Verbal attacks by government officials against Professor Jose Maria Sison is sounding like the death knell on the peace talks under the Rodrigo Duterte regime, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said. Agcaoili said that the orchestrated tirades against Sison by Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, acting Interior and Local Government […]
Friends and comrades of Jose “Ka Pepe” Luneta held a tribute to the departed revolutionary at the College of Science Auditorium last June 30. Luneta, past leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines, died in Germany last month due to a lingering illness.
The Information Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) lashed back at Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, saying the former general is the one defining the Rodrigo Duterte government’s policies on the peace talks. Reacting to an article titled “The Public Should Know” attributed to Lorenzana, the CPP said the secretary defines the Duterte […]
Nagtapos ang Pride Month tuwing Hunyo sa pagdiriwang ng makulay na Pride March. Kung sa Metro Manila iyan, taunan itong isinasagawa sa Marikina City Sports Complex. Nagsasama-sama ang LGBTQIA community sa huling araw ng Hunyo sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo, kasama na rin ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, kapamilya, kaibigan at tagasuporta.
Kasingkulay ng pride flag ang iba’t ibang kwento ng mga nakilala at nakasalumuha sa Pride March ngayong taon.
Noel
‘Proud being gay’ si Noel Navarro, 36 taong gulang at unang beses na makapunta sa Pride March. Kagaya ng iba pang unang beses ding makadalo ng Pride March ay nais na ni Noel noong bata pa na makadalo sa ganitong klaseng pagdiriwang ngunit bawal, pigil at tago pa siya noon. Maswerte ang naging sitwasyon ni Noel nang maggawa niyang umamin sa kanyang pamilya sa tunay niyang kasarian.
“Nagkaroon ako ng problema sa family before, pero hindi nila ako pinagsasabihan kahit na bakla ako. As long as wala akong ginagawang masama at wala akong tinatapakan na tao,” pagbabahagi ni Noel.
Ani Noel, napagtanto niya na siya ay isang gay noong nasa grade 4 pa lamang siya.
Noong una ay sa kanyang mga kaibigan pa lamang siya umaamin. Pagdating sa kanilang bahay ay medyo ingat siya sa kanyang mga kilos, ngunit kalaunan ay natuto siyang magpakatotoo sa lahat.
Sa kasalukuyan ay masaya siya sa piling ng kanyang karelasyon at namumuhay ng malayang naipapahayag ang sarili, sa kabila ng kani-kanilang mga agam-agam sa buhay at sa kabila ng mapanghusgang lipunan.
Napakarami pang tao ang dinaranas ang diskiriminasyon ng lipunan lalo na sa pamilya kaya mensahe ni Noel para sa lahat.
“I know mahirap yung ganyang sitwasyon, na-overcome ko siya, as long as nandun yung respeto sa sarili mo. Go lang tayo kasi parents [are] always parents. Alam nila kung anong nararamdaman ng anak nila. Nahihiya lang sila magtanong sa atin at nahihiya rin tayo mag-out sa kanila. Just be proud being gay,” mensahe ni Noel.
Renmar, Yuri, Jerco
Mula San Pablo, Laguna ay dinayo pa ng mga magkakaibigang sina Renmar, Yuri, Jerco ang Marikina City upang makadalo at makisaya sa Pride March.
Hindi nila pinalampas ang pagkakataong makiisa LGBT community. Simula pa lamang bata ay pare-parehas na nilang napagtanto ang tunay nilang mga kasarian at hindi ito naging madali para sa tatlo.
Kay Yuri na isang bisexual at puro babae ang mga kapatid, naging mahirap ang naging pagtanggap ng kanyang pamilya noong una ngunit pinili niyang maging totoo sa kanyang sarili.
Naging bukas naman ang unico hijo na si Renmar sa kanyang mga magulang.
“Nag-iisang anak ako ‘tas kumaliwa pa, so mahirap ‘yun tanggapin pero you just have to make your parents understand on what you’re going through and express yourself to them, open up to them as well,” aniya.
At para sa 21 anyos na si Jerco, naging salik at impluwensiya sa kanyang pagiging gay ang pagkakaroon maraming babae sa kanilang bahay. Wala naman siyang pagsisisi at proud siya sa kanyang sarili.
