Tag Archives: workers rights

[Statement] Compressed workweek: misguided policy for workers amidst fuel crisis | IOHSAD

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Compressed workweek: misguided policy for workers amidst fuel crisis

The Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development or IOHSAD calls on the government to directly address the reasons for the continuous oil price hikes instead of pushing for the implementation of a compressed workweek that can be detrimental to workers’ health and safety. This work scheme passes the burden of surviving this crisis to the backs of workers while the government turns away from the responsibility of mitigating or ending, the dreadful effects of oil deregulation on people’s lives.

Long working hours kill workers! Longer working hours prolong exposures to hazards at work, and this increases the risk for work-related injuries and diseases. There is a time-dependent increase in the risk for accidents, injuries, falls, infections, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases beyond the standard working hours. Twelve-hour workdays increase the risk for injuries and accidents by 37%, and this risk increases with overtime and an extended workweek.

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[Press Release] EILER supports legislative efforts ensuring workers’ right to health and their well-being

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Labor NGO supports legislative efforts ensuring workers’ right to health and their well-being

Labor NGO Ecumenical Institute of Labor Education and Research (EILER supports legislative efforts to ensure workers’ right to health and their well-being. This is in light of proposals for a Workers’ Rest Law’ (HB 10717 and SB 2475) that prohibits employers from contacting or giving additional work for employees beyond working hours.

Under the pandemic, workers have further been subjected to labor flexibilization and difficult work set-up such as working from home or working on-site without the guarantee of ayuda and quarantine leaves if they contracted Covid-19. Many employees, especially those under work from home set-up, have complained about being forced to attend work-related activities beyond work hours without additional pay. This negatively impacts workers’ physical and mental health. Aside from this, workers also face repressive and discriminatory policies such as the “no vaccine, no work” policy being imposed on various workplaces.

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[Press Release] Low wages, attacks on workers rights, hinder fulfillment of decent work agenda | EILER

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#HumanRights #Workers

Low wages, attacks on workers rights, hinder fulfillment of decent work agenda – EILER

The country still lags behind on the Decent Work Agenda, according to Labor NGO Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER).

As the domestic employment crisis deepens, more and more workers are forced to engage in irregular, precarious or intermittent employment with lower wages. Widespread joblosses, rampant contractualization, and inadequate decent job opportunities with living wages, are worsened by the militaristic pandemic response and intensified repression against trade union and human rights.

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[Press Release] “Uber drivers are workers”: Riders group welcomes British SC decision on gig workers -Kagulong

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#HumanRights #Workers

“Uber drivers are workers”: Riders group welcomes British SC decision on gig workers

The riders’ group Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong) greeted with enthusiasm the British Supreme Court’s decision declaring Uber drivers as workers. The landmark decision has finally settled a legal battle between the giant ride-hailing up and two of its workers who brought the issue before the courts in 2016 on whether they should be treated as workers of the company or self-employed.

Uber is also facing similar complaints in many other countries.

The Court said as reported in British newspapers, Uber drivers are workers “the moment they log-on until they log-off the Uber app.” Therefore, as workers, they are entitled to at least the minimum wage, holiday pay, and other benefits due for regular workers.

“Nakasisiya ang desisyon para sa aming mga manggagawang riders. Sa wakas ay mayroon nang jurisprudence sa isyung ito ng mga tinatawag na gig economy workers na maaring paghalawan ng mga korte ng iba’t-ibang bansa katulad ng Pilipinas,” stated Kagulong spokesman Robert Perillo.

Perillo, who is also the President of the Bulacan Motorcycle Riders Confederation (BMRF), said many of their members are working as riders/drivers in many app-based logistics services, thus, the legal resolution on their employment status is the first important step in promoting and protecting the gig economy workers’ basic rights and better working conditions.

According to BBC news, the court considered several elements in its judgement:
 Uber set the fare which meant that they dictated how much drivers could earn
 Uber set the contract terms and drivers had no say in them
 Request for rides is constrained by Uber who can penalize drivers if they reject too many rides
 Uber monitors a driver’s service through the star rating and has the capacity to terminate the relationship if after repeated warnings this does not improve

As an organized rights-based riding community, Kagulong has been receiving complaints from fellow riders working in different companies. Common among these complaints, similar to what the Court has resolved, is their imposed status as “independent contractors,” and the way hailing app exercises control over the performance of their jobs.

“Ngayong may batas na maari nang pagbasehan, wala nang dahilan ang ating mga ahensya tulad ng DOLE na sabihing hindi maaring harapin ang ilang isyu na nakahapag dito tulad ng reklamo ng mga manggagawa sa Food Panda na hindi pa hinaharap ng management sa dayalogo,” explained Perillo.

Kagulong called on riders/drivers from different companies to welcome this decision and organize themselves into union or workers’ associations to be able to defend their rights and secure better working conditions in the gig economy.

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[Press Release] SSS at PhilHealth premium hikes, dagdag pahirap sa mga manggagawa – EILER

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#HumanRights #PhilHealth #Workers

SSS at PhilHealth premium hikes, dagdag pahirap sa mga manggagawa – EILER

Dagdag pahirap ang Philhealth at SSS sa mga manggagawa at mamamayan sa plano nilang pagtataas ng premium para diumano hindi masaid ang kanilang pondo, ayon sa isang labor NGO.

Giit ng Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), maraming mga manggagawa ang nawalan ng trabaho at nabawasan ang kita dahil sa pandemya at iba pang kalamidad na naranasan ng mamamayan sa 2020. Bukod pa dito, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakakasuhan ang mga dapat managot sa bilyong pondo na diumano’y ibinulsa ng mga dating opisyales ng Philhealth.

“Matatandaan din natin noong 2018, ayon sa Commission on Audit (CoA) ay may P14.3 bilyon na kwestyonableng high risk investment na pinasok ang Philhealth sa iba’t-ibang pribadong kompanya. Pero patuloy pang tumataas ang pondo para dito na umaabot na sa P132 bilyon noong Hunyo 2020 at higit na mataas ng P52 bilyon kumpara sa benefit claims ng mga miyembro,” ayon kay EILER Executive Director, Rochelle Porras.

Dagdag pa niya, “Ganoon din ang SSS, umabot sa P300 bilyon ang kanilang investment noong 2019. Bahagi nito ang mga condominiums, lote sa mga subdivisions at memorial lots na minsan ng tinagurian noon na idle assets ng CoA at nagkakahalaga ng hindi bababa sa P3 bilyon.”

