE mediates dispute in Cavite EPZA factory

Protest march around the Cavite export zone

MEDIA ADVISORY

April 15, 2016

Contact: Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

Militants to rally while DOLE mediates dispute in Cavite EPZA factory

WHAT: Members of PM and PALEA to hold solidarity rally during mediation meeting called by DOLE between union and management of strikebound factory

WHEN: Today, April 15, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

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

DETAILS:  The Department of Labor and Employment is convening a mediation meeting today between the union and management of strikebound factory of Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp. (SYTIC). To coincide with the meeting, more than a 100 members members of Partido Manggagawa and the union Philippine Airlines Employees Association will hold a solidarity rally to express support for the striking workers.

           Last night the SYTIC strikers and workers from other EPZA factories held a protest march around the country's biggest export zone.

The SYTIC workers are now on their fifth day on strike. They are demanding the reinstatement of 21 workers illegally fired for union activities and the redress of labor standards violations.

The workers formed a union in an effort to address workplace problems including violations of labor standards.  Among the most egregious violations are that part of their wages are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, illegal deductions, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed.

SYTIC is a Korean-owned plastics company that is part of the electronics industry supply chain. SYTIC’s main customers are local subsidiaries of big US multinationals like ON Semiconductor, Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, Maxim Integrated and Cypress.

Cavite EPZA strikers ask big electronics firms to uphold labor rights

As strike in Cavite EPZA factory enters second day:

Big electronics firms asked to uphold labor rights pledge in their supply chains

As the strike at an electronics subcon in the Cavite EPZA entered its second day, striking workers called on the company’s customers to uphold labor rights in their supply chains. The strikebound Seung Yeun Techonology Industries Corp. (SYTIC) supplies its products to local subsidiaries of multinational electronics companies.

“We call on SYTIC’s customers to make good on their code of conduct pledge. These companies have promised to respect freedom of association and labor standards in their supply chains, which includes SYTIC,” stated Frederick Bayot, president of the embattled SYTIC labor union.

The three biggest customers of SYTIC are ON Semiconductor Philippines Inc. in Carmona, Cavite, Analog Devices General Trias Inc. in the Gateway Business Park in General Trias, Cavite and Texas Instruments factories in Baguio and Clark ecozones. All are local subsidiaries of US multinational companies. ON Semiconductor is a spinoff of Motorola. SYTIC also supplies to Cavite-based factories of local subsidiaries of US electronics companies Maxim Integrated and Cypress. All these companies are members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) which pledges to uphold freedom of association and labor standards in their companies and its supply chains.

Yesterday, several container trucks entered and then left the SYTIC factory to deliver to the Texas Instruments assembly plant in the Clark, Pampanga export zone. The law prohibits strikers from blocking the free ingress and egress of workers and materials except for scabs or replacement workers.

In its website, EICC avers that it is “a nonprofit coalition of electronics companies committed to supporting the rights and wellbeing of workers and communities affected by the global electronics supply chain.” EICC members are bound and accountable to a “code of conduct.” The code is a set of standards on social, environmental and ethical issues in the electronics industry supply chain.

“Partido Manggagawa (PM) through its allies and contacts have made representation to the EICC and directly to SYTIC’s customers about the ongoing dispute. We ask that they respond in accordance with the provisions of the EICC code of conduct,” explained Dennis Sequena, a PM-Cavite coordinator.

The mediation meeting facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment yesterday ended without any agreement. The union demanded the reinstatement of workers fired for union activities but management just offered to give separation pay. Another mediation meeting is scheduled on Friday.

Production at the SYTIC factory remained paralyzed for the second day as an overwhelming majority of the workers are participating in the strike. Yesterday, strikers were joined at the picketline by supporters from PM, the labor center Sentro and workers from nearby EPZA factories.

April 12, 2016

Strike at Cavite EPZA electronics subcon erupts

Workers of an electronics subcon at the Cavite EPZA in Rosario, Cavite went on strike today, paralyzing production at the factory. The striking workers of Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp. (SYTIC) set up their picketline just before the 6:00 a.m first shift. They are demanding the reinstatement of 20 workers fired for union activities, respect for the right to unionize, and redress of violations of labor standards on wages, overtime and health and safety.

“Two mediation hearings called by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) proved fruitless as SYTIC stubbornly refused to reinstate illegally terminated workers. Thus we have no recourse but to go on strike to win our demands,” explained Frederick Bayot, president of the labor union Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp. Workers Association.

Members of the partylist group Partido Manggagawa (PM) is holding a solidarity rally for the SYTIC strikers starting at 8:00 a.m. today at the main gate of the Cavite EPZA, the country’s biggest export zone. PM is calling on EPZA workers to support the fight of SYTIC workers as their plight mirrors the concerns of the estimated 60,000 people employed in the ecozone.

In the last mediation hearing, management informed the workers that the company will shutdown on May 4. Since the mass retrenchment, SYTIC workers have been conducting protest actions. Last Friday, SYTIC workers and their supporters marched inside the Cavite ecozone to highlight their demands.

