Partido Manggagawa (PM)

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

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

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

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

Unrest has festered at Lakepower for the last few months. Among workers grievances is the removal of the door of the women’s restroom so that the company can spy on workers. Almost all of the 200 workers in the factory are women. They are also outraged at the unreasonable limits on the use of the restroom which has led to cases of workers suffering from urinary tract infection. Workers are also complaining of excessive quota and the exclusion of unionists from receiving Christmas packages.

Last November 16, the Lakepower workers held a protest at the Cavite ecozone against company abuses. The protest was the third such picket over the last month at the country’s biggest export processing zone. Earlier, garments workers held protest actions against “factory shutdown-cum-union busting.” After two protests and a strike threat, the union leaders at the Korean-owned garments factory Sein Together Phils. Inc. were eventually accepted back to work.

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

December 7, 2017

Tatlong beses na inatake kagabi at ngayong madaling araw ng mga gwardiya at naka-ski mask na kalalakihan ang welga ng mga kababaihang manggagawa sa Cavite ecozone. Sugatan sina Maricar Orque at Magdalena Peña, parehong manggagawa ng Lakepower Converter Inc., isang Taiwanese-owned electronics company sa loob ng Cavite Economic Zone sa bayan ng Rosario.

“Pinagtulungan ng mga gwardiya ng kompanya, Jantro Security Agency at kalalakihang nakatakip ang mukha pero nakasuot ng uniporme ng pulis na hablutin ang mga placards at trapal sa aming picketline. Una silang sumugod noong 7:00 ng gabi, umulit uli ng 11:30 ng gabi at muli nitong 1:00 ng madaling araw. Nakasakay sila mga motor, may dalang mga baril at umatras lang nang kinuhanan ng litrato ng mga manggagawa. Ang isa sa motor na ginamit ay may plakang DA 21752,” paliwanag ni Mercy Tanginan, presidente ng Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Lakepower Converter Inc.

Nagsimula kahapon ng 3:00 ng hapon ang welga ng mga manggagawa matapos na walang kasunduang maabot sa miting na ipinatawag ng Labor Department. Hiling ng mga manggagawa na itigil ang tanggalan at suspensyon ng mga officers at members ng unyon. Subalit ayaw pumayag ng management.

Dagdag ni Tanginan, “Pumunta din sa picketline ang firetruck ng PEZA at Jantro guards na inuupahan ng PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority). Nagbarikada din ang Jantro sa paligid ng pabrika at tinaboy ang mga manggagawang pupunta sa picketline.”

“Paglabag sa DOLE-PEZA-PNP guidelines ang mga ito. Pananagutan ng PEZA at ni Atty. Norma Tuñag, administrator ng Cavite ecozone, ang marahas na pag-atake sa mapayapang welga ng mga kababaihang manggagawa. Bukod sa tauhan ng PEZA ang Jantro guards, sila ang may kontrol sa lahat ng nangyayari sa loob ng ecozone,” giit ni Rene Magtubo, tagapangulo ng Partido Manggagawa (PM), na sumusuporta sa mga kababaihang manggagawa.

Ilang buwang nang kumukulo ang diskuntento ng mga kababaihang manggagawa sa Lakepower bunga ng mga pang-aabuso. Nirereklamo nila ang pagtanggal sa pintuan ng banyo upang tiktikan ang mga manggagawa. Gayundin ang mahigpit na patakaran sa pag-ihi na naging sanhi ng maraming kaso ng urinary tract infection. Halos lahat ng manggagawa sa Lakepower ay kababaihan.

Ayon kay Magtubo, “Nagbubuo ng unyon ang mga manggagawa upang mapabuti ang kanilang kalagayan sa paggawa. Subalit tinatapatan sila ng walang habas na union busting ng mga kompanya na ayaw partihan ang mga manggagawa ng bunga ng kanilang pagpapawis.”

