Women Workers in Shoe Factory Decry Sexual Harassment, Low Wages, Union Busting

Unfair labor practices

Bleustar workers agreed, “It is not just the sexual harassment that goes unabated when workers are without a union.”

A casual worker at Belustar Manufacturing is given only P248 ($5.59) per day, way below the mandated minimum wage in the National Capital Region. Tenured workers who have been with the company in all of its 18 years continue to receive an average of P380 ($8.57) per day.

Workers are often made to go on forced leave, for around three to four days after six (6) days of work without any rational basis. There are days when they would be forced to work overtime for as much as four to six more hours. The overtime pay was often computed incorrectly during payday. They also complained of incorrect computation of night differentials and holiday pay.

They have raised these issues several times with the management, but were never addressed. “We know that organizing ourselves into a union would give us leverage. We have had several attempts in the past ten years but the management always found a way to stop us,” said Malimata.

Malimata recounted their first two attempts at establishing a union failed because the management did everything to bribe and corrupt their leaders. In 2006, the management persecuted all known leaders, harassing and giving them difficult assignments, which forced them to resign. Those who were supportive of the plan to establish a union were warned that they would lose their jobs and that the company would close down.

On October 27, 2007, workers successfully registered the Bleustar Workers Labor Union (BWLU) with the Bureau of Labor Relations of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-BLR). That same year, they filed a petition for Certification Election. The management refused to appear in any conciliation meetings called for by DOLE, and so the certification election was set on July 25, 2008.

Union busting

Workers faced an uphill battle as the certification election approached. Management claimed they would close the factory down. Thirteen days before the scheduled certification election, the workers were surprised when the factory operations was stopped and machines were shut down.

BWLU President Marlon Vizconde said that around 25 machines and other equipment vital to the factory’s operations were loaded in a container truck. “The stoppage of operations and bringing out of the machines are illegal attempts of the management to establish a runaway shop. We picketed the gate and blocked the passageway to keep the trucks and the machinery from leaving.”

The 58 workers involved in the blockade, including union officers, were immediately suspended and dismissed. Since July 14, they have been denied entry to the factory.

The workers pushed through with the certification election last July 25. Votes cast by the illegally dismissed workers were not counted and temporarily segregated. Elections are now at a standstill. Cases of illegal dismissal have been filed against the management.

Workers have been on strike since August 6. They continue to hold picket outside the Bleustar factory day after day, determined and unwavering. Contributed to (Bulatlat.com)