The union was formed in an effort to address numerous workplace issues. SYTIC workers complained that part of their wages are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, illegal deduction on wages for company events, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule, and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed, as provided for in the Labor Code.

“Unfortunately no action has been taken by the DOLE since the infractions were reported by SYTIC workers,” argued Dennis Sequena, a PM leader in Cavite and staunch supporter of the SYTIC union.

Sequena added that SYTIC workers have faced an uphill battle and an intransigent management since the union was organazed. He related that “In one incident, a union officer was physically assaulted inside the factory, interrogated at the PEZA admin office about her participation in the union and finally slapped with a case by management for the attack. But before the case could be heard she was abruptly terminated together with others for alleged reduced orders despite the fact that the factory remained on three shifts and later two shifts on forced overtime.”

“All the usual ploys in the union busting bag of tricks were thrown at the SYTIC workers. The stick of intimidation and harassment together with the carrot of separation pay were employed against the SYTIC union. But the workers stood their ground to fight for their rights,” averred Sequena.

SYTIC manufactures plastic products that provide protection to integrated circuits and electronic components from physical and electrostatic discharge during storage and shipping. It supplies to local subsidiaries of big US electronics companies like ON Semiconductor, a Motorola spinoff, Texas Instruments and Analog Devices.

April 11, 2016

Advisory: Workers at Cavite EPZA electronics subcon go on strike

MEDIA ADVISORY

April 11, 2016

Contact: Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

Workers at Cavite EPZA electronics subcon go on strike

WHAT: Workers of Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp (SYTIC) went on strike

WHEN: Today, April 11, 2016, started at 6:00 a.m.

WHERE: Cavite EPZA, Rosario, Cavite

DETAILS: SYTIC workers went on strike today, setting up a picketline in time for the 6:00 a.m first shift of work. Production at the factory is now paralyzed. At 8:00 a.m. PM members will hold a solidarity rally at the Cavite EPZA main gate (gate 1) in support of the SYTIC workers on strike.

SYTIC workers are demanding the reinstatement of 20 union officers and members who were terminated for their union activities, respect for the right to unionize and the redress of violations of labor standards on wages, overtime and health and safety.

Union calls for reinstatement of fired workers to avert strike

A labor union demanded the reinstatement of terminated workers to avert a strike in an electronics subcontractor in the Cavite ecozone. Last March, 20 union officers and members were terminated by the management of Korean-owned Seung Yuen Technology Industries Corp. (SYTIC). In response, the union filed a notice of strike for union busting and a majority of union members have authorized a strike in a vote conducted last week.

“We call on SYTIC management to heed the call of their workers. Reinstate the workers they illegally fired for union activities. Stop busting the union and respect freedom of association,” averred Frederick Bayot, union president.

Two mediation meetings convened by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ended inconclusively. In the last mediation hearing, management informed the workers that the company will shutdown on May 4. SYTIC workers have been conducting protest actions for the past several days. And last Friday, some 100 SYTIC workers and their supporters from nearby factories marched inside the Cavite ecozone to drum up solidarity for the fight.

“The mass retrenchment and company closure are obvious attempts to bust the union. Non-union employees are being told they will be hired once the company opens for business again. Since the successful formation of a union, management has harassed workers, threatened them with closure, offered them separation pay, and employed other dirty tricks used to bust unions,” stated Dennis Sequena, an organizer of Partido Manggagawa, a partylist group which is assisting the SYTIC workers.

SYTIC manufactures plastic products that provide protection to integrated circuits and electronic components from physical and electrostatic discharge during storage and shipping. Its three biggest customers are ON Semiconductor Philippines Inc. in Carmona, Cavite, Analog Devices General Trias Inc. in the Gateway Business Park in General Trias, Cavite and Texas Instruments factories in Baguio and Clark ecozones. All are local subsidiaries of US multinational companies. ON Semiconductor is a spinoff of Motorola. SYTIC also supplies to Cavite-based factories of local subsidiaries of US electronics companies Maxim Integrated and Cypress. It exports part of its production to C-Pak Cergas in Malaysia.

The workers formed a union in an effort to address workplace problems including violations of labor standards. . Among the most egregious violations are that part of their wages are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule, and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed, as provided for in the Labor Code.

“We reported these infractions to the provincial office of the DOLE but no action has yet been taken. We just asking for what is ours according to law yet SYTIC management has stubbornly resisted recognizing the rights of their employees,” insisted Bayot.

April 10, 2016

Violations of freedom of association and labor standards in an electronics subcon in the Philippines

SYTIC workers in protest vs union busting

Workers of Seung Yuen Technology Industries Corp. (SYTIC), a Korean-owned plastics company that is part of the electronics industry supply chain, are facing issues of freedom of association and labor standards. The workers have recently formed a union in an effort to address workplace problems including violations of labor standards.