December 8, 2017

Security guards contracted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) joined surprise attacks on a picketline at the Cavite Economic Zone that resulted in injuries to two women workers. Maricar Orque and Magdalena Peña, both workers of Lakepower Converter Inc., a Taiwanese-owned electronics company, were hurt in the commotion that followed the dismantling of the picketline around 11:30 pm last night. The workers union and the group Partido Manggagawa (PM) slammed the PEZA for conniving with management in four separate instances of violent harassment of the strike.

“Company guards, personnel of the Jantro Security Agency hired by PEZA and other men wearing ski masks but clad in PEZA police uniforms repeatedly tore down placards and makeshift tents at the picketline last night and early morning. They first attacked at 7:00 pm, again at 11:30 pm, once more at 1:00 am and finally at 5:00 am. The men arrived in motorcycles and bearing side arms. Two of the motorcycles used had plate numbers DA 21752 and DC 86314,” explained Mercy Tanginan, president of the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Lakepower Converter Inc.

The strike at Lakepower started at 3:00 pm yesterday after mediation meetings convened by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board collapsed as management refused workers demands that the termination and suspension of union officers and members be stopped.

Tanginan added that “A PEZA firetruck along with Jantro guards went to the picketline area. The Jantro also set up barricades at two points leading to the factory and refused entry to workers going to the picketline.”

Rene Magtubo, PM national chair, declared that “All these are violations of the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines on the Conduct of Personnel During Labor Disputes. We hold the PEZA and Atty. Norma Tañag, administrator ng Cavite ecozone, responsible for the violent attacks on the women workers strike. Aside from the direct involvement of PEZA police, firefighters and Jantro guards in the harassment and attacks, PEZA has administrative control of the ecozone and is liable for such repeated incidents of violence.”

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

December 8, 2017

The group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today called for the resignation of the head of the Cavite Economic Zone for being responsible for the harassment of striking women workers that resulted in injuries to two strikers and the imposition of “martial law” in the country’s biggest export processing zone. Yesterday afternoon PM and other groups rallied at the Cavite ecozone in support of the women strikers and vowed to hold more solidarity actions next week.

“The violent attacks on women strikers by armed security guards contracted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) lies squarely in the hands of Atty. Norma Tañag, head of the Cavite ecozone. Her resignation would be a fitting celebration of International Human Rights Day tomorrow,” asserted Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

Maricar Orque and Magdalena Peña, both workers of Lakepower Converter Inc., a Taiwanese-owned electronics company, were hurt in the commotion that followed the dismantling of the picketline last Thursday night. Lakepower workers went on strike that afternoon after mediation meetings convened by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board collapsed as management refused workers demands that the termination and suspension of union officers and members be stopped.

Magtubo added that “On the eve of human rights day, Tañag has imposed martial law in the Cavite ecozone with guards of the Jantro security agency and the PEZA police as her goons and thugs. Workers and supporters who want to bring food, water and supplies to the strikers are stopped and prevented from proceeding to the picketline. Jantro guards repeatedly intimidate strikers who put up protest placards and signs at the picketline. All of these are blatant transgressions of the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines on the Conduct of Personnel During Labor Disputes.”

PM assailed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for inaction despite the incidents of violence at the Lakepower picketline. “While the DOLE celebrated its 84^th anniversary yesterday in Bulacan, Cavite workers were facing violent repression by PEZA personnel. DOLE has the power to assign a peacekeeping team at the Lakepower picketline and the responsibility of convening an inter-agency committee to prevent violence during labor disputes. Pero natutulog sa pansitan ang DOLE habang dinadahas ang kababaihang manggagawa,” insisted Magtubo.