Mahirap ipakilala ang sarili at manindigan para sa karapatan sa lipunang may stigma o hindi pa rin nauunawaan ang LGBTQIA, ngunit naggawa nina Yuri, Renmar at Jerco.
“Take your time kasi iba-iba naman tayo ng circumstances, so kung kaya niyo nang mag-out and you know the consequences of coming out, then you should go and fight for your rights,” payo ni Renmar.
JC
Bitbit ni JC, 17 anyos, ang pinag-ipunan niyang Pride Flag sa isinagawang Pride March sa Marikina noong Hunyo 30.
Pumunta si JC sa Pride March dahil nais niyang gamitin ang ganitong event upang mag-out at makisaya. Hindi na lingid sa kanyang kaalaman na simula bata pa lamang ay isa na siyang lesbian. Ngunit kung gaano kadali sa kanya na matuklasan ito sa kanyang sarili ay ganoon naman kahirap ang kalbaryo na hinaharap niya para ipakilala ang sarili sa kanyang pamilya.
Mayroong pagkakataong pinipilit siya ng kanyang tita na pagsuotin ng dress. Ngunit kahit anong pilit ng kanyang tita ay talagang ayaw ni JC. Doon na humantong na kinuwestiyon niya ang kanyang sarili, “mali ba na ganito ako?”.
Hindi rin nakaligtas si JC sa kanyang mga kaklase. Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon ay kaklase niya mismo ang nag-out sa kanya sa loob ng klasrum.
Kwento ni JC, “manliligaw ko ‘yun pero nung nalaman niya eh pinagkalat niya na lesbian ako. Eh ‘di pa ‘ko ready nun, ‘tas i-a-out niya ‘ko ng ganun.”
Marami man ang pagsubok na diranas ng katulad ni JC sa ganitong klaseng lipunan, nananatili pa rin ang kanyang positibong pananaw.
“Wag silang matakot, marami mang manghuhusga, wala naman silang magagawa eh, words lang naman yun.”
Bago sibakin sa trabaho, si Cherroby Santiago, 26 na taong gulang, ay isang bottle feeder ng toyomansi, suka, toyo, marinade, at iba pa—ang mga produktong ito ay pang-export sa ibang bansa.
Si Cherroby ay isa sa mga sinibak na manggagawa ng NutriAsia, Inc., sa pagawaan nito sa Marilao, Bulacan nang unang beses na ipinakilala ang unyon sa mga manggagawa.
Ayon sa kanya, unang tinanggal ang limang opisyales ng kanilang unyon, na agarang sinundan pa ng humigit-kumulang 15 pang manggagawang kontraktwal.
Dalawang taon nang nagtrabaho si Cherroby sa NutriAsia ngunit nanatili siyang kontraktwal. Isa siya sa 1,400 na manggagawang kontraktwal sa NutriAsia na nakapaloob sa iba’t-ibang ahensyang pagmamay-ari din diumano ng NutriAsia. Mula sa obserbasyon ni Cherroby, ang mga regular na manggagawa ng NutriAsia ay “paupo-upo lang”, habang silang lumalahok sa aktwal na produksyon ay “basahan kung ituring.”
Ang kanyang sinasahod ay P 380 lamang matapos ang walong oras ng pagtatrabaho, at P 619 naman kung overtime, ngunit bibihira lamang itong ibigay sa kanila. Sobra-sobra sa kanilang aktwal na trabaho ang tinatrabaho ng mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia sa pang-araw-araw ngunit wala namang silang sapat na sinasahod. Aniya, charity umano nila sa NutriAsia ang labis na oras ng paggawa.
Sinisiguro ng NutriAsia na ang mga manggagawa nito ay nanggaling sa mga ahensya upang mawala ang pananagutan nila sa mga manggagawa sa usapin ng medical assistance, atbp. Ayon kay Cherroby, marami na ang mga kaso ng aksidente sa hanay ng mga manggagawa, ngunit walang naging aksyon ang NutriAsia. Ang mas masahol pa, hindi pinapayagan ng management na mag-file ng report ang mga manggagawa upang maipanatili ang “record” na ligtas ang kanilang lugar-pagawaan.
