DAVAO CITY — Union leaders under the Kilusang Mayo Uno, together with other leaders of militant organizations, have filed complaints at the Commission on Human Rights.
“The US-Arroyo regime is slowly killing the workers through its anti-worker policies and laws. Unfair labor practice, starvation wages, long working hours, no overtime pay; these are policies long implemented by capitalists and tolerated by the national government,” Arman Blas, KMU Spokesperson said.
Recently, KMU reported that the 10th ID of the Philippine Army has also specifically targeted workers in Compostela Valley Province in its counter-insurgency campaign in the implementation of the Arroyo government’s Oplan Bantay Laya 2.
“Under the Oplan Bantay Laya 2, union members and leaders are being harassed, threatened and intimidated. The Workers for Industrial Peace and Economic Reform (Wiper) organized by the elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is being used to terrorize at the same time coopt unionists in Compostela Valley banana plantations. KMU local labor union members Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa San Jose (Namasan), Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Os-Miguel (Namaos), Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (Namasofa) are some of the victims of human rights violations,” Blas added.
According to Cerela Anding, Namaos president: “Makanunayon ang pagpanghilabot sa Wiper sa Compostela Valley. Mismo ako nakasinati sa pagpanghasi niini. Mga miyembro sa among unyon gipanghasi ug ginasunod-sunoran sa ilang mga balay. Tungod kini sa nagkakusog na kalihukang pamuo sa among empresa. (Wiper has been frequently interfering in our affairs in Compostela Valley. I have personally experienced being threatened. Other union members have also been threatened and have had their homes watched. This is because the workers movements has been going strong in our plantation.”
Blas added that the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) advisory no. 2 series of 2009 on guidelines on the adaptation of flexible work arrangements is one of the examples of these inutile and grossly anti-worker policies. “Clearly, Dole exists not for the workers’ interest but for the capitalists. Not only this, as 2010 is fast approaching, lives of our union members and leaders were also being attacked by the fascist government through its machineries being place in the establishments and working areas.”
KMU is gearing for the May 1 International Labor Day highlighting the cases of trade union repression and militaization against the labor movement. The commemoration of the 123rd international Labor day on May 1 remembers the thousands of workers who fought for their rights.
May 1 highlights the continuing exploitation and oppression of workers worldwide over the last 123 years. The date was adopted in Canada in 1894 and by socialist delegates in Paris in 1889, in commemoration of the Haymarket Square Riot in Chicago of 1886 where thousands of workers demanded to end the inhuman working conditions and 16-hour work shift. Scores of leaders were killed in the mammoth protest march.
“With the continuing exploitation of workers and other sectors in the face of the current global financial crisis, all the more the demand for a genuine development through national industrialization and agrarian reform is legitimate and remains valid, ” Blas concluded.#
For reference:
Arman Blas- Spokesperson, KMU-SMR
Mobile number: 0907-825-1536
Kilusang Mayo Uno – Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR)
55-8A Sacred Heart Apts., Veloso St., Barrio Obrero Davao City
Landline number (63082)305.4962 kmusmr@yahoo.com