Photos of the solidarity action yesterday at the Cavite ecozone can be accessed here:

https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10155833112704323

December 9, 2017

Media Advisory

December 10, 2017

Partido Manggagawa

Contacy Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

Protest at Cavite ecozone tomorrow

to call for resignation of administrator, stop to harassment

WHAT: Protest by labor groups and ecozone workers vs. violent attacks on striking women workers

WHEN: Tomorrow, December 11 (Monday), 8:00 am

WHERE: Cavite Economic Zone, Rosario, Cavite, Gate 1

DETAILS:

The groups Partido Manggagawa, Sentro and Katipunan ng Manggagawang Pilipino will call for the resignation of the head of the Cavite Economic Zone for being responsible for the harassment of striking women workers that resulted in injuries to two strikers and the imposition of “martial law” in the country’s biggest export processing zone.

The protesters assert that the violent attacks on women strikers by armed security guards contracted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) lie squarely in the hands of Atty. Norma Tañag, head of the Cavite ecozone.

The protesters contend that Tañag has imposed martial law in the Cavite ecozone with guards of the Jantro security agency and the PEZA police as her goons and thugs. Workers and supporters who want to bring food, water and supplies to the strikers are stopped and prevented from proceeding to the picketline. Jantro guards repeatedly intimidated strikers who put up protest placards and signs at the picketline. All of these are blatant transgressions of the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines on the Conduct of Personnel During Labor Disputes.

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

The group Partido Manggagawa (PM) also called for the resignation of the head of the Cavite Economic Zone for being responsible for the harassment of striking women workers that resulted in injuries to two strikers and the imposition of “martial law” in the country’s biggest export processing zone. The picket today was the second solidarity action since last Friday.

“The violent attacks on women strikers by armed security guards contracted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) lie squarely in the hands of Atty. Norma Tañag, head of the Cavite ecozone. We demand her resignation,” asserted Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

Magtubo added that “Tañag has imposed martial law in the Cavite ecozone with guards of the Jantro security agency and the PEZA police as her goons and thugs. Workers and supporters who want to bring food, water and supplies to the strikers are stopped and prevented from proceeding to the picketline. Jantro guards repeatedly intimidate strikers who put up protest placards and signs at the picketline. All of these are blatant transgressions of the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines on the Conduct of Personnel During Labor Disputes.”

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

Photos of the picketline can be accessed here:

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

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

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

December 11, 2017

Media Advisory

December 14, 2017

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Gerry Rivera @ 09165047751

Endo fight continues:

DOLE protest tom for regularization of endo workers @ PAL

WHAT: Members of PM and PALEA to call on DOLE to release results of labor inspection at Philippine Airlines and regularize endo workers & reinstate outsourced employees

WHEN: Tomorrow, December 15 (Friday), 9:00 am

WHERE: DOLE main office, Intramuros, Manila

Media Advisory

December 19, 2017

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Rene Magtubo @ 09178532905

Unions to call for inspection of ecozones in wake of labor disputes

WHAT: Workers forum to demand inspection of ecozone factories and express support for Lakepower women strikers

WHEN: Today, December 19 (Tuesday), 1:00-5:00 pm

WHERE: Occupational Safety and Health Center, Agham Road, Diliman, QC

DETAILS:

Labor unions, workers associations and church organizations are holding a forum on the new DOLE department order on the conduct of labor inspections for factories, including those located inside export processing zones.

Among the resolutions expected to be affirmed by the participants is a call for inspections of ecozones in view of numerous labor disputes involving labor standards and rights. Another resolution planned is support for the Lakepower women workers who have been on strike at the Cavite ecozone since Dec. 7.

The Lakepower strike is the latest in a series of labor disputes at the Cavite ecozones over workplace grievances and the right to unionize.

The forum sponsored by the Church-Labor Conference is entitled "Can DO 183 effectively implement DO 174?" DO 183 is about labor inspections while DO 174 concerns endo.

Media Advisory

December 23, 2017

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Mercy Tanginan @ 09307434974

Pasko sa picketline ng Lakepower women workers in Cavite

WHAT: Striking women workers in Cavite ecozone to spend Christmas eve at the picketlines as the dispute drags on

WHEN: December 24

WHERE: Picketline at Lakepower Converter Inc., Cavite Ecozone, Rosario, Cavite

DETAILS:

Women workers of electronics firm Lakepower Converter Inc. are spending Christmas eve at the picketline as the labor dispute drags on. Tomorrow will be their 18th day on strike. A scheduled mediation last Friday (Dec. 22) did not push through as management did not attend. Another is set on December 28.