Ani Cherroby, “wala kaming sariling ambulansya; tricycle lang talaga. May isang insidente na kinain ng makina ang kamay ng kasamahan namin pero wala silang (NutriAsia) ginawa.”
May kinakaltas sa kanilang medical insurance na hindi naman daw nila napakinabangan.
Pagpapatuloy ni Cherroby, “sinugod sa Nazarenos pero ‘di tinanggap dahil raw hindi active ang insurance. Kawawa ang kasamahan namin. Ganyan kasahol ang NutriAsia.”
Dagdag pa sa mga panggigipit ng NutriAsia sa mga manggagawa ay ang kawalan ng benepisyo.
Matindi ang pagnanakaw ng NutriAsia, dahil bukod pa sa kawalan ng benepisyo, dinagdagan pa ito ng illegal deduction.
“Kahit sa abuloy, hinahati pa,” sabi ni Cherroby.
Noong Hunyo 15, isinagawa ng Philippine National Police, security personnel at mga eskirol ang marahas na dispersal sa mga manggagawang nasa piketlayn. Sabi ni Cherroby, hindi na sila pinapasok ng mga kapulisan sa kanilang hanay dahil huhulihin raw sila. Hinanapan nila ng warrant of arrest ang mga pulis. Ang dahilan daw kung bakit sila huhulihin ay mga miyembro sila ng unyon.
Nananawagan si Cherroby sa lahat ng mamamayan na suportahan sila sa kanilang laban para sa pagpapabalik sa mga manggagawang tinanggal, pagkakaroon ng makatarungan at nakabubuhay na sahod, at ang kanilang regularisasyon sa trabaho.
May espesyal siyang kahilingan mula sa mga kabataan na tulungan silang kalabanin ang mga fake news na “ibinabalita sa telebisyon ng mga bayarang midya.”
Iligal na tinanggal ang 44 na manggagawa ng Uni-Pak Sardines sa ilalim ng Slord Development Corporation o Slord noong Mayo 11. Ayon sa mga manggagawa, ito ay dahil sa ginawa nilang protesta tungkol sa nauna pang natanggal na mga kasamana ng wala man lamang kahit anong memo o notice. Tungkol din umano ito sa paghahain nila ng reklamo sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na nagtulak sa ahensya ng gobyerno na inspeksyunin ang pagawaan.
Ang Slord ay pinagmamay-arian ni Pedro Yap. Ang kumpanya ay isang toll packer—nagdedelata sila ng mga sardinas ng ibang brand, pero pangunahin nilang produkto ang sariling brand na Uni-Pak Sardines. Kasama sa mga produkto nila ang delatang sardinas, mackerel na ini-import pa, bangus, pusit, green peas at tausi. Is-lord kung bigkasan ng mga manggagawa ang pangalan ng kumpanyang halos tatlong dekada nilang pinagsilbihan.
Ang Uni-Pak ng Slord ay kilalang tatak ng sardinas na pangunahing ineendorso ng celebrity at dating number one endorser at binansagang Queen of All Media, anak at kapatid ng mga dating pangulo ng bansa na si Kris Aquino. Milyun-milyon ang tantya ng mga manggagawang ibinabayad kay Kris Aquino sa pag-endorso sa sardinas. Malayong-malayo ito sa P370 na sinasahod kada araw ng ‘extra regular’ at P350 sa ‘extra’ sa pagawaan ng Slord. Noong Oktubre 2017, nasa P280 at P 320 lamang ang sahod ng mga extra at extra regular.
Pinromote din ni Aquino ang Uni-Pak sa kanyang online show na ‘Heart to Heart.’ May dalawang episode ang nakalaan dito, habang wala pang programa sa telebisyon si Aquino. Sa isa sa dalawang Youtube videos, nag-tour si Aquino sa pagawaan ng Uni-Pak kung saan pinakita itong napakalinis at napakadaling proseso ng trabaho ng mga manggagawa. Tila ito isang restaurant na kita mo sa salamin na harang kung paano ginagawa ang delatang sardinas, kung kaya’t sabi rin ni Aquino sa tour ay malalaman mong malinis ang pagkakagawa.
