The Church People Workers Solidarity calls for respect on workers’ rights amidst continued attacks on the rights of workers for just wage, job security, right to self organization, collective bargaining and democratic rights.
We are saddened that the collective voices of workers seeking for refuge, solidarity and justice remains unheard and being criminalized by the government. Last February 4, 2019, the City Hall of Manila threatened to disperse the peaceful camp out of Sumifru Workers in Liwasang Bonifacio. Manila City Hall officials said that they are just following orders from Malacanang Palace. NAMASUFA negotiated with the City officials and yet they are still given an ultimatum until the end of February.
Sometime in October 2018, NAMASUFA, the union of workers of SUMIFRU Philippines Corporation, a banana plantation in Compostella Valley led the strike demanding regularization of contractual workers and collective bargaining with Sumifru Philippines Corportation. Despite a ruling of the Supreme Court declaring Sumifru workers as regular employees of the company and not of the cooperatives, Sumifru Philippines Corporation continued to ignore the demands of the workers. Instead the company with their paid goons, in connivance with the Philippine National Police and the military, brutally dispersed their strike, arrested and threatened many striking workers. It was also reported that one union member was killed and the homes of some union officers were mercilessly burned by suspected agents of the company. The martial law rule in Mindanao has also intensified the attacks to the striking workers and considered the strike as illegal. In fact, workers are forced to sign waivers and falsely presented the workers as rebel surrenderees by state agents.
The attacks on Sumifru workers were also experienced by the workers of Nutri Asia when they staged their strike last year calling to stop the immoral and unjust contractualization policy inside the company and demanded regularization. From June-July 2018, instead of taking heed to their legitimate and just calls for regular job, policemen and Nutri Asia’s paid goons brutally attacked the peaceful actions of workers and their supporters including the dispersal of an ecumenical litrugy where Rev. Fr. Rolly De Leon was attack by goons and around 19 workers, supporters and media personnel were illegally arrested and detained.
The monstrous effect of contractualization which Duterte promised to be stopped is like a plague that has impacted majority of the Filipino workers. The Department Order 174 of Duterte has been used especially by big multi national companies to legalize constractualization and to escape from their legal obligation to the workers. Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Philippines in 2017-2018 forced workers to sign quit claims, dismissed them and to evade regularization directly to Hanjin, workers are rehired by the 18 in house subcontractors of the company using the provisions of DO 174. Now, more than 30000 workers lost their jobs as the company will close and will merge with another multi national company.
It is alarming that instead of listening to the voices of workers, the administration of Duterte used brute force. Under the administration of President Duterte, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights documented around 16000 workers who experienced violations on their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining as well as 109 cases of civil and political rights violations affecting 7000 workers. While the Global Workers’ Rights Index, a report of the International Trade Union Confederation in 2018, noted the Philippines as one of the Top 10 Worst countries in terms of repressing workers’ rights.
Truly, Duterte failed to fulfill his promises to the workers and to the people. Duterte obviously favored the big capitalists such as the Japan owned Sumifru, the giant condiments company Nutri Asia and South Korean Hanjin Heavy Industries Philippines. Prices of commodities surge as a result of the TRAIN Law and severely impacted the toiling sector especially the workers and farmers.
We believe that the above mentioned incidents run counter to both domestic and international human rights obligations of the Philippine Government and thus call on the government to immediately stop all forms of attacks to workers’ rights; stop contractualization, implement the workers’ call for national minimum wage of P750, stop criminalizing union activities and trade union leaders and stop martial law in Mindanao. In the light of the upcoming national elections, let us remember the failed promises of Duterte and his allies and instead wisely choose those candidates that have clean track records and truly serve the interest of the workers and the people.
As Pope Francis reminds us that the dignity and safety of the worker shall always be protected. Thus, we appeal to our brothers and sisters to stand in solidarity with workers and their families in their struggle for human rights and justice. Let us help them in amplifying their calls to the government; offer prayers and material support for their struggle and be with them in their places of struggles.####