In the a mediation meeting last Dec. 19 conducted by the office of Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglungsod, management stood pat on its position of punishing all workers who joined the strike.

Today, workers from unions in Metro Manila visited the picketline and held a day of solidarity and camaraderie as a show of support for the women workers strike. The strike started on December 7 when management refused union demands for a stop to discriminatory firings and suspension of union officers and members.

Photo from Philstar.com

A BPO workers association today called for stronger labor enforcement and inspection in response to the deadly fire at the NCCC Mall in Davao City that claimed the 37 employees of the call center SSI. The group also expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

“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,” Rossie Hong, chairperson of I-Shield (Secured and Healthy Initiative Enabling Labor Defense). I-Shield was formerly named the Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW).

Hong added that “Heads must roll and justice must be served for the needless deaths and injuries to our fellow BPO workers. While employers were scrimping on protection for workers and DOLE was sleeping on its job of enforcement, workers are dying in the workplace.”

I-Shield lambasted employers for cutting corners in occupational safety in order to raise profits and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for lax implementation of labor and safety standards. The deaths of SSI workers comes on top of the loss of lives in the industrial fires at Kentex in Valenzuela and HTI in Cavite ecozone.

I-Shield called on the DOLE activate the trade unionists who were recently trained to be labor inspectors. The deputization of unionists as inspectors was a demand of labor groups in the wake of the Kentex and HTI tragedies as a means to augment the number of inspectors and involve labor groups in enforcement. However months after being trained and deputized, none of the unionists have been given mission orders by the DOLE for actual inspections.

“Is the DOLE waiting for another industrial tragedy before it mobilizes trained unionists for labor inspections?,” Hong insisted.

I-Shield also appealed to the DOLE to immediately hold new batches of trainings for more unionists from different labor groups who are waiting in line to be deputized as inspectors.

ICCAW was formed in 2012 but changed its name to I-Shield this year. I-Shield is the accredited labor representative in the Region VII ICT industry tripartite council. Its website is https://bposhield.com.

I-Shield

December 27, 2017

Women workers of the electronics company Lakepower Converter Inc. at the Cavite export zone have been on strike since December 7 and were repeatedly harassed by company and ecozone guards.

Company guards, export zone security guards and other men wearing ski masks but clad in ecozone police uniforms repeatedly tore down placards and makeshift tents at the picketline. The men arrived in motorcycles and bearing side arms. Two women workers—Maricar Orque and Magdalena Peña—were hurt in the commotion that followed the forcible dismantling of the picketline.

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

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

Unrest has festered at Lakepower for the last few months. Among workers grievances is the removal of the door of the women’s restroom so that the company can spy on workers. Almost all of the 200 workers in the factory are women. They are also outraged at the unreasonable limits on the use of the restroom which has led to numerous cases of workers suffering from urinary tract infection. Workers are also complaining of excessive quota and the exclusion of unionists from receiving Christmas packages.

Workers formed a union around June this year in a bid to resolve various workplace grievances such as verbal harassment, health and safety, and excessive quota. In response, management interrogated workers individually regarding their union activity. Union leaders were given new work assignments and overtime work was denied unionists and instead given to contractual employees. Three line leaders were forced to resign since they were suspected union supporters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 30, 2017

Media Advisory

January 5, 2017

Partido Manggagawa

Contacy Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

Striking Cavite women workers to hold protest and call for Labor Secretary intervention

WHAT: Workers and supporters will ask for the intervention of the Labor Secretary and hold a protest while mediation is ongoing between the union and management of the electronics firm Lakepower Converter Inc.