At sa isa pang video ay sinabi naman ni Aquino sa caption na 80% porsyento ng mga manggagawa ay kababaihan kung kaya’t ito’y isang porma ng women empowerment.
Mapapakulubot ka ng ilong sa pagkabasa noon, na tila may malansang amoy na biglang humalo sa hangin. Lalo kung natanto mo na ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga manggagawa sa Slord kung makausap mo mismo ang mga manggagawa nito.
Mahirap siguro ang pusisyon ng mga nag-eendorso sapagkat kailangan—o kinakailangan ba talaga—buong-buong iendorso ang produkto, pati kumpanya nito, pagawaan nito at patakaran sa mga manggagawa. Mahirap kung kakarampot lang ang alam, lalo pa’t sadyang tinatago ng Slord ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawa.
Ilan sa mga dinadaing ng mga manggagawa mula sa Uni-Pak ay ang pagiging kontraktwal nila sa kabila ng deka-dekada nilang pagtatrabaho. Nasa 500 ang manggagawa sa pagawaan, pero nasa 150 lang ang regular.
Ang mga kontraktwal ay nahahati pa sa dalawang kategorya—ang extra at extra regular. Parehong walang kontratang pinirmahan ang manggagawa sa dalawang kategorya. Ang kaibahan lang ay tiyak ang mga araw ng pasok ng mga extra regular, habang ang mga extra ay pumipila sa pagawaan para makakuha ng trabaho sa araw na iyon. Isa pang kaibahan ang P20 na agwat ng kada araw na sahod sa kanila.
Kalakhan ng mga manggagawa ay filler ng delata, o iyong pumipili ng isda at nagsisilid nito sa delata.
Anila, masakit sa sikmura ang pagpapamili ng isdang may formalin na galing sa steamer. Kailangan nilang amuyin ang bulok. Hindi ito natatagalan o nakakayanan ng mas nakababata o mas bagong mga manggagawa. Nakakasulasok ang amoy, pero buong araw nila itong ginagawa. Ang mga manggagawa pa ang bumibili ng mga personal protective gears tulad ng bota (P240), gloves (P80), cap (P50) at iba pa.
Perwisyo rin sa mga manggagawa ang hindi pagkakaroon ng mga benepisyo kagaya na lamang ng SSS, Philhealth at PAG-IBIG. Sila ang gumagastos kapag nagkakasakit. Kinakaltas din sa mga manggagawa ang P560 para sa annual medical check-up. Kapag naman nabubuntis ang kababaihan, agad silang tatanggalin sa trabaho.
Humigit kumulang 12 hanggang 14 oras ang pasok ng mga manggagawa, ngunit sa kabila nito ay hindi sila nagkakaroon ng meal break. Kung meal break ay wala, lalo pang wala ang maternity leave, sick leave o solo parent leave.
Dagdag pa ang hindi pagkakaroon ng 13th month pay, holiday pay, separation pay at ang 30% na dagdag sahod tuwing pinapapasok sila ng Linggo na tinuturing na rest day.
Sinikap ng mga manggagawa na ilantad ang masahol na kalagayan sa paggawa sa tuwing nagkakaroon ng inspeksyon ang DOLE. Upang ‘mapabango’ ang kanilang pangalan ay may mga eksenang tinuturuang magsinungaling ng management ang mga manggagawa at sabihing nakakamit nila ang minimun na sahod. Itinago rin ang mga kontraktwal sa araw ng inspeksyon. Sa unang serye ng inspeksyon ng DOLE noong Agosto 2017, upang hindi ma-interview o makita ng DOLE ang mga manggagawa ay pinasakay ng management ang mga manggagawa sa closed van para pauwiin sa kasagsagan ng ulan at baha.
Noong Hunyo 18, nagtayo ng kampuhan sa tarangkahan ng Navotas Fish Port Complex ang mga manggagawa upang iggiit ang kanilang mga makatarungang hinaing: maibalik sa trabaho, makamit ang minimun na sahod na naaayon sa batas at ang pagiging regular ng mga kontraktwal.