Last March, 20 union officers and members were terminated in a blatant attempt at union busting. Then a few days ago management filed for closure even as they inform non-union workers not to worry since they will be hired once the company opens for business again.

After successfully forming and registering a union in accordance with law, management started to subvert the freedom of association of SYTIC workers by talking separately to union leaders that unionization will lead to the closure of the company and thus it is better for them to accept separation now rather than wait for the shutdown. Union members were also individually met by management to be threatened with the alleged shutdown.  After which several union officers, including the duly elected union president and treasurer, were slapped with trumped up charges (about products that allegedly failed to pass quality control according to the evaluation of “trainees” and not the usual QA employees who happen to be union members or officers). Then the mass termination and later the notice of closure followed allegedly due to cancelled orders.

In response, the union has filed a complaint for union busting at the Labor Department. The FOA complaint follows an earlier compliant filed by the union for violations of labor standards. Among the most egregious violations are that part of their wages are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule, and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed, as provide for in the Labor Code of the Philippines.

The three biggest customers of SYTIC are ON Semiconductor Philippines Inc. in Carmona, Cavite, Analog Devices General Trias Inc. in the Gateway Business Park in General Trias, Cavite and Texas Instruments factories in Baguio and Clark ecozones. All are local subsidiaries of US multinational companies. ON Semiconductor is a spinoff of Motorola. SYTIC also supplies to Cavite-based factories of local subsidiaries of US electronics companies Maxim Integrated and Cypress. All these companies are members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) which pledges to uphold freedom of association and labor standards in their companies and its supply chains.

SYTIC also exports part of its production to C-Pak Cergas in Malaysia. C-Pak is owned by Dou Yee International, a Singaporean investment holding company. Dou Yee owns the Eurostat Group, which manufactures and distributes electrostatic discharge protection products and is headquartered in Pont-de-Poitte, France.

SYTIC is located in the in the Cavite Economic Zone. A majority of the 50-plus regular workforce are already union members. It manufactures carrier tapes which are plastic products that provide protection to integrated circuits and electronic components from physical and electrostatic discharge during storage and shipping. It is thus part of the electronics industry supply chain.

April 8, 2016

Daily protests at Cavite EPZA factory as countdown to strike begins

MEDIA ADVISORY

April 6, 2016

Contact: Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

At Korean-owned factory in Cavite EPZA:

Daily protests as countdown to strike begins

Wednesday-Friday (April 6-8): Workers to hold daily protests from 1:00 p.m. onwards at Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp., Cavite ecozone, Rosario, Cavite

Friday (April 8): Mediation meeting between management and union at NCMB Imus (MYP GBY Building, Bayan Luma 7, Aguinaldo Highway, Cavite)

After a majority of union members authorized the holding of a work stoppage in a strike vote last Saturday, workers of Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp. (SYTIC) will hold daily protests this week as buildup. The law provides that the union should wait for seven days after the holding of a strike vote before actually launching a work stoppage.

The SYTIC workers union had filed a notice of strike due to union busting. Twenty SYTIC workers, majority of whom are elected union officers and the rest union members, have been retrenched in a blatant attempt at union busting in the country’s biggest export zone, the Cavite ecozone in the town of Rosario.

The workers have recently formed a union in an effort to address workplace problems including violations of labor standards.  Among the most egregious violations are that part of their wages are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed.

SYTIC is a Korean-owned plastics company that is part of the electronics industry supply chain. SYTIC’s main customers are local subsidiaries of big US multinationals like ON Semiconductor, Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, Maxim Integrated and Cypress.

Advisory: Mediation today b/n union & mgt of Korean-owned Cavite factory in the wake a strike vote

MEDIA ADVISORY

April 5, 2016

Contact: Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

  After workers say yes in strike vote:

Mediation today between union & management of Korean-owned Cavite factory

WHAT: Mediation meeting called by DOLE between union and management of Korean-owned factory

WHEN: Today, April 5, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

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

DETAILS: The Department of Labor and Employment is convening a mediation meeting today between the union and management of Seung Yeun Technology Industries Corp. (SYTIC). This in the wake of a strike vote last Saturday in which a majority of union members authorized the holding of a work stoppage.

The SYTIC workers are holding daily protests this week as buildup for the strike. The law provides that the union should wait for seven days after the holding of a strike vote before actually launching a work stoppage.

The SYTIC workers union had filed a notice of strike due to union busting. Twenty SYTIC workers, majority of whom are elected union officers and the rest union members, have been retrenched in a blatant attempt at union busting in the country’s biggest export zone, the Cavite ecozone in the town of Rosario.

The workers have recently formed a union in an effort to address workplace problems including violations of labor standards.  Among the most egregious violations are that part of their wages are not paid in cash but in the form of meals, non-payment of overtime due to an illegal compressed workweek schedule and the lack of a company nurse, doctor and hospital bed.

SYTIC is a Korean-owned plastics company that is part of the electronics industry supply chain. SYTIC’s main customers are local subsidiaries of big US multinationals like ON Semiconductor, Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, Maxim Integrated and Cypress.