WHEN: Today, January 5 (Friday), 10:00 am

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

DETAILS:

Some 50 striking workers and their supporters will hold protest today while mediation is ongoing. Women workers of electronics firm Lakepower in Cavite ecozone have been on strike for 29 days now. They are calling on the office of the Labor Secretary to intervene to resolve the dispute. The workers are calling for a stop to the termination and suspension of union officers and members. ###

Media Advisory

January 10, 2017

Partido Manggagawa

Contacy Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

Striking Cavite women workers to hold protest today

WHAT: Workers and supporters will hold a protest while mediation is ongoing between the union and management of the strike-bound electronics firm Lakepower Converter Inc.

WHEN: Today, January 10 (Friday), 10:00 am

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

DETAILS:

Some 50 striking workers and their supporters will hold protest today while mediation is ongoing. Women workers of electronics firm Lakepower in Cavite ecozone have been on strike for more than a month now. They are calling on the office of the Labor Secretary to intervene to resolve the dispute. The workers are calling for a stop to the termination and suspension of union officers and members.

Media Advisory

January 14, 2017

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

Striking Cavite women workers to protest at DOLE main office and call for Labor Secretary intervention

WHAT: Labor Secretary asked to intervene as mediation scheduled between striking women workers and electronics firm Lakepower Converter Inc.

WHEN: January 17 (Wednesday), 9:00 am

WHERE: DOLE National office, Intramuros, Manila

DETAILS:

Women workers of electronics firm Lakepower in Cavite ecozone have been on strike for more than a month now. They are calling on the office of the Labor Secretary to intervene to resolve the protracted dispute. The workers are calling for a stop to the termination and suspension of union officers and members. ###

Media Advisory

January 18, 2018

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Mercy Tanginan (union pres) @ 09300767018

DOLE to hold mediation tom at Cavite picketline

WHAT: DOLE to hold mediation between striking women workers and electronics firm Lakepower Converter Inc. in bid to resolve bitter dispute

WHEN: January 19 (Friday), 2:00 pm

WHERE: Lakepower factory, Lot 3, Block 13, Phase 1, Cavite Economic Zone, Rosario, Cavite

DETAILS:

In a mediation meeting at the DOLE national office yesterday, management stuck to its position of punishing the striking workers. The Labor Undersecretary moved that the case be submitted to the Labor Secretary for decision even as another mediation was scheduled tomorrow at the picketline.

Women workers of electronics firm Lakepower in Cavite ecozone have been on strike for more than a month now. The workers are demanding a stop to the termination and suspension of union officers and members. The protracted labor dispute is a litmus test of the right to unionize for workers in the export processing zones. ###

With its provisions that can be considered as marked improvement from existing laws and regulations pertaining to labor contracting, particularly Article 106 of the labor code and DO 174, rules and regulations on labor contracting promulgated by the DOLE last March 2017, Nagkaisa!, the largest labor coalition of worker’s union and labor organization in the country supports HB 6908, an act strengthening workers security of tenure, which was approved on second reading by the house of representatives last January 23.

Among these provisions are:
a) Disallowing subcontracting of jobs already contracted out by principal employers;

(b) Disallowing any form of fixed-term employment;

(c) Any one of the three conditions found present on the the employment relationship between the labor contractor and employees dispatched to principal employers, such employment relationship is deemed labor-only contracting. These conditions are (1) labor contractor has no substantial capital in the form of investment and tools, (2) the labor contractor has no control over the worker’s method and means in performing their function, and (3) workers recruited and dispatched perform functions which are directly related to the principal busines of the employer; and

(d) Labor contractors found violating labor-only contracting provisions of this act shall be fined Php 30,000 for each worker engaged in labor-only contracting arrangement but the total amount of the fine shall not exceed Php 5 million.

Nagkaisa! admits that HB 6908 is not a perfect bill to prohibit all forms of labor contracting. However, the marked improvement in its provisions would surely address to a great deal widespread use of contractual labor in the country, and thus strengthening workers’ security of tenure and the exercise of their right to organize and collectively bargain compared to the present laws and regulations pertaining to labor contracting.