Naglunsad naman ng mandatory conference sa DOLE-CAMANAVA noong Hunyo 25 hinggil sa hinaing reklamo ng mga manggagawa sa Slord. Muling nag-alok ng “happy ending” o financial assistance ang management ng Slord sa 44 na manggagawang tinanggal. Hindi ito bahagi ng agenda ng hearing. Pilit na kinumbinsi ng management ang mga manggagawa na tanggapin na lang ang alok na areglo dahil mahaba umano ang proseso ng kaso at mabagal ang justice system sa bansa. Hindi ito tinanggap ng mga manggagawa dahil para sa kanila mawawalang saysay ang kanilang ipinaglalaban na mabago ang sistema sa loob ng pagawaan.
Sa harap ng patuloy na pagsasamantala sa mga manggagawa ay pinili nilang tumindig at lumaban para sa kanilang karapatan. Sa kabila ng pagkakaila sa kanilang kalagayan at sa kanilang karapatan, tuloy pa rin ang mga manggagawa sa pagsusulong sa kanilang karapatan.
Classes have just resumed in most schools in the country while other students, due to the academic calendar shift, are currently enjoying their rainy “summer break”. For most students, after class sessions are best enjoyed with classmates and friends through “pag-tambay” at empty classrooms, school organization offices, canteens, malls, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, parks and what have you.
Behind every product and service we consume and utilize are workers suffering daily under unjust and inhumane conditions. In these ever trying times for Filipinos, workers have waged their struggles for regularization, living wages, and safe working conditions.
Behind every product and service we consume and utilize are workers suffering daily under unjust and inhumane conditions.
Among Duterte’s many promises to the Filipinos is putting an end to contractualization. To comply with the president’s marching order, the Department of Labor and Employment released DOLE Department Order No. 174, a recycled version of the Department Order No. 16 that holds no significant change in eradicating contractualization. Frustrated with D.O. 174, various labor groups from various colors and beliefs marched towards Malacañang Palace as one under the alliance NAGKAISA to pressure the Duterte regime to put an end to contractualization in one fell swoop. In his attempt to curb the growing discontent of the Filipino workers, Duterte signed Executive Order 51 which in essence only legalizes contractualization in the country.
Not only did Duterte fail in his promise to end contractualization, he also jeopardized the lives of the workers as well. To show that the regime is “serious” in its campaign to end contractualization, DOLE released decisions ordering numerous corporations to regularize thousands of workers without having any mechanism to protect the workers from mass layoff and harassment.
In this new wave of resistance in the labor movement, workers have been staging strikes and camp-outs left and right. Each factory or workplace holds different stories but shares the common goal of breaking the chains of oppression. The resurgence of the labor movement signifies the deepening crisis under the unjust society at one end and stands as a spark of hope for the toiling masses at the other.
Time and again, the youth are told that there is a bigger world beyond the four corners of their classrooms.
Time and again, the youth are told that there is a bigger world beyond the four corners of their classrooms. Listed below are highly-recommended workplaces in and around Metro Manila where millennials can hang out and learn from the living experience of the workers who are fervently fighting the attack on the labor sector for the sake of changing it so that the youth will not have to endure the same conditions that they have experienced.
Uni-Pak Sardines
Uni-Pak Sardines is proudly endorsed by no less than Kris Aquino, who says that what she likes most about Uni-Pak sardines is that 85% of its workforce are women and that is women empowerment for her. The haciendera’s statement was easily shot down by the women workers of Uni-Pak sardines when they staged a “Kampuhan ng mga Kontraktwal” at the gates of the Navotas Fish Port Complex. From being silent and docile workers working under oppressive and feudal conditions, these women workers showed that women empowerment is when they are in the frontline of the workers’ struggles. Their all-female contractual workers’ campout was the first to be established in Metro Manila after a long period of time.
From being silent and docile workers working under oppressive and feudal conditions, these women workers showed that women empowerment is when they are in the frontline of the workers’ struggles.
The workers staged the campout as one of the high forms of resistance after Slord Development Corporation, the manufacturer of Uni-Pak sardines, illegally terminated 44 workers last May 11, 2018, under Samahang Manggagawa sa Slord Development Corporation-Manila Workers Unity who are fighting for regularization, minimum wage for all the workers, and safe working conditions.
The Uni-Pak workers’ campout at the Navotas Fish Port Complex. Photo by KJ Dumapit / Manila Today.A youth swaps stories with Uni-Pak workers. Photo by KJ Dumapit / Manila Today.
