Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts

Vol. VI, No. 41      Nov. 19 - 25, 2006      Quezon City, Philippines

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After Scoring Killings, U.S. Firms are Dared to Match Words with Action

The Solidarity of Cavite Workers has urged U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart, as well as six U.S.-based clothing firms, to match their call to the Macapagal-Arroyo government to protect workers’ rights with concrete action by pressuring its local suppliers to protect union rights.   

By DENNIS ESPADA
Bulatlat
 

ROSARIO, Cavite - The Solidarity of Cavite Workers based here, urged U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart, as well as six U.S.-based clothing firms, to match their call to the Macapagal-Arroyo government to protect workers’ rights with concrete action by pressuring their local suppliers.    

Last week, six clothing firms and Wal-Mart urged the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to undertake measures to ensure the protection of workers' rights.

 

This was followed by a strongly-worded appeal by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) in the Philippines and the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters last week for an end to extra-judicial killings.

 

In a joint letter to Malacanang on Nov. 7, top officials of the U.S.-based American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc., Jones Apparel Group, Liz Claiborne, Phillips-Van Heusen, Polo Ralph Lauren and Wal-Mart, condemned the escalating political killings in the country and decried the violent dispersals and harassments  perpetrated by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) police and security guards against striking workers of Korean-owned Chong Won Fashion Inc. and Phils. Jeon Garments Inc., both of which are located at the Cavite Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) in Rosario, Cavite, 29 kms south of Manila.

 

The U.S.-based firms also asked the government to "support, and fully cooperate with, independent and impartial investigations" looking into the slaying of Philippine Independent Church Bishop Alberto Ramento and the shooting of union leader Gerardo Cristobal.

 

"We believe that local human and labor rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can play an important role by partnering with manufacturers and governmental entities as well as suppliers and companies to help improve labor practices and working conditions in the apparel industry. These NGOs should be able to express their views and carry out their legitimate role freely and without fear of violence," the letter read.

 

Wake-up call

 

The independent think-tank IBON Foundation said the statements should serve as a "wake up call" to address the country's worsening human rights record. They cited data from the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) which showed that there were 51 incidents of violations of the rights of workers and semi-workers during the first half of 2006. There were 109 violations last year.

 

But organized workers in CEPZ have reservations as to how Wal-Mart -- a major buyer of Chong Won's products -- could match its calls with concrete action. They said its representatives in the country had been "apathetic" to the strikers' demands.

 

"They (Wal-Mart) must prove it decisively," said Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW) chair Marlyn Gonzales. "They must ensure that those workers who were summarily dismissed are reinstated. They should pressure Chong Won to negotiate with the union for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Wal Mart should also restrain Chong Won from violently attacking workers on strike."

 

Unless they heed this petition, Gonzales said, Wal-Mart's statements are "a meaningless rhetoric and an attempt to cover up the atrocities their suppliers are committing."

 

Battered and killed

 

Bishop Ramento, at the time he was found stabbed to death inside his rectory on Oct. 3, was chairman of the Board of Directors of the church-based Worker's Assistance Center (WAC) while Cristobal, an SCW member, survived an assassination attempt last April 28 allegedly committed by policemen.

 

The unions Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Chong Won Fashion (NMCW or United Workers in Chong Won Fashion) and the Kaisahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Phils. Jeon (KMPJ or Solidarity of Workers in Phils. Jeon) have been fighting for their first CBAwith management. A total of 50 strikers were battered harshly while defending their picket lines. One of them was a pregnant worker named Analyn Diaz of Phils. Jeon who reportedly had a miscarriage.

 

Last month, the striking workers filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) charging PEZA and Philippine National Police (PNP)-Rosario officials of conspiring to violate their rights and brutally dispersing them "without any lawful written order." Bulatlat 

 

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