Ayon sa institusyon ay dapat pigilan ni Pangulong Duterte ang pagtaas ng premium ng SSS katulad ng sa PhilHealth. Dapat ring pigilan ang bagong pahirap na programa nitong Workers Investment and Savings Program, lalo na sa panahong labis ang paghihirap ng mga manggagawa.

“Kung magagamit lamang ng maayos ang pondo ng PhilHealth at SSS, at kung lubos na inilalaan ito para sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa, kailanman ay hindi ito masasaid,” dagdag pa ni Porras.

NEWS RELEASE
10 January 2021
Reference: Ms. Rochelle Porras, EILER Executive Director, +63 920 127 6491

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[Press Release] Ombudsman’s order to dismiss Commissioner breaks impunity in CHR -PAHRA

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Press Release: Ombudsman’s order to dismiss Commissioner breaks impunity in Commission on Human Rights
September 9, 2014

Human Rights groups welcomed the unprecedented decision of the Ombudsman to order the dismissal of Commissioner Cecilia Rachel V. Quisumbing of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) after “finding probable cause for Direct Bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code” and violating section 3(e) of Republic Acts (RA) 3019 and sec. 7 (d) of R.A. 6713. These findings and information would be filed with the Sandiganbayan. In its 27 years since established, this judgment is the first of its kind against a top officer of the CHR.

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The findings highlighted elements of corruption and Quisumbing’s obvious intent to be recipient of complainant Eugenio’s salary differential by taking advantage of her functions and authority as CHR Commissioner”

In addition the complainants alleged that Quisumbing violated the dignity of some of her co-terminus staff by giving oppressive disciplinary actions, demeaning instructions and humiliating them in public. Sometimes, though office staff, they were doing chores more akin to a domestic helper or a family driver. These actions were said to have been brought to the attention of the CHR Chairperson and other Commissioners as early as 2010. No action to rectify the situation seemed to have been taken at that time. Violations continued and accumulated until some staff decided to file charges of corruption, unethical behavior and abuse of authority.

“Napuno na kami,” explained Ma. Regina D. Eugenio, together with other co-terminus staff, Elizabeth Diego-Buizon, Alexander B. Fernandez and Jesse K. Ayuste . “Di na naming masikmura ang pagyurak sa aming pagkatao.” (We had enough. We could no long stomach her trampling on our human dignity.) According to them, each had experienced being made to respond like robots waiting to move on voice commands. The staff sought the help of an NGO human rights organization to prepare for the filing.

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) sees the decision as a breakthrough against the impunity happening in the Commission on Human Rights. Max de Mesa, Chairperson of PAHRA, points out: “The decision implicitly indicts the leadership and other Commissioners of the CHR, for the delayed justice due Regina and her co-staff, despite the testimonies and evidences in their hands since last year.”

Furthermore, “This shows the imperative to embed into the new Charter of the CHR the accountability mechanism for the Commissioners and the Directors,” de Mesa added, “as well as having a more transparent and participative way of selecting the next Commissioners by the President.”

The dismissal of Commissioner Quisumbing was based on her violating Section 7 (d) of RA no. 6713 on the Code of Ethics for government employees and also of Grave Misconduct. The Dismissal included “all its accessory penalties”. This means “cancellation of eligibility”, “forfeiture of retirement benefits” and “perpetual disqualification for re-employment in government service”. This also mean that there will be one less CHR Commissioner who will receive P100,000 plus monthly pension for life that the public will have to contribute from their taxes.

The decision was signed by Jasmine Ann B. Gapatan and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last August 28, 2014.

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[From the web] Faces of labor repression in Aquino’s four years -ctuhr.org

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Faces of labor repression in Aquino’s four years

In stark contrast to government claims that there are no problems with workers’ rights, trade union repression and rights violations against workers and unionists, alongside deepening poverty of working population, characterize the labor scene under BS Aquino’s four years in office.

CTUHR logo

Blatant union suppression prevails under the Aquino government. From June 2010 to June 2014, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights documented at least 36 cases of union busting covering nearly 10,000 workers. When only 230,000 workers of less than 2 million unionized workforce are covered by collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), violations and non-implementation of these agreements are still happening with at least 40 cases documented in the same period.

Killings of trade unionists and urban poor leaders have not stopped with 17 cases and 18 victims of extrajudicial killings. Over 200 individuals were charged with false criminal charges due to political acts (or beliefs) or labor disputes. And another 25 cases of threat, harassment, intimidation against workers and unionists were documented from June 2010 to December 2013.

Read this article in CTUHR website.

Last May 03, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz denied the findings of the International Trade UnionConfederation (ITUC) 2014 Global Rights Index Report which cited the Philippines as among the worst countries in the world of work for workers. Trade union centers like Kilusang Mayo Uno however affirmed ITUC’s findings said that the attacks made by the government, especially that of Aquino’s, on workers’ rights to form unions, collectively bargain and hold strikes have indeed made the Philippines one of the worst countries for workers.

CTUHR Executive Director Daisy Arago also refuted DOLE’s statement saying it is “a big lie” “Maybe she is referring to another country. Or perhaps she considers the public including the world’s biggest trade union center unthinking when she said that the [ITUC] report does not necessarily concern workers rights.” Arago added.

Blatantly violating lawful rights of workers

Accounts of union suppression disprove Baldoz’s assertion that there is “industry advocacy for workers rights.” On the contrary, capitalists were as ever bold in transgressing lawful rights of workers.

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[Press Release] PNoy dared to act on Hanjin deaths -PM

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PNoy dared to act on Hanjin deaths

Just two days after the commemoration of Labor Day, the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) challenged President Benigno Aquino III to uphold and protect workers rights at the giant Hanjin shipyard in Subic, Zambales as another worker died last May 1 in a workplace accident. “PNoy had once personally thanked Hanjin for its PhP24 billion investment. Now he should personally act on the 37th reported death at the shipyard,” insisted Renato Magtubo, PM chair.

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Randy Gacos, 29, a fit-up welder at the shipbuilding facility of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., suffered severe burns while working in the erection section of the shipyard on Wednesday and then died on Thursday night while being treated at a local hospital.

Magtubo added that “The Hanjin shipyard is a graveyard of workers. While capitalists are scrimping on protection for its work force and the government is sleeping on its job of enforcement, workers are dying in the workplace. Hanjin’s crooked path must be set straight by PNoy. Instead of beating war drums over the West Philippine Sea it is better that PNoy wage war for workers rights at Subic.”