Despite lengths of service spanning up to three decades, these workers were never regularized by the company. Contractual workers are categorized as ‘extra’ and ‘extra regular’ workers whose wages only amount to P350-P370 a day. They don’t have benefits (SSS, Philhealth, PAG-IBIG), 13th-month pay, holiday pay, rest day pay, service incentive leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, solo parent leave and the likes.
Workers are also terminated once the management finds out that the workers are pregnant. They also smell the steamed fish with formalin to identify which fish are rotten and are not suitable for production.
How to get there: The best way to get to the Kampuhan is thru Divisoria. From Tondo Church, ride the jeepney going to ‘Boulevard’. Tell the driver to drop you off at C-3 Road or the exit gate of the Navotas Fish Port Complex. The fare is only worth Php 8.00. Should you want to use Grab, you can put the destination at Slord Development Corporation.
Tip: Since you’re coming from Divisoria, you can maximize your Divi walk by buying vegetables along the road to donate to the women workers’ camp. These working mothers sure love to cook vegetables. Also, be sure to advise them if you’re allergic to seafood because sometimes they serve different kinds of fish, squid and mussels given to them by their supporters from the fish port
Jollibee
Jollibee has stood as a symbol of childhood and has been embedded in the culture of Filipinos symbolizing happiness. Workers think otherwise.
“Hindi BEE-da ang saya sa Jollibee” is what the contractual workers of Jollibee Foods Corporation declared when the fast food giant terminated the contracts of Toplis Solution and Staff Search Agency that provide workers for its commissary and warehouse departments. The workers are responsible for storing, handling, and distributing products of all other warehouses and Jollibee stores in Luzon. They cater their services to Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwhich, Burger King, Mang Inasal, and Red Ribbon. When Jollibee scrapped the agencies’ contracts, 400 workers lost their jobs.
“Hindi BEE-da ang saya sa Jollibee” is what the contractual workers of Jollibee Foods Corporation declared when the fast food giant terminated the contracts of Toplis Solution and Staff Search Agency that provide workers for its commissary and warehouse departments.
Jollibee topped the list of companies engaging in labor-only contracting released by DOLE. Earlier, DOLE issued an order to the Tan-Caktiong-owned corporation to regularize its 7,000 store crew members yet not a single worker is regularized as of press time.
The workers under Samahang Manggagawa sa Jollibee Foods Corporation and Defend Job Philippines set-up their ‘Beehive’ campout outside the gates of the Jollibee Foods Corporation warehouse. They also called on the public to temporarily not patronize JFC and its subsidiaries in support of the struggle of the workers.
Jollibee workers constructing their ‘Beehive’ at JFC’s main warehouse in Parañaque City. Photo by Cha Seleteria / Manila Today.
How to get there: Take the PNR and get off at Bicutan Station. Walk towards SM Bicutan and then ride a jeepney going to Muntinlupa. Tell the driver to drop you off at South Super Highway Medical Hospital. Beside that is the Beehive. For Grab, you can put the destination at South Super Highway Medical Hospital (good luck with the bill!).
Tip: The Beehive is in need of water and food so be sure to carry with you your donations when you visit. School supplies for the workers’ children are also very much welcome
NutriAsia
There’s blood in your condiments.
Every single condiment we use at home comes with horrid stories of contractualization. NutriAsia is well known for manufacturing Datu Puti, Silver Swan, Papa Ketchup, Mang Tomas, UFC Ketchup, Golden Fiesta cooking oil, and Locally Blended Juice Drinks.
NutriAsia outsourced its workers through manpower agency B-Mirk Enterprise and is only paying workers Php 380 per day for 12 hours of work. Only a hundred of the company’s 1,400 workers are regular. Workers are made to handle boiling products with their bare hands since NutriAsia does not provide safety gear.
The workers established a union but the condiment giant responded by terminating the officers of the union and its members who supported their union leaders by simply clapping their hands in protest to the termination.
The workers didn’t buy the “Masarap, masaya basta NutriAsia” peg anymore so they staged a strike under Samahang Manggagawa sa Nutriasia that has paralyzed NutriAsia’s production.
