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Welga inilunsad ng mga manggagawa ng Super 8

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Inilunsad ng mga manggagawa ng Super 8 Warehouse ang kanilang welga sa Axis Road, Brgy. Kalawaan sa Pasig City noong Agosto 6 laban sa malawakang tanggalan sa kanilang kumpanya.

Itinayo nila ang welga dakong 7:00 ng umaga at lumahok ang 88 manggagawa.

Mariin nilang binatikos ang management na Matapat Service Cooperative na siyang pwersahang nagtanggal sa mga manggagawa.

Bukod dito, tinututulan din nila ang mahigpit na pamamalakad ng Agency, panggigipit at pangwawasak ng unyon.

Nagtungo sila sa Pasig City Hall kung saan kinausap sila ng bagong mayor ng syudad na si Vico Sotto.

Hiling nila na maibalik sila sa trabaho, maibigay ang kanilang mga naudlot na benepisyo at kilalanin ang bagong tayong unyon. Nasa 200 kontraktwal na mga manggagawa ang nasa Super 8 Warehouse sa Pasig.

Ito ay pagmamay-ari ni Alvin Lim, founder at CEO ng Super 8 Retail System at sister company din ng Suy Sing Commercial Corporation. (Music: News background Bidyo ni: Joseph Cuevas/ Kodao)

‘Atin ang ‘Pinas,’ sigaw ng United People’s Sona 2019

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Umabot sa 40,000 ang lumahok sa United People’s Sona 2019 at nagmartsa mula Commission on Human Rights hanggang sa tapat ng St. Peter’s Parish sa Commonwealth Avenue sa Quezon City noong Hulyo 22.

Ang protesta ay may temang “Tama na!, Sobra na!, Ipaglaban ang demokrasya, kabuhayan at soberanya!” Lumahok ang iba’t-ibang grupo at mga personalidad para ipanawagan na ipaglaban ang Pilipinas laban sa dayuhan.

Mariin nilang binatikos si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang ika-apat na State of the Nation Address. Ayon sa Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), tuluyang isinuko ni Duterte ang soberanya ng bansa sa mga teritoryo nito pabor sa interes ng imperyalistang China. Kapalit anila ng napakalaking pautang, lalong malulubog ang taumbayan sa kahirapan. Nanawagan ang BAYAN na patalsikin na ang traydor, pahirap at diktador na pangulo.

Bukod sa isyu sa West Philippine Sea, binitbit din sa United People’s Sona ang mga isyu tulad ng kontraktwalisasyon, kawalan ng lupa sa mga magsasaka, mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin, tumitinding militarisasyon at paglabag sa karapatang pantao at iba pa. (Music: Background News/Bidyo nila: Jomaline Mamangun, Louella Ladaran, Joseph Cuevas at Romie Malonzo)

Si Ka Lito, lider manggagawa sa pantalan

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Si Ka Lito Luces, 59 taong gulang at isa sa mga haligi ng kilusang paggawa sa pier sa North Harbor sa Maynila. Simula 1995 ay siya na ang tagapangulo ng unyon (PAMBATO-LAND-KMU) na nangunguna sa kanilang mga laban para sa karapatan at kagalingan.

Sa kabila nang matinding tanggalan dulot ng kontratwalisasyon sa mga manggagawa sa pier, patuloy silang nakikibaka para labanan ito.

Hiling din nila na maitaas pa ang kanilang sahod. Ang kasalukuyan na P537 kada araw ito ay katumbas lamang na halos P400 ayon kay Ka Lito.

Natapos man ang araw ng manggagawa noong Mayo 1., sigaw nila sa gubyerno ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na itaas ang sahod sa buong bansa at wakasan ang anumang porma ng kontraktwaliasyon. (Bidyo ni Joseph Cuevas/ Kodao)

NUJP hails media workers’ victory vs GMA contractualization

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The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) hailed the Court of Appeals (CA) decision declaring former talents of broadcast giant GMA network as regular workers.

“We congratulate our colleagues in the Talents Association of GMA (TAG) for courageously sustaining and winning the struggle for their rights and welfare,” the NUJP said in a statement, praising the workers’ unity and determination to fight for their rights as an inspiration to all media workers.

In a 19-page February 20 decision, the CA’s Special 14th Division upheld an earlier decision by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) declaring more than a hundred GMA network talents as regular employees.

The CA also junked the petition for certiorari filed by GMA 7 management, saying it lacked merit.

