LABOR WATCH

Soldiers Harass Unions to Disaffiliate with KMU

After 72 cases of labor-related murders and 10 cases of disappearances, workers and union leaders denounce yet another form of trade union harassment – this time, soldiers are forcing progressive unions to disaffiliate with the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May First Movement).

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat

After 72 cases of labor-related murders and 10 cases of disappearances, workers and union leaders denounce yet another form of trade union harassment – this time, soldiers are forcing progressive unions to disaffiliate with the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May First Movement).  Lito Fadriquelan, secretary general of the Ilaw at Buklod ng Manggagawa (IBM or Light and Unity of Workers) related to Bulatlat in an interview how KMU-affiliated unions are being harassed.

For almost six hours on Oct.11, soldiers belonging to the 69^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IB PA) interrogated Coca-Cola, Phils.-Pampanga Plant union president Alfredo Marañon at a military detachment in Barangay Quebiawan, San Fernando, Pampanga. The soldiers, Fadriquelan said, had with them copies of the company’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and forced Marañon to admit that he belonged to the union’s so-called progressive block.

Before Marañon was sent home at around 11 p.m. the same day, one of the soldiers allegedly told the union leader: “Para hindi na kayo magambala, mag-disaffiliate na kayo sa KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno or May First Movement). Kung hindi, ituturing na namin kayong kaaway.” (So as not to inconvenience you just disaffiliate with KMU.  Otherwise we will treat you as an enemy.)

The soldiers also allegedly told Marañon that the KMU is a front organization of the Left, Fadriquelan added.

The next day, Oct. 12, soldiers again “invited” Marañon, this time at their main detachment in Mexico, Pampanga, where the union leader was subjected to the same interrogation and harassment. 

But before Marañon was sent home, one of the soldiers allegedly told him: “Swerte mo, kung nandito si Palparan hindi ka na makakauwi.” (You are lucky.  If Palaparan was here you would not be able to go home.) The soldier was referring to retired army general Jovito Palparan, the former commanding officer of the 7^th Infantry Division (7ID) operating in Central Luzon. During his one year term from Sept. 2005 to Sept. 2006, cases of human rights violations escalated.

New method

Fadriquelan said that the interrogation of union leaders is a new method of harassing trade union leaders specifically in the Central Luzon region. He said the same happened to Francis Cruz Sandoval, union president of the San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Brewery-Pampanga (Daily Division), and Robert Dizon, union president of the SMC Brewery-Pampanga (Monthly Division).

The two union leaders were also “invited” by soldiers from the 69^th IBPA to the military detachment in Barangay Quebiawan, San Fernando, Pampanga where the SMC compound is located. In one instance, Fadriquelan said, a representative of the SMC Brewery management was present during the interrogation.

The IBM is a federation of unions of SMC and SMC-affiliated corporations nationwide.

Attack on workforce

SMC workers are struggling against the rampant labor contractualization in SMC plants and subsidiaries, numbering more than 200 nationwide. Fadriquelan estimates about 65 percent of the SMC labor force are agency-hired contractuals.

Out of more than 200 plants, only 13 unions in nine plants are affiliated with IBM. But Fadriquelan said IBM has always been influential in CBA negotiations. “Our unions set the trend on wage increases of the SMC workforce nationwide,” he said.

Fadriquelan said the harassments on union leaders are direct attacks on the SMC workforce. The IBM leader said that it is also a way of dissuading IBM from campaigning for their partylist group, Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), in the 2007 elections.

Direct intervention

Angie Ladera, acting chairperson of the Workers Alliance in Region III (WAR 3), condemned the harassment on union leaders in Central Luzon saying these are already direct interventions by the government, through the military, on the labor movement.

Despite the threats, however, Ladera said their organization will continue to defend the rights and welfare of workers. 

The labor leader also said the intervention of soldiers in labor and management relations are slowly creeping in different provinces in the region.

In Barangay San Rafael, Tarlac City, union officers of Blooming Apparel, a garments-for-export factory, complained that soldiers from the 69^th IB, led by a certain Maj. Vicente Basilan, have reportedly assisted management in their negotiations with the union. The workers have been on strike since Sept. 18.

Labor lawyers, too

In a separate statement, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) said they are disturbed not only by the increasing number of labor-related murders and disappearances. The group also cited the harassment and intimidation on their labor lawyers.  CTUHR is primarily alarmed over the harassments being experienced by lawyers from   the Pro-labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE) which handles most cases of KMU affiliated unions and federations pro-bono. Bulatlat

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