“PALEA supports our brothers in Hanjin. From airlines to shipyards, contractualization is wrecking havoc on the working and living conditions of workers. The promotion of contractual employment is the policy of government as exposed by the Office of the President decision on outsourcing at Philippine Airlines. Of the 3,000 hired last Labor Day at the job fairs, we ask the Department of Labor, how many are for permanent positions and how many are for contractual employment? Ang laban ng manggagawa ng Hanjin ay laban ng PALEA,” exclaimed Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair.

Some 21,000 laborers work in the Hanjin shipyard but just a few hundred are claimed by the giant multinational as its employees since the rest are hired by 19 subcontractors.

PM also called for stronger labor enforcement and labor inspection reforms by the government in response to latest death at the Hanjin shipyard and the rampant contractualization at the shipyard. “Accidents are not acts of divine providence that can be dismissed as unavoidable. Instead accidents are the result of unsafe acts and therefore preventable by strict enforcement of occupational safety and health and labor standards,” Magtubo claimed.

He added that “PNoy’s government must review Hanjin and its contractors for compliance not just with safety regulations but labor standards such as payment of minimum wages and benefits, observance of working hours and remittance of social security among others. Construction workers are among the most overworked yet underpaid of employees since they are generally unorganized.”

Press Release
May 3, 2014
Partido ng Manggagawa
Contact Renato Magtubo @ 09178532905

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[Press Release] Teachers support workers’ call for wage increase, decent living -TDC

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Teachers support workers’ call for wage increase, decent living

Public school teachers join the celebration and marches today in commemoration of the international labor day that primarily demand for increase in wages and protection for working class.

TDC

“Mayday is for all of us- working people to celebrate. This day recognizes our sacrifices and invaluable contribution, not just to the economy but to the entire society.” Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson said.
Basas said members of the TDC will be joining the workers under the Bukluran ng Manggagagawang Pilipino (BMP) and the labor alliance NAGKAISA who will march from Welcome Rotonda to Mendiola this morning.

“Teachers bear the agony of low salaries, high prices of commodities, unfair labor practices, heavy workload and contractualization, among others. These are also the everyday sufferings of the Filipino workers, thus our reason to take solidarity with the rest of the working class.” Basas explained.

Basas added that the Aquino administration, so far has not initiated a salary increase proposal for teachers and government workers and the last legislated increase in their salaries was the four-tranche increase in 2009 under the Arroyo administration which was fully implemented two years ago.

“P-Noy, for this day gave us assurance that there will be no increase in the wages of our brothers and sisters in the private sector, the same with us in the government.” Basas added.
TDC calls on Malacanang to provide increase in salaries and other means of benefits for teachers and government employees thru reduction in taxes, increase in productivity enhancement incentive and scrapping of divisive and deceptive performance-based bonus and granting of more benefits under the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

“The toils of the working class make the economy revolving and keep the world moving, a caring government should reward them with social recognition, not just jobs fair and free MRT rides. The Filipino workers deserve more.” Basas ended.

TDC vows to initiate protest actions in the remaining weeks of summer vacation for their demands before the classes resume in June. #

Benjo Basas, National Chairperson, 0920-5740241

NEWS RELEASE
May 1, 2014

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[Press Release] Aquino’s industrial peace entrenches injustice to labor—CTUHR

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Aquino’s industrial peace entrenches injustice to labor—CTUHR

Center for Trade Union and Human Rights said that contrary to the Aquino government’s industrial peace policy have only entrenched injustice to workers and hostility to unions and actions because of the government’s preference to maintain a good business climate rather than uphold workers rights and interests.

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Citing A Special Report on industrial peace and tripartite mechanisms to be released June this year, the group said that the Aquino government’s promotion, legalization, and institutionalization of compulsory arbitration and mediation mechanisms has advanced a myopic, even convoluted, concept of labor justice where “settlement” of labor-management conflict has resulted in workers having to settle with what is offered to them by the management sometimes even by the Department of Labor and Employment rather than hurdle a protracted legal battle or resort to strikes and protest.

In the last three years, strikes and lockout notices have dramatically declined from 240 in 2011 to 149 in 2013. Of these cases, an average of 78.7 percent is settled each year which the government views as an achievement in facilitating labor justice towards promoting industrial peace but whether this reflects a betterment of workers condition in the workplace is questionable at the very least, according to the group. “Rather, it may only prove that the government effectively uses its new mechanisms to tame workers’ collective action,” Arman Hernando, CTUHR coordinator for documentation said.

The group reported that in their documentation, settlements in cases of illegal dismissal due to sudden closures or union-management conflict is often reduced to money and economic settlement wherein workers are offered money or livelihood programs to keep them from holding strikes in pursuit of their right to tenure.

“The government presents these settlements, this legalized modus to keep workers from striking or protesting as a win-win solution, but in reality, the workers are always at a loss because the companies often are not held fully accountable for their violations. And while workers may receive some money, they lose their jobs and their unions,” Hernando explained.

“And when these mechanisms do not work to pacify workers actions, the Labor Secretary uses the power to assume jurisdiction to stop the strike again to the benefit of capitalists,” Hernando added.

Further, the group monitored at least 21 cases of strikes and picket protests of workers in 2012 and 2013 in contrast to the government’s record of only six strikes from 2011 to 2013. “The government is downplaying workers struggle to project that industrial peace has been attained to attract more investors. But again, low strike incidence does not at all indicate that workers no longer have concerns that merit staging a strike or protest because violations of union rights and labor standards persist.” Hernando added.

The group cited government statistics of increased labor standard violations among enterprises in the last three years from 30 percent to 42.3 percent. The group also documented 594 victims of trade union and human rights violations in 2013 alone.

The group also underscored that impunity reigned in the four years of the Aquino administration as there is still no justice for the trade unionists killed under the previous administration and killings of trade unionists continued with at least 9 victims since Aquino took office in July 2010. “Even the High Level Monitoring Body constituted by the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council after the ILO recommendations in 2010 to investigate on these killings have only made recommendations to “close” cases or “keep investigating,” Hernando said.

Until the government reverses its framework of industrial peace that mainly protects business interest over workers rights, then there can be justice in such policy, the group said. The group also vowed to join the Labor Day protest tomorrow to press the government to stop trade union repression and human rights violations, call for justice for victims of past violations and to support workers demands for better wages and secure jobs.