Nagkaisa now calls on the Senate to introduce more prohibitive provisions in their version of bills pertaining to security of tenure so as to further improve what HB 6908 has achieved.

Finally, we thank the efforts made by Cong. Ting, Chairperson of the Labor Committee, representatives of TUCP and Akbayan! partylists, and the rest of the co-authors of HB 6908 for successfully defending and passing it on second reading.

Nagkaisa
25 January 2018

Nagkaisa! is satisfied over the passage on third reading of HB 6908 on the Security of Tenure at the House of Representatives.  

Nagkaisa! said that "the SOT bill is a great improvement to existing legislation as it gives more teeth to the government by providing penalties for those who will violate the security of tenure laws."  

"This is the farthest a proposed law on SOT has gone for decades," said Nagkaisa! "Now, it's time to get the Senate moving on their proposed SOT measure."  

"HB 6908 gives more flesh and blood to the guaranteed right to security of tenure," Nagkaisa! said. "It's not perfect or ideal, but we can live with it," said Nagkaisa!, the largest labor coalition in the country.  

Fear of employers allayed

  Nagkaisa! also addressed fears of employers who went on record saying that they will have a "big problem" if the proposed measure was passed.

"If the big problem employers have about HB 6908 refers to the potential cutbacks in the windfall of profits a number of employers have been amassing through the massive abuse of workers via contractualization for decades, the bill intends to do just that," Nagkaisa! said.

"Employers who do not abuse workers through contractualization have nothing to fear," Nagkaisa! added.  "Never in the history of employment relationship in the country has workers enjoying regular employment and implementation of strict rules in labor contracting been detrimental to the economy and job generation," Nagakaisa! said.

  "Job generation is a function of the development of sectors of the economy influenced by economic policies of the government, and not by labor contracting practices," Nagkaisa explained.  

A "serious problem" employers noted is that if the SOT bill becomes a law, it will be detrimental to the economy and job creation.

Nagksaisa! countered the argument. "Workers with regular employment generate more income, thus, with more purchasing power contribute to increasing demand in goods and services that lead to higher income taxes and VAT for the government. These are all good for the economy," said Nagkaisa.  "

"The fear that the HB can lead to unemployment is only possible if they are not paying their contractual employees what the law currently demands. In other words, their argument is an admission that they are doing business at the expense of workers’ rights - and they want to continue doing so," Nagkaisa! added.

The recent statement by the employers didn't specify which provisions of the bill they strongly disagree with.  

Nagkaisa! said it was grateful to Labor Committee Chair Rep. Ting who steered the discussions and Rep. Raymond Mendoza of TUCP Partylist and Rep. Tom Villarin of Akbayan Partylist who co-authored the SOT Bill and helped defend it together with Nagkaisa.

Nagkaisa

30 January 2018

Workers at a garments factory in Cavite ecozone are facing interference in their efforts to unionize. The Korean-owned factory Dong Seung Inc. supplies to brands Ann Taylor and Macy's.

The workers of Dong Seung formed an independent union and have filed a petition for a certification election as provided for under the law. Since then the union president has been threatened by management with a criminal case, union leaders have been transferred from their departments to deny them access to other workers, management personnel have been meeting workers and propagating anti-union propaganda, union members have been denied loans, and they have been told that they can only access the loans if they withdraw membership in the independent union. Finally the Dong Seung management has formally manifested opposition to the holding of an election in a hearing conducted by the Labor Department on the petition for certification elections

As a result the independent union has filed a unfair labor practice complaint with the Labor Department. The complaint is presently being heard.

The workers union are calling on global companies Ann Inc., which owns the brand Ann Taylor, and Macy's Inc. to remediate the violations of their supplier Dong Seung Inc. based on their supplier codes of conduct which provide for respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining.

