“This is a breakthrough for millions of platform workers worldwide who have waited too long for international protections."
While a 31% increase in Metro Manila’s minimum wage may seem bold by today’s standards, it’s far from unprecedented. The study cites the last legislated wage hike in 1989, which was even higher at 40 percent, and notes that the economy absorbed it without causing a crisis. This emphasizes the study’s broader point: a fair wage hike helps restore workers’ rightful share in national growth.
In a formal Manifestation to Stage a Strike, submitted to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on May 14, KULU said that they fulfilled all legal requirements to strike after CBA talks hit a deadlock. Despite management citing financial losses as a reason for denying their demands, union leaders call this claim a “big lie.”
Despite interventions by the ILO, Filipino workers still struggle to be heard, while their leaders continue to be harassed and killed.
"We have shown that even a factory located within an enclave with a no-union, no-strike policy can still stop production and deal a blow to the giant capitalists."
“Magbanua’s continuing disappearance shows that state security agencies can simply ignore writs of amparo and other court decisions that favor labor rights defenders."
“Dahil doon, ang sahod ay nakabubuhay. Dito nakamamatay."
“The right to unionize is in the Constitution but it is still being prohibited."
“It was nerve-wracking, especially since it was our first time and it was inside the company. But once we were there, we had no choice but to be brave. We had to stand firm—no one would give up,” a Nexperia woman worker said.
Food blockade has been observed as a recurring action imposed by the management and private security in response to the workers’ right to strike.
“We are staging this strike so that our legitimate demands will be met. We are only looking for fair wages and benefits. Instead, [Nexperia] management has given us notices of termination.”
Coca-Cola Cebu is set to retrench the workers following the termination of their contract with manpower agency Exeltech Manpower and Services Incorporated. However, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights noted that the retrenchment actually comes following an order from the Department of Labor and Employment to regularize the workers, calling the move a “naked display of corporate greed."
At least ten security guards posted for duty along the Central Luzon Link Expressway spent last Christmas with no wages.
Bulatlat gathered the wage orders issued by RTWPB Northern Mindanao in the past years and found out that the most recent wage hike is the lowest increase to be implemented since 2018, specifically in the non-agriculture sector.
“Ayroso has long been the target [of management] because of his willingness to fight for their Collective Bargaining Agreement, Occupational Safety and Health inspections, and other workers’ rights,” Kilusang Mayo Uno said in its statement.
“Instead of addressing the just and reasonable demands of the workers, their response is union busting,” NAFLU-KMU said in a statement. “Their goal is to force the workers to accept the very low offer of a P17-wage increase, which is not enough to support a decent living amid rising prices of goods and services.”
“Time and again, we’ve proven that the union is the strongest weapon and shield that we have against exploitation.”
Invisible Labor's director Joanne Cesario said that the documentary’s success was a collective effort by the workers’ movement and advocates dedicated to preserving labor history. Reflecting on a 2022 gathering of labor rights advocates, Cesario shared how they recognize the urgent need to mainstream labor history, even within the workers’ movement itself.
Platform workers often fall into debt either as a result of working or in the process of getting into the industry. Dr. Cheryl Ruth Soriano noted that in many cases, workers took out loans to use as initial capital, usually to purchase motorcycles, fuel, shoulder maintenance costs, and so on.
Labor rights activists from Southern Tagalog-based labor center Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU) held a protest action in front of the Department of National Defense (DND) in Quezon City, demanding the release of labor organizers Gavino...
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