RELEASE
30 April 2014

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[Press Release] Crackdown on Cambodian workers, a ‘human rights emergency’ – int’l groups report -CTUHR

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Crackdown on Cambodian workers, a ‘human rights emergency’ – int’l groups report

A group of labor activists and academe from different countries led by the Asia Monitor Resource Centre, a regional labor organization based in Hong Kong, formally released yesterday, February 27, in a press conference in Hong Kong, the findings of its investigation of the Cambodian government crackdown on striking garments workers last Jan 2 and 3 leaving four workers dead, one missing, scores beaten and injured, and 23 others arrested and charged with criminal cases.

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The report, A Week that Shook Cambodia, confirmed earlier reports that the Cambodian government employed excessive force resulting in “a human rights emergency” which demonstrated the government’s “complete disregard” for human rights of its citizens and bias towards “the interests of the employers and the garments industry over the protection of workers’ human and labor rights.”

Apart from the incidents on January 2 and 3, the team also delved into the reason behind the general strike and the role of industry players in the violent crackdown. The report described the workers’ strike as “self-motivated” with workers, unorganized and organized across different labor centers, unanimously clamoring for a 100 percent increase in minimum wage from 80 USD to 160 USD.

The report concluded that “poverty wages and dismal working conditions” plus the “absence of real dialogue between workers, government and employers” in the December 2013 wage negotiations left workers “with no choice but to undertake strike actions and protests.” It also underlined the role of the employers group, the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC), in pressuring the Cambodian government to take aggressive action against the workers to end the strike so production can resume to normal.

The team then urged the Cambodian Government 1) to stop the repression and persecution of workers and activists; 2) to take concrete measures to improve working conditions and; 3) provide space for dialogue and discussion.

Investigation was conducted from January 14 to 19 by 12 individuals coming from the following organizations: Asia Monitor Resource Centre, HK; Asian Labour Study Group, The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK; Asian Human Rights Commission, HK; Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, PH; Korean Confederation of Trade Union, SK; Korean House for International Solidarity, SK; Oxfam Solidarity Belgium and; Serve People Association, Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) expressed alarm over the recent pronouncement of Hun Sen’s government to indefinitely suspend union rights (right to freedom of association) amid looming strike as workers continue to defy the crackdown. (See article: Gov’t Suspends Freedom of Association for Unions)

CTUHR executive director, Daisy Arago said that such move is a huge blow against Cambodian workers and a retraction of hard-won freedom of Cambodian unions. Arago also criticized the Cambodian government for obstinately ignoring the demands of the workers and the international community.

“Instead of heeding the calls from the Cambodian people and the international community to render justice to the victims of the crackdown and put a stop to the harassment of unionists, the Cambodian Government continuously violates and undercut workers rights and freedoms,” Arago averred.

Arago then reiterated the need for the international community to stand and work in solidarity with the Cambodian people and continue putting pressure on the Cambodian government to end the crackdown, release the 21 remaining detainees and, immediately lift the suspension of the right to freedom of association.

RELEASE
28 February 2014

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[Press Release] 2013 Labor climate more hostile to unions, workers’ rights – CTUHR

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2013 Labor climate more hostile to unions, workers’ rights – CTUHR

Labor situation in 2013 was more hostile to unions and workers rights, labor NGO, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights reported citing trends of increasing labor standard violations, persistent trade union attacks, dramatic decrease in new union registrants, and arbitration mechanisms that undercut workers’ struggle.

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Violations of labor standards nearly doubled in the past three years from 30 percent of total number of enterprises inspected by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in 2011 to 56.8 percent in 2013. CTUHR also documented numerous victims of trade union and human rights violations last year: killings (2), disappearance (1), harassment and threat (288), arbitrary arrests (28), filing of malicious and false charges (33), dismissal amid labor dispute (242).

At least 10 union busting cases with a total membership of 1,034 workers were recorded by the group. Four (4) of these unions were busted during certification election, another four (4) during collective bargaining negotiations and two (2) right after the CBA negotiations.

Conversely, the number of new union registrants was slashed by 50 percent from 2012 to 2013 from 38,180 workers (2012) down to 19,216 workers in (2013). As such, percentage of unionized workers is still very low, only 8.5 percent (1.85 million) of the total number of wage and salary workers.

The group stressed that the decreasing number of new union registrants is in itself a problem. “It is reflective of how repressive the labor conditions have become so that workers themselves are no longer encouraged or even afraid to form unions,” Arman Hernando documentation coordinator explained.

“But this downward trend in new unions becomes more disturbing when we look at the growing violations. Unions are supposedly effective in providing protection to workers against labor rights violations, with less and less workers forming unions, workers become more susceptible to abuse from capitalists,” Hernando added.

The group also criticized old and new arbitration mechanisms which the government employs to maintain industrial peace.

“The government’s framework in achieving industrial peace is highly-biased to the employer. Issues of illegal dismissal, union busting are often reduced to economic and financial terms. They are forced to accept money in exchange of their tenure and, or their union,” Hernando said.

Last year, labor disputes were recorded in 55,171 enterprises. All of these underwent various forms of arbitration-mediation processes. Only 104 of these were strike notices and only six of these strike notices materialized into actual strikes.

“With very few strikes launched, the government is able to boast of achieving industrial peace. But this does not mean there are less violation of workers’ rights and that workers now have better working conditions. If any, it only means that the methods of achieving industrial peace have discretely quelled workers’ dissent to ensure a favorable environment for business,” Hernando added.###

For reference: Arman Hernando, CTUHR Documentation Coordinator, +63.923.819.3737

RELEASE
31 January 2014

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[Press Release] Labor groups picket Korean embassy -PALEA

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Labor groups picket Korean embassy

Photo by Yuen Abana

Photo by Yuen Abana

The labor groups Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA), Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) picketed the South Korean embassy in January 10, 2013 in McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio in protest at labor repression in Korea and Cambodia.

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The picket-protest was in coordination with a general strike in South Korea. The groups also presented a letter of concern addressed to the Korean ambassador Hyuk Lee.

“The peril to labor rights and conditions in any country is a disadvantage to workers everywhere in this globalized world,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair.

In a joint statement, the groups declared their outrage that a South Korean firm, Yakjin Cambodia Inc., called for the intervention of the armed forces of Cambodia that ended in the killing of four garment workers and the wounding of 23 others last January 2 and 3.

