Japanese
Tiremaker Abuses, Harasses Workers: KMU
For
several weeks now, hundreds of picketing members of the Yokohama Employees Union
(YEU) have been enduring almost daily harassments and dispersals by police and
management goons. Scores of workers and supporters have already been hurt and
arrested.
The
continuous attacks are only part of a systematic repression of trade unionism at
the Yokohama Tires Philippines Incorporated (YTPI), a wholly Japanese-owned
company based inside the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in Pampanga.
Registered
at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Region 3 on September 10, 1999,
YEU was refused recognition by the management. When the 500-member union filed a
petition for Certification of Election, the management reacted by filing a
petition for cancellation of union
registration. Surprisingly, DOLE granted the latter's petition on December 8,
2000, and even accused YEU officials of falsifying signatures in their own
petition. The union believes management bribed local DOLE officials to get the
decision they want.
Since
then, harassments by YTPI against the union and its members have escalated.
Union officials were placed under constant surveillance within and outside the
factory premises, two of them were dismissed on arbitrary grounds, surveillance
cameras were installed inside YTPI compound, and union board-member Billy
Hernandez, who was also one of those dismissed, was sideswiped by a vehicle of
the management's surveillance team while he was motoring on the street.
On
top of it all, hundreds of YEU members who walked out last January 15 up to
January 20 in solidarity with People Power to oust President Estrada were given
sanctions, instead of rewards, by the management. Most of them were charged with
"abandonment of work" and were declared absent without official leave
(AWOL), while some were suspended for 15 days. Furthermore, YEU officials were
refused entry into factory premises and all union members who joined People
Power II were no longer given manning schedules. (Prior to this, management
allegedly offered P150-300 to employees so they would not join anti-Estrada
rallies).
Faced
with such blatant moves to crush the union, YEU began picketting the plant last
January 21. They demanded the reinstatement of arbitrarily dismissed employees,
voiding of suspensions and other forms of retaliatory actions by the management,
a cessation to harassments, and the start of Certification of Election
proceedings. Management, however, stood pat with its initial positions at the
hearing conducted by National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).
Last
January 27, YEU submitted a Notice of Strike to the DOLE and scheduled the
strike-vote for January 29. But on that day, the management and police attacked
and prevented the workers from formally voting for the strike.
A
daring fact-finding and medical mission by people's organizations and
nongovernment organizations last February 12 was blocked at the company's gate
by police and goons. Fortunately, the workers were able to find an alternative
entrance for the mission team and prevented its apprehension by policemen in
combat gear. While the mission was underway, a worker was abducted by the police
and spirited away to a distant police station. His comrades were able to trace
his location, and through unflinching negotiation they secured his release that
same day. The mission was spearheaded by IOHSAD, Center for Trade Union and
Human Rights (CTUHR), KMU, and Workers' Alliance in Region III (WAR III). YEU is
an affiliate of WAR III, KMU's regional formation in Central Luzon.
YTPI
was set up in 1997 at the former US Clark Airbase, now the Clark Special
Economic Zone (CSEZ). It is 80%-owned by the Yokohama Rubber Corporation of
Japan, and the remaining 20% shares are being held by Kawasho, a trading company
also based in Japan. Its sole product line are rubber tires, most of which are
exported, and earns an estimated monthly gross profit of P280,000,000.
The
company employs some 500 workers, 100 of whom are supervisors and managers. On
the average, a YTPI employee earns P250-300 for an eight-hour day. Overtime is
often compulsory and dismissal or suspension is management's usual disciplinary
action even for minor infractions by workers.
The
company obeys labor laws and policies for convenience, refusing to grant its
workforce the most recent nationwide wage increase (P26.50 daily) and denying
workers cash compensation for unused company leaves. Worst of all,
contractualization is beginning to be implemented at Yokohama.
The
company violates trade union rights with impunity and arrogance. Active union
leaders and members are invariably persecuted and harassed, including such means
as close surveillance, intimidation of family members and grave threats. It also
liberally uses bribe money to ensure that any legal move to unionize or to air
workers' grievances will be defeated at the DOLE.
Kilusang Mayo Uno