The camp at NutriAsia. Photo by Ken Llarenas / Manila Today.
Last June 14, the management attempted to disperse the workers’ picket line, resulting in a violent attack by the Philippine National Police. Some 23 workers and five others were rushed to the hospital. Even women and youth supporters were terribly beaten by the police. Not a surprise, because PNP Bulacan’s chief is no less than Chito Bersaluna, the notorious head who was behind the killing of Kian Delos Santos last August 16, 2017.
Last June 14, the management attempted to disperse the workers’ picket line, resulting in a violent attack by the Philippine National Police. Some 23 workers and five others were rushed to the hospital.
On February 23, DOLE released a decision stating that NutriAsia is engaged in labor-only contracting and must regularize its 914 workers for doing so. But just recently, DOLE Region III reversed its decision stating that the striking workers are employees of B-Mirk instead of NutriAsia.
How to get there: Ride a UV Express Van at Trinoma going to Meycauayan or SM Marilao. Tell the driver to drop you off at Welcome Pantoc. Ride a tricycle from there then tell the driver to drop you off a NutriAsia.
Tip: Don’t bring condiments by NutriAsia as donation to the workers. There’s already a strong call to boycott their products because of the violence against the workers. It would be better if you bring home-made organic condiments that Sama-Samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA) just recently introduced on Facebook. Also, you can bring additional canvas/lona, used tarpaulins, bamboo and other materials to fortify the striking workers’ tents.
Middleby Philippines
Middleby Philippines is a company manufacturing commercial cooking equipment for fast foods companies and other restaurants. Middleby Philippines, which is under the US-based Middleby Corporation, refused to comply to DOLE’s order released last April 4, 2018, to regularize its 131 workers. The company employs about 300 workers but only 82 are regular workers.
On May 10, the 131 workers of Middleby Philippines staged a sit-down strike as the company threatened the workers with termination. For more than a month, the workers stayed inside the factory and totally paralyzed production.
Middleby Philippines’ sit-down strike. Photo grabbed from Pamantik KMU’s Facebook page.The striking workers of Middleby Philippines. Photo grabbed from Pamantik KMU’s Facebook page.
For more than a month, the workers stayed inside the factory and totally paralyzed production.
In response, Middleby used brute force against the workers. The union president and secretary were arrested while tasers were used by the management against striking members of Samahan ng mga Manggagawang Kontraktwal sa Middleby to break down the strike. The strikers were also denied of food and water brought to them by supporters outside the Special Economic Zone where the factory is located. Their only water supply comes from the comfort room faucet. A food blockade is continuously happening at the factory and even supporters who attempt to deliver food and throwing it over the fence of the factory are met with water cannons from the police.
How to get there: Ride a bus going to Cabuyao, Laguna from terminals located at Cubao or LRT-Buendia Station. Tell the driver to drop you off at Laguna Technopark Industrial Enclave in Biñan, Laguna.
Monde Nissin
Our undeclared ‘pambansang noodles’ is produced by contractual workers in Laguna. Lucky Me!, Nissin, Voice, Bingo, and Monde are among the products manufactured by the workers of Monde Nissin.
After an inspection, DOLE declared that the company is engaged in contractualization. Eighteen workers were illegally terminated by the corporation and are currently staging a protest camp at the company gate.
Monde Nissin workers’ protest camp. Photo grabbed from Pamantik KMU’s Facebook page.
Eighteen workers were illegally terminated by the corporation and are currently staging a protest camp at the company gate.
How to get there: Ride a bus going to Balibago-Sta. Rosa, Laguna from terminals located at Cubao or LRT-Buendia Station. Tell the driver to drop you off at Laguna Technopark Industrial Enclave in Biñan, Laguna.
Tip: Middleby Philippines and Monde Nissin are factories located at special economic zones that are very hard to access if you’re not a worker from any of the corporations inside the zone. Should you want to schedule a visit, interview or give support/donations, kindly coordinate with their organizers from Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Timog Kagatalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK-KMU). You can reach them via Facebook.
This list will be updated in the weeks to come because several other workers’ associations and unions are set to stage their own camp-outs and strikes as well so be sure to visit this site regularly for new information about the plight of the Filipino workers.