The Philippine workers also expressed their solidarity with the Korean workers fight against rail privatization and for labor rights. Even as the strike of the railway workers ended last December 31, the South Korean government has continued to pursue criminal charges against leaders of the Korean Railway Workers Union (KRWU) and civil damages against the union in the amount of over 7.7 billion won. The Philippine groups are also concerned about the threat of dismissal and disciplinary action against some 490 KRWU members.

Together with the police raid on the office of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) last December 22, Rivera averred that “These events constitute a clear and present danger to workers rights in the Republic of Korea.”

In their letter to the Korean ambassador, the groups insisted on the demand for the:
withdrawal of criminal charges against KRWU leaders;
withdrawal of damage suit against KRWU;
stop to the dismissals and disciplinary actions against KRWU members;
end to labor repression in the Republic of Korea; and
end to rail privatization.

Rivera ended that “We serve notice to the Korean embassy that Philippine workers will be monitoring the developments in South Korea and will be ready to undertake solidarity actions in the Philippines in coordination with our brothers and sisters in Korea.”

Press Release
January 10, 2014
PALEA
Contact Gerry Rivera @ 09165047751

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[Statement] On the Cambodian Government crackdown on workers protest -CTUHR

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On the Cambodian Government crackdown on workers protest

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights vehemently condemns the naked violence the Cambodian Government has employed on protesting garments workers last January 3 in Phnom Penh leaving five workers dead, 20 injured and many others reported to be missing to this day.

CTUHR logo

We also condemn the consequent crackdown on workers protests as the Cambodian Government deployed military in the streets to quell and prevent legitimate people’s protests. All these measures gravely violate human rights and workers rights enshrined in ILO Convention 87 to which the Cambodian Government is a signatory.

Same with the majority of the working people across underdeveloped nations, Cambodian garments workers experience massive and deep exploitation. While Cambodia is among the major exporters of highly-expensive brands of clothes (Gap, H&M, Inditex, Adidas, Puma, Walmart, C&A and others), workers are paid below subsistent rates. The monthly minimum wage of USD80 in Cambodia is in fact only 28 percent of the computed monthly living wage which is USD283.

We are deeply appalled with how the Cambodian Government is virtually leaving the Cambodian workers to die in abject poverty by maintaining inhumane wage levels. But we are enraged to see how the Cambodian state inflicts death on its people who are merely struggling to live with dignity.

The Cambodian workers strike which simply aims to improve living conditions by demanding to increase wages by 100 percent (from USD80 to USD160) is just and legitimate.

Thus, we stand with the Cambodian workers in their fight for significantly better wages. We are also one with them in fighting against state repression and demanding justice for their fallen comrades.

We call on the Cambodian Government to live up to its human rights commitments: put an end on the crackdown and lift the ban against protests and strikes. We demand justice for the victims of state violence in the January 3 protest. Finally, we call on the Cambodian Government to stand for the workers’ interest and heed their demands to monthly minimum wage to USD160.

We urge labor groups and people’s organizations from the all over the world to unite with the Cambodian workers in this universal fight for living wages, justice and freedom.

Justice for the Cambodian Workers!
Stop Trade Union Repression!

For reference: Daisy Arago, CTUHR Executive Director, 0916-248-4876; 411-0256; ctuhr.pilipinas@gmail.com

STATEMENT
10 Jan 2014

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[Statement] Corporate Rights vs Labor Rights – Can we handle it with care? -DEU

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Corporate Rights vs Labor Rights – Can we handle it with care?

by DEU

Onthe matter of Digitel/PLDT’s conduct of its corporate rights

1. On Redundacy issue

DEU copyLets start on Mr. Pangan clarification where he said, “For one thing PLDT and its subsidiaries or affilliate companies have actually hired 388 employees from Digitel as regular, not contractual employees” …. this is something commendable but what he does not say is that Digitel employees need to apply for Early Retirement Program before they can be rehired. WHY NOT JUST LATERRALLY TRANSFER to PLDT subsidiaries and affilliates if there is no catch?

But there is a catch—they are contractual not regular, signing three months or six months contracts if they pass through the tedious ‘re-hire’ process.

We, the remaining 95 DEU members very well know that the job we hold still exists, contrary to the claims of Mr. Pangan… thats why we did not resign or apply for ERP. In fact even before March 15, the supposed last day of effectivity of redundancy, newly hired and rehired workers more than our number are already working with us side by side.

We challenge the Digitel PLDT to allow the DOLE and other pertinent institutions to conduct an investigation and what they see would be proof enough.

2. On the issue of end-of-life of Digitel facilities.

In connection to the issue of end life stage. If we will talk of the backbone maybe yes, but is this not the same backbone that Suncellular uses? This claim is questionable since there are areas, especially in Luzon where there are no PLDT facilities only Digitel’s. Will the company lay down new facilities or utilize what is there?

Second, if we talk about the Digitel lines from cabinet boxes to the consumers, the lines are very alive, and these are the jobs that belongs to us and what we have been doing for the past two decades.

We may agree that retiring the backbone of Digitel by its present owner (PLDT) is a company prerogative for it maybe be more economical to tap and use the PLDT backbone than to replace the old Digitel facility.

Nevertheless, the present owner of Digitel is duty bound to fulfill the terms under the franchising/ licensing agreement drawn up with the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) that will expire on 2024. They must ensure that the facilities are still operational for a period of thirty years.

Again we are calling the Congress or the Senate – the only authorized body for issuing the franchise license to look into this concern.

3. No dispersal

Let the facts speak for themselves:

On April 21, Sunday, at 3am in the morning, while the street lights and the building lights were turned off, thirty workers who were then at the picket line,some of whom were sleeping, were rudely awakened by security forces who were tapping their shields with truncheon and sticks, hurrying to come between the picket area and the front of the building.

The security forces were a hundred in number ,armed with pliers and cutters,cutting down their makeshift structures to ward off the elements. The head of the group,Mr. Morato gave the workers two minutes to call on anyone who can help and did not even wait for the end of his two minutes before he proceeded to demolish the protesters make shift structures. After tearing down the makeshift structures, the guards threw out the materials by the sidewalk.

There was no order shown to justify the action of the security forces nor a semblance of negotation. Only power-tripping. The PLDT management did not treat them as workers with a labor dispute, but as criminals and lepers – only good enough to be driven away and hauled to jail.

