Submitted by KMU Cordillera on Wed, 2006/11/15 - 8:53pm.
The militant workers under the progressive leadership of the Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera join international community in observing Nov. 16 as the international day of protest against trade union repression and political killings in the Philippines. This date was chosen as the day of action as it is highly historic in the struggle of the Hacienda Luisita workers. It should be remembered that on Nov. 16, 2004 where the infamous Hacienda Luisita happened. Seven workers were killed and many were injured when the police and military and goons violently dispersed their picket lines under the directive of the government thru the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The Filipino workers alongside with the widest masses of the country suffered the most from this administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo! Under her rule, trade union and human rights violation here in the Philippines intensifies everyday as long as she is still in power. Since assuming the presidency and stealing reelection until June of this year, 64 leaders, members, organizers and supporters of trade unions and informal workers organizations have been killed. More than 982 cases of trade union and human rights violations victimizing 77,028 workers were recorded by the independent Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR). Aside from killings, other violations include assault in the picket lines, illegal arrest and detention, grave threat, intimidation, abduction and harassment.
Aside from the killings and harassments, labor oppressions heighten continuously. In the name of selling the workers to capitalist exploitation, this administration strengthens its anti-labor laws and policies. This was exemplified by the likes of Assumptions of Jurisdiction against the legitimate struggle of the workers. This AJ should be remembered as the trigger of the Hacienda Luisita massacre!
Here in the Cordillera, the workers of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company experienced the wrath of such issuing AJ by the then secretary of Labor Patricia Sto. Thomas against their willful strikes in the years 2003 and 2005. Many of them were hurt and illegally arrested by the police.
The Arroyo administration is real bent in making the situation harder to the Filipinos and moreover to the impoverished workers. The workers here in the region and the rest of the country still were being victimized by the fangs of contractualization and mass terminations. Their democratic rights are constantly being violated as unfair labor practices and union busting are persistently being employed by the capitalists.
Instead of looking into the plights of her people, Arroyo shamelessly is insisting her dirty tactic of remaining in power. To quell the popular demand of the Filipinos for her to step down, she persisted in making the people embrace her Charter Change. Such persistence is going to the extent of political assassinations against progressive mass leaders and critiques to her anti-people policies.
The Filipino workers together with the nation demand justice and the stop to the political killings and repressions! In achieving this, the workers should unite and build a strong bond with the democratic sectors and organizations in the country and in the international community in the struggle against all kinds of oppression and repressions and putting the criminals against humanity into justice!
Justice to all victims of trade union repressions and political killings!
Stop trade union repressions and political killings!
No to Charter Change!
Oust GMA!
The Filipino workers alongside with the widest masses of the country suffered the most from this administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo! Under her rule, trade union and human rights violation here in the Philippines intensifies everyday as long as she is still in power. Since assuming the presidency and stealing reelection until June of this year, 64 leaders, members, organizers and supporters of trade unions and informal workers organizations have been killed. More than 982 cases of trade union and human rights violations victimizing 77,028 workers were recorded by the independent Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR). Aside from killings, other violations include assault in the picket lines, illegal arrest and detention, grave threat, intimidation, abduction and harassment.
Aside from the killings and harassments, labor oppressions heighten continuously. In the name of selling the workers to capitalist exploitation, this administration strengthens its anti-labor laws and policies. This was exemplified by the likes of Assumptions of Jurisdiction against the legitimate struggle of the workers. This AJ should be remembered as the trigger of the Hacienda Luisita massacre!
Here in the Cordillera, the workers of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company experienced the wrath of such issuing AJ by the then secretary of Labor Patricia Sto. Thomas against their willful strikes in the years 2003 and 2005. Many of them were hurt and illegally arrested by the police.
The Arroyo administration is real bent in making the situation harder to the Filipinos and moreover to the impoverished workers. The workers here in the region and the rest of the country still were being victimized by the fangs of contractualization and mass terminations. Their democratic rights are constantly being violated as unfair labor practices and union busting are persistently being employed by the capitalists.
Instead of looking into the plights of her people, Arroyo shamelessly is insisting her dirty tactic of remaining in power. To quell the popular demand of the Filipinos for her to step down, she persisted in making the people embrace her Charter Change. Such persistence is going to the extent of political assassinations against progressive mass leaders and critiques to her anti-people policies.
The Filipino workers together with the nation demand justice and the stop to the political killings and repressions! In achieving this, the workers should unite and build a strong bond with the democratic sectors and organizations in the country and in the international community in the struggle against all kinds of oppression and repressions and putting the criminals against humanity into justice!
Justice to all victims of trade union repressions and political killings!
Stop trade union repressions and political killings!
No to Charter Change!
Oust GMA!