12 February 2017

Media Advisory

February 22, 2018

Partido Manggagawa

Contact Dennis Sequena @ 09301803072

Cavite women workers kick-off series of protests at DOLE for EO vs endo

WHAT: Striking Cavite women workers to hold protest

WHEN: Today, February 22 (Thursday), 10:00 am

WHERE: DOLE National office, Intramuros, Manila

DETAILS:

Women workers of electronics firm Lakepower in Cavite ecozone have been on strike for more than two months now. They are calling on the office of the Labor Secretary to intervene to resolve the protracted dispute. The workers are calling for a stop to the termination and suspension of union officers and members.

The rally today kicks-off a series of protests by labor groups who are calling for the signing of an executive order to abolish contractualization and action by the DOLE on labor disputes at Lakepower, Coke and Philippine Airlines. The DOLE main office will also be the site of rallies on February 23 (Friday) by KMU and on February 26 (Monday) by the Nagkaisa labor coalition. ###

Women workers of the electronics firm Lakepower in the Cavite ecozone held a protest today at the DOLE main office to call on Labor SecretarySilvestre Bello to intervene andresolve the protracted dispute. The Lakepower workers have been on strike for more than two months now. The strike commenced after management refused worker’s demands that the termination and suspension of union officers and members be stopped.

The rally is also part of a series of protests by labor groups who are calling for the signing of an executive order to abolish contractualization and action by the DOLE on labor disputes at Lakepower, Coke and Philippine Airlines. The DOLE main office will also be the site of rallies on February 23 (Friday) by KMU and on February 26 (Monday) by the Nagkaisa labor coalition.

The strike has dragged on as management has refused to take back the workers unless they are subjected to disciplinary action for taking part in the strike. Management has hired striker replacements since the strike began and continues to operate.

Immediately after the strike started last December 7, the striking women workers were repeatedly harassed by company and ecozone guards.Company guards, export zone security guards and other men wearing ski masks but clad in ecozone police uniforms repeatedly tore down placards and makeshift tents at the picketline. Two women workers—Maricar Orque and Magdalena Peña—were hurt in the commotion that followed the forcible dismantling of the picketline.

Unrest has festered at Lakepower since last year. Among workers grievances is the removal of the door of the women’s restroom so that the company can spy on workers. Almost all of the 200 workers in the factory are women. They are also outraged at the unreasonable limits on the use of the restroom which has led to numerous cases of workers suffering from urinary tract infection. Workers also complained of excessive quota and the exclusion of unionists from receiving Christmas packages.

Workers formed a union in June last year in a bid to resolve various workplace grievances such as verbal harassment, health and safety, and excessive quota. In response, management interrogated workers individually regarding their union activity. Union leaders were given new work assignments and overtime work was denied unionists and instead given to contractual employees. Three line leaders were forced to resign since they were suspected union supporters.

Photos of the rally can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/10156031672514323

February 22, 2018

Cavite women workers go on strike

Welga ng kababaihang manggagawa inatake, 2 sugatan

PEZA slammed as 2 women workers hurt in picketline attack

Cavite ecozone head asked to resign as women workers strike enters 3rd day

Advisory: Protest at Cavite ecozone tomorrow to call for resignation of administrator, stop to harassment

Ecozone workers protest continuing harassment of women strikers

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Advisory: Unions to call for inspection of ecozones in wake of labor disputes

Advisory: Pasko sa picketline ng Lakepower women workers in Cavite

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FOA issue at electronics supplier Lakepower Converter

Advisory: Striking Cavite women workers to hold protest today

Advisory: Striking Cavite women workers to hold protest today

Striking Cavite women workers to protest at DOLE main office and call for Labor Secretary intervention

Advisory: DOLE to hold mediation tom at Cavite picketline

Nagkaisa! supports HB 6908 on security of tenure

Nagkaisa hails passage of Security of Tenure Bill

Korean garments factory interfering in workers' right to unionize

Cavite women workers kick-off series of protests for EO vs endo

Striking Cavite women workers protest for Labor Secretary intervention