If this was not enough, the three week old protest camp, now by the sidewalk is continously harrassed and intimidated by MACEA (Makati Commercial Estate Association ) headed by OIC Ed insisting that the pedestrian rails is ‘private property’ as well as the trees. From Day 1 PLDT has only showered the workers with intimidation, harrasment, and physical force. So much for improving lives.

4. On the issue of dealing with workers constitutionally guarranteed rights.

The line must be drawn in line with the government liberalization policy –it is not totally free of parameters, the parameters are set by law.

Just like management prerogatives – it has limitations when it goes contrary against the workers rights, like in this case .

We call on Digitel/PLDT not to ram your business prerogative down our throat especially if it will compromise or water down our constitutionally guaranteed right to security of tenure, to union and to bargain collectively.

The Supreme Court clearly DECIDED that DEU is Correct and the Digitel now owned by PLDT is wrong, not only wrong the Supreme Court further found Digitel of guilty of Unfair Labor Practice not for only one count but for three counts.

Deal with us with respect. You do not deserve more respect and us less just because you have money,influence and resources and we have not one-tenth of your net worth.

Are we asking for too much? We have recieved favorable decisions every step of the legal ladder yet you continue to squirm out of your obligation and duty to implement the Supreme Court decision.

But by just simply alleging that no more bargaining unit because Digitel PLDT had already “redundated” all its employee then rehired those who submit before you as “regular”. Why rehire those who already retired? Why not absorb us that still want to work? What the heck? For once, Digitel/PLDT heed and uphold our rights!

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[Urgent Appeal] Harassment of Protesting Workers of a Telecommunications Company -TFDP

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Urgent Appeal
May 2, 2013

(PHILIPPINES) Harassment of Protesting Workers of a Telecommunications Company

ISSUES: Harassment and Intimidation; Unfair Labor Practice; Human Rights Defenders; Freedom of Expression and Right to Organize

Dear friends,

TFDP logo smallThe Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) is forwarding to you an appeal regarding the harassment and intimidation against leaders and members of the Digitel Employees Union currently on labor strike, and is seeking your help to anticipate possible violence that may occur due to their continuous protest actions.

If you wish to make any inquiries please contact the Research, Documentation and Information Program of TFDP at: 45 St. Mary Street, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109; or call: +632 4378054, or visit http://digitelemployeesunion.wordpress.com/, for further details.
______________________________________________________________

Case Title: Harassment of Digitel Workers
Case: Harassment
Name of Victim: Digitel Employees Union headed by Mr. Alan Licardo — President
Date of Incident: April 27, 2013
Place of Incident: at the grounds of Ramon Cojuangco building (PLDT), Makati City
Alleged Perpetrators: Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA) personnel led by Mr. Eduardo Balagot
Motive: Alleged Obstruction produced by the camp-out/protest actions of workers

Account of the Incident:

Digitel Workers are being harassed by personnel ofthe Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA), during their picket protest and camp-out outside the Ramon Cojuangco building located within Legaspi and Salcedo Village.

On April 27, 2013 at 10:00am, police officer Dexter Castor along with two other police inspected the area where the picket line is installed by the Digitel Employees Union (DEU) along Makati Avenue. During that time, there were several union members undergoing hunger strike to express their grievances to the management of Digitel Telecommunications Philippines Inc. Moments later, two police patrol cars parked near the camp-out area. Later on the police left the place.

At 10:05am, personnel from the Makati Public Safety Authority (MAPSA) went to the site apparently checking the peace and order situation in the area. Since the workers were conducting the protest peacefully and orderly, they left the scene.

After twenty minutes, personnel from the Infra security agency came and presented a written order from MACEA. The directive stated that workers must remove their installed streamers and posters, and must immediately vacate the place. The order was relayed and presented by Mr. Eduardo Balagot, officer-in-charge of the MACEA. With him were five security personnel namely: 1) Agapito J.Z.; 2) Avina R.R.; 3) Novaza J.G.; 4) Lambayong R.G.; and, 5) name unidentified.

The workers negotiated with the said persons from 10:50am to 11:20am. During their dialogue workers told them not to remove their campaign materials and asserted their right to freedom of expression and assembly.

At this point a heated argument took place. The supposed negotiation became confrontational. Mr. Balagot told the workers that ‘if you want this to be forceful, then we will.’ The MACEA personnel started to remove the streamers and placards while some police seemingly acted only as onlookers. To avoid violence, the workers conceded and chose not to fight back against the MACEA personnel.

According to the workers, this is not the only encounter where they were harassed and intimidated. On April 21, 2013, at 3:00am, around 100 security personnel of the building pushed them away from their camp to the sidewalk.

The workers are currently confronting the latest move of Digitel for its supposed ‘permanent closure’, but allowing integration with Philippine Long Distance Telephone company (PLDT). On January 21, 2013, the Supreme Court already issued its decision with finality, that it has affirmed the directives of the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Labor Relations Commission as follows; 1) For Digitel to commence a collective bargaining with the DEU; 2) Reinstate affected workers with full back wages; 3)Pay each affected employees P10,000 moral damages and P5,000 exemplary damages for finding Digitel guilty of unfair labor practice such as: a) The closure of its affiliate Digiserve and replaced it with i-tech; b) dismissal of employees mostly union members and officers; and, c) in violation of the Assumption Jurisdiction order.

At present, Digitel Telecommunications Philippines Inc. made a manifestation before DOLE Secretary’s office that it will not negotiate as the court’s decision has already been superseded by supposed turn of events—closure and integration of operations to PLDT.

Suggested Action:

A. Call upon competent authorities to intervene, observe, uphold and carry out the earlier decision of the Supreme Court and DOLE in favor of the workers represented by the DEU;
B. Facilitate a dialogue between the Digitel management and the labor union to come up with an acceptable and justifiable resolution of the case;
C. To provide immediate protection of the DEU leaders and members against possible physical and emotional harm;
D. Guarantee the means for the victims to express and act freely in conformity with the bill of rights and freedoms stated in the Philippine Constitution;
E. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards.

