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First the insult then the injury - The government-corporate-police response to workers' pleas
Makabayan (Workers for People's Liberation- Philippines) Press Statement - October 11, 2007
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo never fails to gloat about economic gains though realities declare deprivation and repression of the people. October 10, the second day of workers' protest fast, was a day of state brutality and insult against the working masses. Labor Secretary Brion did not fulfill his commitment to Manggagawa sa Komunikasyon ng Pilipinas (MKP), the union of Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co. rank and file employees, and ignored the petition letter by various worker organizations and leaders.
Over a hundred workers decided to continue their protest fast before the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) office but they were brutally dispersed by elements of Western Police District of the PNP. MKP president and Makabayan chairperson Pete Pinlac, Arturo Castillo and John Beato, first and second vice presidents of MKP, respectively and four others, including woman lawyer and wife of Pete Pinlac, Atty. Virginia Pinlac, a woman labor rights advocate, a member of MKP Legislative Council and a Makabayan national council member were arrested and tormented by policemen. Later in the evening, MKP and Makabayan members who proceeded to Western Police District Headquarters were again dispersed.
The MKP, supported by leaders and members of various labor federations and unions, were there before the Department of Labor and Employment office for the second day of their concerted action and to expect Sec. Brion's fulfillment of his first day promise. Brion paid fleeting attention to the worker leaders whom he had let into DOLE office even as he arrogantly told them that he had to attend to the visiting Canadian attache instead. His October 9 commitment to conduct the PLDT management and MKP meeting yesterday is moved to October 16!
The collusion of DOLE and PLDT management to deny the workers their right to concertedly redress grievances and to finally deliver them to the hands of the PNP echo the unjust termination by PLDT of 575 regular employees last September 15. The recent employee thrashings, on grounds of 'redundancy' add to the 484 employees who were summarily dismissed in 2002 in direct violation by PLDT management of the CBA and the Supreme Court decision calling for their reinstatement. Alas, no one has been re- admitted instead more have been dismissed on the same reason only the management determines but with backing from DOLE.
The workers were there before DOLE to protest the already long pervasive practice, especially by big firms like PLDT, of hiring contractual employees to replace regulars whom they tag as redundant. In many companies, contract employees already outnumber regulars and thus negate the workers' right to job security, to unionize, to bargain collectively and to strike. Workers are also vehement at the unbridled use by DOLE of assumption of jurisdiction (AJ) over labor-management disputes. This AJ policy of government in reality is a scheme for union-busting and a direct affront to workers' right to strike.
The DOLE-PLDT-PNP assault on workers yesterday fans the fire and steels the resolve of the working masses to pursue their just cause.
Twenty-two (22) years ago this month the workers of La Tondena trailed the blaze in breaking the ban on the right to strike and the general climate of repression under the Marcos dictatorship. Now the workers of PLDT, with those of other corporations, are surmounting every obstacle the government- corporate-police conspiracy is throwing their way. Their every struggle, every small and big victory inspires the next and every repression would temper their will to fight and would expose the anti-worker, anti- people, anti-national GMA regime which has withdrawn from all its pretensions to democracy and the rule of law.
This is the first time in so many years that workers expressed solidarity in fighting for the end to employment contractualization and the government policy of assumption of jurisdiction. This is the first time that workers, though short of a strike, showed unity of will in asserting their right to self-organization and the right to concerted action.
We shall return again and again to DOLE and before the gates of Malacanang. We shall wage our struggles in all work places; inside and outside the halls of congress and in the streets until justice is won.
October 11, 2007
Manggagawa para sa Kalayaan
ng Bayan (MAKABAYAN)
#22 Libertad St. Brgy. Highway
Hill Mandaluyong City
Tel. No. 5310787; Fax No.
5313715
Email add. makabayan2003@yahoo.com
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