Labor groups say Usec. Maglunsod’s dismissal a mistake

Labor groups said President Duterte made a major mistake when he dismissed Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod (Photo courtesy of International Labour Organization via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

Partido Manggagawa Chairperson Rene Magtubo said Maglunsod, who has been performing his mandate very well, is a great loss to the Department of Labor and Employment.

“In his short stint as undersecretary of labor for industrial relations, he has bridge the ‘gap of trust’ between organized labor and the department by personally acting on complaints and facing mass actions of workers at the DOLE office in Intramuros,” he said in a statement.

“He has also pain stakingly conducted dialogues between employers and organized labor relaying to them the department’s effort on enforcing laws and regulations pertaining to labor contracting with the end in view of respecting the rights of both the workers and employers,” added Magtubo.

The Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) echoed what PM said.

“Jomag was always ready to listen and work out solutions to workers in trouble with their employers. Jomag was key DOLE official in helping move the very important security of tenure bill. He was also a key DOLE official in regularizing thousands of endo workers become regular workers,” said Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of the ALU-TUCP.

Militant labor group Bukluran Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), meantime, view the dismissal of Maglunsod as the administration’s way to appease Duterte’s true bosses- the foreign and local capitalists.

“It is evident that the firing of Maglunsod signifies where Duterte’s loyalty really lies,” said BMP president Luke Espirtu.

BMP said the President is mistaken if he thinks that the sudden dismissal of Maglunsod will neutralize the increasing militance of the labor movement.

Espiritu explained that not unless a major policy shift is promulgated, the workers will continue to assert what is rightfully theirs adding that labor groups are unanimous in pushing for the abolition of contractualization, living wages and scrapping of the regressive TRAIN Law.

“Ultimately, removing Maglunsod will not dampen the fighting spirit and militance of workers because the exploitative and oppressive policies remain intact,” he said.
Duterte announced the firing of Maglunsod, Tuesday.

He did not give any reason for the sacking but mentioned the “rising number” of workers strikes in the country. - By Leslie Ann Aquino

Nagkaisa wants thorough investigation on violent dispersal of NutriAsia workers

The Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition wants a thorough investigation on the violent dispersal of the picket of NutriAsia workers and their supporters in Bulacan.

(Photo from Anakbayan UST’s Twitter page / MANILA BULLETIN)

The group even asked Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to convene a Tripartite Monitoring Body on freedom of association that will investigate, gather evidence and analyze information to determine who is accountable for the bloody incident.

“The protest action is a direct result of attacks against trade union rights and freedom of association and thus, merits the creation of the tripartite monitoring body through the Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council in Central Luzon,” Atty. Sonny Matula, chairperson of Nagkaisa, said in a statement.

“Its about time we review the Joint Memorandum of Agreement and Guidelines of the DOLE, Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, which outlines the proper conduct of men in uniform when it comes to mass actions related to labor disputes,” he added.

Due to the incident, Matula, who is also the president of the Federation of Free Workers, then stressed the need to certify as urgent the Security of Tenure Bill.

“This only emphasizes the need to certify as urgent the Security of Tenure Bill at the Senate. We hope you act swiftly on this since no less than President Duterte, gave you and the Senate marching orders on the need for this law,” he said.

“We believe that had you been firm in implementing the DOLE decision on the regularization of NutriAsia workers with its principal, it would not have come to this violent end with workers at the receiving end,” Matula added.

Based on workers’ accounts, some 100 security forces, including 30 police officers violently dispersed the picket line outside the Marilao plant as protesters were holding a religious ecumenical service, Monday.

The dispersal left scores injured and led to the unjust detention of a number of individuals. - By Leslie Ann Aquino

Nagkaisa! condemns violence against workers across the country

Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition is deeply concerned over the spate of violence that befell workers in separate incidents across the country.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible, the attempted murder of a trade union leader in Cebu City and the violent dispersal of striking workers of food giant NutriAsia and their supporters, in Marilao, Bulacan," Atty. Sonny Matula, chairperson of Nagkaisa! said.

The display of violence happened a few hours apart yesterday.

“There was an apparent attempt on the life of Jessielou Cadungog, labor leader of ALU-TUCP, vice chairman of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR) and it involved the police," Matula said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Cebu are owning up to the incident as a legitimate police operation.

Meanwhile, in Marilao, Bulacan, the picket of protesting workers and their supporters was violently dispersed by operatives of PNP Bulacan and security personnel of giant food manufacturer NutriAsia.

“A peaceful concerted action demanding the recognition of rights of workers such as what was being done by workers of NutriAsia, should never ever merit any and all kinds of violence, especially those perpetrated by the police and private security personnel," Matula said.

Based on workers' accounts, some 100 security forces, including 30 police officers violently dispersed the picket line as protesters were holding a religious ecumenical service.

At least 19 were arrested and scores arrested as many of the protesters scrambled for safety amid the chaos.

Back in Cebu, the gunman who was killed in the encounter by Cadungog's aide was identified as PO2 Eugene Alcain Calumba. The accomplice who was taken into custody by the PNP was Michael Banua.

“Now, the PNP is trying to portray the assassination attempt on Mr. Cadungog as a legitimate police operation identifying him as a 'person-of-interest' involved in shabu," Michael Mendoza, president of ALU-TUCP, a Nagkaisa member said.

“We stand by Mr. Cadungog and condemn this sordid attempt to justify and cover-up for what is clear police involvement," said Mendoza.

Meanwhile, police in Bulacan are claiming that some of the arrested protesters had guns and drugs with them.

“It is becoming a sad refrain. The campaign against drugs is being used by the police as a flimsy excuse to either justify the use of violence or use it as an escape goat, when harassing workers and citizens who are exercising their legitimate trade union and human rights," Matula said.

“We are calling on the authorities to conduct a thorough and objective investigation of the twin incidents of violence against workers that occurred yesterday. The police officers and their superiors who will be proven to have done wrongdoing should be made accountable. The culture of impunity must stop," Matula said.

Labor group expects “good” SONA

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, the largest coalition of worker’s organization in the country expects a “good” SONA from President Duterte.

“It should be a SONA that would squarely address economic woes and political issues besetting the country today”, said Nagkaisa spokesperson Ka Rene Magtubo.

Nagkaisa expects the President’s SONA should contain the following:

– Addressing the proliferation of illegal and abusive contracting arrangements that DO 174 and EO 51 failed to do, by way of certifying as urgent the Security of Tenure Bill pending in the Senate

– Addressing the “gap” in workers wages and the cost of living brought about by the TRAIN law, rising inflation, peso devaluation, profiteering and the spike in global prices of petroleum products by way of certifying as urgent wage bills pending in the House of Representatives;

– Providing more assistance to women workers by enacting into law the Expanded Maternity Leave Bill pending in the House of Representatives;

– Addressing the prevalence of poverty despite positive economic growth in terms of programs and services that would directly benefit the poor people by way of increasing budget in affordable housing, universal healthcare and pension for the elderly among others;

– Addressing the continuing problem of unemployment and underemployment by way of policies and programs that would provide more local employment opportunities to the labor force by way of a clear industrialization policy, continuing land reform, and development of agriculture; and

– Clear government policy of defending the country’s sovereignty and patrimony on its rightful claims in the West Philippine Sea.

“These are the real issues that matter most to the working people that government should prioritize and not charter change. Absent these issues, the speech will be “business as usual” as in the previous SONAs”, Magtubo added.

Majority of the members of the coalition will be joining the United Peoples’ SONA to voice out workers issues and concerns.

– Nagkaisa Labor Coalition
Press Release