Please send your letters to:

1. His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
Philippines
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
Email: corres@op.gov.ph /opnet@ops.gov.ph

2. Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
Building, Muralla Wing cor. General Luna St., Intramuros,
City of Manila, 1002
Philippines
Tel No: 527-3000 loc. 701, 703, 704, 706, 707
Fax No: 336-8182
Email: secrdb@dole.gov.ph

3. Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
Philippines
Tel: +63 2 928 5655, +63 2 926 6188
Fax: +63 2929 0102
Email: rosales.chr@gmail.com

4. Police Director General Alan LA Madrid Purisima
Chief, Philippine National Police
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: +63 2 724 8763/ +63 2 723 0401
Tel: + 63 2 726 4361/4366/8763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph

5. Mr. David Balangue
President, Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA)
Legaspi Tower 100
Makati City
Philippines
Tel: 8103395

6. Bureau for Workers’ Activities
International Labor Organization (ILO)
Tel: +41 22 799 70 21
Fax: +41 22 799 65 70
Website: http://www.ilo.org/actrav
Email: actrav@ilo.org

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[Blog] The Rediscovery and Re-enchantment of Our Humanity: in Honor of the May Day and In Defense of the Global Occupy Movement by Jose Mario De Vega

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The Rediscovery and Re-enchantment of Our Humanity: in Honor of the May Day and In Defense of the Global Occupy Movement

Mario De VegaThe present times are complicatedly so fast and furious. So fast the pacing that we forget to stop and pause to enjoy the quality time with our family and savor the moment with our friends!

We are so concern with so many pressing issues and material needs that we forgot the importance of silence, of meditation and reflections with are necessary in having conversation with our inner selves. Sadly, we instead push and push and in doing so, we fail to cherish life’s true joys and simple pleasures.

Modern technology has truly revolutionized human life. It has indeed made living hassle-free, easy, and above all, comfortable.

However, I am wondering whether the price that we have to pay for this kind of fast-paced life is worth it? Technology made it possible for us to hook up with anyone that we wish to talk to, yet ironically we spend more time ‘talking’ to our computers rather than our family. The internet has turned the young today as addict, worst than the television. Rather than engaged in actual interaction, our kids today are more interested in an on-line, virtual ‘relationship’. Everybody seems to be so busy with their respective business and duties that we miserably forget the necessary things from the mere pleasurable and fleeting cravings.

We have no time to ourselves and so as to our love-ones. We are so preoccupied with the ways of the modern world that it blinded us from the true, the good, the lasting and the beautiful! Truth hurts! Reality bites!

Sad but true! What went wrong?

It was widely reported that when the Dalai Lama was asked, what surprised him most about humanity, he answered thus as: Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.

We betrayed our humanism for materialism. The modern way has programmed us for quick results and immediate outcome; yet we completely forgotten that life as a whole does not operate that way, that we cannot forced certain things because they in itself are dependent in time and circumstances. We failed to realize that the most important things in life are those beautiful things, momentous events and vivid experiences that come naturally at their own time. Perfect examples of this would be the fulfillment of a dream, the realization of an objective and moment of critical decision. These acts cannot be made in haste nether can they be force by an instant desire.

The book of Ecclesiastes has taught us that there is always a perfect time for everything:

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

We all want to help one another and share each other’s happiness; human beings are like that; yet as economic progression has further developed and as we maximized to the maximum all the resources of mother earth; it seems to me that we have lost our way.

Greed has invariably poisoned men’s minds and corrupted their souls. The present global financial system has barricaded the world with individualism, hate, racism, nihilism, selfishness and false consciousness. The prevailing system has reduced man into a machine that is a mere appendage to the whole economic operational chains.

This presently ‘developed’ world has led and goosed us to misery, degradation and widespread bloodshed.

We have developed speed, but we deny the very existence of our fellows; and shut ourselves inside our very selves. Machinery that gives unimaginable abundance and immeasurable wealth has left has in want, hunger and deprivation!

Our knowledge has made us cynical and apathetic; our cleverness turns us into hard and unkind beings! We lost track of what is important in life, such as family, friendship and human solidarity. Instead we replaced them by money, competition and technology.
We think too much, yet we feel so little! It seems that we have already erased from our memory what Ludwid van Bethoven had taught us: Recommend to your children virtue; that alone can make them happy, not gold.

We are not aware, but the system has transformed us into a machine. The system has assumed an invincible power over our own selves, clouded our better judgment and has shattered our independence. We are all victims of this system that tell us what to think, what to feel, what to do, what to prioritize and what to value. Man is forgetting that he is not a machine or an object nor a commodity. He is man, natural, living, independent and free, a social being by nature!

As the great German philosopher Karl Marx said: Humans are urged to live to work, not to work to live!

However, all is not lost! There is always hope and regeneration!
As Charlie Chaplin lucidly expressed in a speech in one of his classical movies:

More the machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without this qualities; life would be violent and all would be lost.

Knowledge without morality is dead; wisdom without a firm ethical basis is unthinkable and material prosperity is empty if the soul is in shambles and incomplete!

To be a complete man, what we need is not only the dryness of the mind, but also the warmness of the heart and the goodness of the soul!

We can only realize all of this, if we would return to our humanity and share it to our families, friends and the rest of society. No man is an island.

To paraphrase the Greek philosopher Aristotle: Man by nature is a socio-political animal. We will never ever complete our social beings without immersing and bonding with our fellowmen.

Hence, we must not only return to ourselves, but also it would certainly do humanity as a whole a lot of good if we will return to ancient teachings which are based on wisdom, compassion and courage to re-adjust, re-look, re-learn and reform ourselves in all aspects our lives to restore the values, virtues and position of human beings in the world!

It is on this great sense that I firmly believe in the power of the international working classes to transform the rest of humanity from barbarity back to humanity and one of those great popular socio-political vehicle for them to realize that objective is by forging solidarity to the Occupy Global Movement.

As Professor Noam Chomsky said during his talk at the Occupy Boston encampment on Dewey Square on October 22, 2011:

“You can’t achieve significant initiative without a large, active, popular base. Its necessary to get out into the country and help people understand what the Occupy movement is about — what they themselves can do, and what the consequences are not doing anything.

“Organizing such a base involves education and activism. Education doesn’t mean telling people what to believe — it also means learning from them and with them.

“Karl Marx famously said that the task is not just to understand the world but to change it. A variant to keep in mind is that if you want to change the world you’d better try to understand it. That doesn’t mean just listening to a talk or reading a book, though that’s helpful sometimes.

“You learn from participating. You learn from others. You learn from the people you’re trying to organize. We all have to gain the understanding and the experience to formulate and implement ideas as to how to move forward.

“The most exciting aspect of the Occupy movement is the construction of the linkages that are taking place all over. If they can be sustained and expanded, Occupy can lead to dedicated efforts to set society on a more humane course.”

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL LABOR DAY! LONG LIVE THE GLOBAL OCCUPY MOVEMENT!!!

Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Far Eastern University

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[Video] “Digitel Employees Union Hunger Strike Day 1” on YouTube -DEU

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“Digitel Employees Union Hunger Strike Day 1” on YouTube

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[Press Release] PM slams PNP harassment vs. PAMCC Union, demand the release of four arrested

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PM slams PNP harassment vs. PAMCC Union, demand the release of four arrested

pmLogo1The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) slammed the police harassment for raiding the house and resort of one of the Panaghugpong sa Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper (PAMCC) Union stalwart and treasurer Roldan Cansancio, planting evidences and baselessly linking the latter in the series of killing in Toledo City. “The Police in collusion with certain elements in Carmen Copper management are trying to divert the real issue in Toledo which is the brewing labor dispute Between the Union and Management of Carmen Copper. They are also trying to silence one of the very vocal critics of management’s contractualization scheme and unfair labor practices,” insisted Dennis Derige, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) Cebu spokesperson.

Relation between the management and union started to get strained late last year when the former started to implement its contractualization scheme little by little affecting the regular jobs at Carmen Copper. Also, the Union is becoming increasingly critical to the effects and damages to the environment brought about by the open pit mining. A full blown labor dispute erupted when the PAMCC Union discovered that their Management is forming its own company union and tried to replace the genuine union – PAMCC. A series of legal and extra-legal battle went way since then.

“Some elements in the PNP are being used by powerful interests in Atlas Mining to criminalize the issue in what should have been a very simple labor dispute. They maliciously link Cansancio to the killing last month of a certain Rene Embranilag , who is not an employee of Carmen Copper nor related to the labor dispute, to justify the entry of PNP to the labor problem.” Asserted Derige. Last month, one of the political leader of Sonny Osmena was murdered in Toledo and Osmena himself attributed the killing as political in motive and not related to the labor dispute.

Meanwhile, the president of PAMCC Tony Cuizon condemned the raid and defended his Union Treasurer “This is unacceptable! PNP – RID has no business here in our labor dispute with our management. They maliciously timed the raid when all of us union officers (including Cansancio) are here in Manila attending International Labor Organization (ILO) training seminar so that we cannot defend ourselves from their attack. This is a cowardly act.”

Cuizon further added “They are trying to silence my long time partner in the Union movement because he is my alter ego and is very vocal against any abuses from our management. They are trying to discredit his credibility portraying him as underworld character when in fact he is in an active service (CIDG- CIS) fighting criminality in the province. Mr. Cansancio could have turned his back on me when management people tried to convince him to capitulate but he did not do so and stick with me regardless of the risk. This is the kind of men the Union movement needed and I have high regards for him.”

Mr. Cansancio and PAMCC declared that they are readying their own charges against those responsible for the raid and for maliciously maligning the integrity of Cansancio and the Union. PAMCC and PM are also planning to hold series of protest in the coming days. There were also verified reports that police brutality occurred when a 13 years old minor was pinned down the floor, pointed with an armalite rifle and suffered verbal abuses from the raiding team.

“We cannot take this sitting down. This act is sending a chilling effect not only to our Union but to the labor movement in general. We call on the Department of Labor (DOLE) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to intervene and investigate this act by the Police. Certainly, the PNP violated our human rights and rules on labor Dispute,” Cuizon ended. ###

https://www.facebook.com/dennis.labo?fref=ts

[Press Release] DIGITEL Employees Shave Heads in Protest, Motion for Execution Pushed -Kilusan

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DIGITEL Employees Shave Heads in Protest, Motion for Execution Pushed

kpd logoManila—Shaving their heads to underline their protest, Digitel employees picketed in front of the Department of Labor and Employment Office this morning, demanding that Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz immediately issue a Motion for Execution of the Supreme Court Decision last January 21,2013 ruling that DIGITEL (now under the PLDT Group) is guilty of unfair labor practice, that the earlier dismissed workers must be reinstated and that management immediately commence collective bargaining proceedings with the certified bargaining agent, Digitel Employees Union or DEU.

CLOSURE

“ We won in all cases… but now it will come to nothing if the DOLE Secretary and Court can’t prevent DIGITEL/PLDT merger from closing down DIGITEL and integrate its operation to PLDT as pretext to redundancy,” explained Allan Licardo, DEU President.

“Anong halaga ng DESISYON kung wala na ang mga EMPLEYADO. Hindi lang ang Digitel/PLDT ang may kasalanan at maaring sisihin, ang pagsasawalang kibo ng opisina ng DOLE ay may malaking parte din dito,” added Licardo.

All the surviving Digitel employees/DEU members will be dismissed under closure/integration cum redundancy program of Digitel/PLDT.

He added that in four instances DOLE came down with an Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) order every time they were poised to strike, in reaction to the mass lay off/dismissal by Digitel management and the continued refusal to start collective bargaining negotiations.

“ We went along with all the legal procedures until our case reached Supreme Court and got a favourable decision but in the midst of this our membership was continuously under attack by outsourcing, harassment and mass lay-off perpetuated by management,” lamented Licardo. DEU members are now only around 100 from almost 1,000 in 2005.

‘Palusot’

Pete Pinlac-MAKABAYAN Chairperson said that the present closure – integration of Digitel operation to PLDT cum redundancy is really a scheme to get rid of the union and the regular employees to replace them with contractual workers. “ Palusot lang ito ng management para hindi na kailangang ipatupad ang desisyon ng korte,” pointed out Pinlac

Licardo appealed to President Aquino to look into the plight of Digitel Workers.

Press Release
March 18, 2013

By: Digitel Employees Union (DEU)
Allan Licardo – union president
Contact number – 09225375689

Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya [KILUSAN]
#22-A Domingo Guevarra Street, Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City 1550 Philippines
TeleFax: (632) 717 3262 Email: kpdpilipinas@gmail.com
Web: http://www.kpdpilipinas.com

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• Bisitahin ang post sa HRonlinePH.com (links sa bawat thumbnail) at pindutin ang button sa
poll sa ilalim ng bawat nominadong post.
• Most number of the combined likes sa FB at sa poll buttons ang magiging 3rd HR Pinduteros
Choice na kikilalanin sa 2013 HR week celebration.

Makiisa sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon hinggil sa karapatang pantao. Pindot na!

WHAT IS 3RD HR PINDUTEROS CHOICE AWARDS? https://hronlineph.com/2013/10/01/3rd-human-rights-
pinduteros-choice-awards/

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