The appellate court said the talents are regular employees and production crew members who undoubtedly performed functions necessary and essential to GMA’s broadcasting business.

“Truly, without their work, petitioner GMA would have nothing to air, hence the private respondents’ services in the former’s television program were unquestionably necessary and essential,” the decision reads.

Written by Associate Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles, the decision also said that the workers contracts have been repeatedly renewed, indicating the necessity and desirability of their (talents’) work in the usual course of GMA’s business.

The decision also said the four-fold test to determine employer-employee relationship was established: selection and engagement of the employee, payment of wages, power of dismissal, and power to control the employee’s conduct.

In June 4, 2014, TAG, composed mostly of contractual employees, filed a complaint with the NLRC.

It also held a protest rally on June 4, 2014 before the GMA headquarters, along with supportive organizations such as the NUJP and the Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Several TAG members were eventually fired for participating in the rally.

In a statement, TAG said it welcomes the decision declaring they are regular workers.

“But the purpose was always clear to us — to shine the light on a prevalent issue that affects millions of Filipinos and to increase the pressure on companies and the government, to stop this unjust, inhumane and illegal labor treatment. To not do so would be to turn our backs on our duties as journalists,” the group said.

The NUJP called on the owners and managers of GMA Network to do right by their workers and immediately implement the CA decision.

The union also urged all media houses to end their contractualization policies and engage their employees in crafting ways to improve their welfare. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

JoMag: ‘I was surprised, shocked’

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Department of Labor and Employment undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said he did not receive notice of his dismissal before President Rodrigo Duterte made the announcement in a speech Tuesday in Catarman, Northern Samar.

“I was surprised, shocked even,” Maglunsod told Kodao, adding he only learned of the President’s statement when he opened his mobile phone after conducting two meetings Wednesday morning.

“Many journalists have sent me messages about PRRDs statement and that was how I learned about it,” Maglunsod said.

Duterte said he fired Maglunsod because of his association with the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) the President alleged was responsible for the upsurge in labor strikes throughout the country.

“[Si] Joel Maglunsod, pinaalis ko. Pinagbigyan ko sila noong bago ako  kasi gusto ko nandoon sila sa opisina, Joel Maglunsod, sila lahat,” Duterte said.

(What went before: Labor movement hails, welcomes back ‘JoMag‘)

Maglunsod said he immediately went back to the DOLE offices in Intramuros Wednesday afternoon to consult with labor and employment secretary Silvestre Bello III and other department officials.

“They too were surprised,” Maglunsod revealed.

Maglunsod said Bello asked him to “stay put” until Monday. “He told me he (Bello) will be able to know more in Monday when he meets the President during their Cabinet meeting,” Maglunsod said.

The beleaguered official also told Kodao that he called up special presidential assistant Christopher “Bong” Go to request for a meeting with Duterte.

“He said he will ask the President (about my request),” Maglunsod said.

Maglunsod, who also hails from Davao City, said he considered Duterte his friend but felt it would have been better for him if the President told him directly about his decision before the public announcement.

“But it is his prerogative as the President and appointing power,” Maglunsod said.

He added he is ready to leave his post.

“But I hold my head high. I can categorically say I did my best in performing DOLE’s mandate. I have been fair, even to the employers. I always told them that we only need to follow the law,” he said.

The country’s major labor federations, including the KMU, the Association of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, and Nagkaisa Labor Coalition unanimously defended Maglunsod as the official who consistently “bridged 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.”

“I am grateful to the labor federations who expressed support. I have not had the chance to send them messages yet, but I thank them for validating my work as DOLE undersecretary,” Maglunsod said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Mga manggagawa, nagmartsa sa Araw ng mga Bayani

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Nagsama-sama ang libu-libong manggagawa sa Araw ng mga Bayani sa tinaguriang nilang “Martsa ng Manggagawa” noong Agosto 27 mula Welcome Rotonda hanggang sa Mendiola sa Maynila.

Panawagan nila na itigil na ang kontraktwalisasyon sa paggawa, ipatupad ang pambansang minimum na sahod na P750, at wakasan ang iba pang porma ng pagsasamantala sa manggagawa.

Ayon sa Kilos na Manggagawa (KnM), sa nakalipas na dalawang taon, umabot na sa 40 milyon na manggagawa sa buong bansa ay kontraktwal.

Karamihan sa mga ito ay nasa sektor ng manupaktura at serbisyo na tumatanggap din nang napakababang sahod o mas mababa pa sa minimum na sahod.

Isang halimbawa dito ay sa Southern Tagalog na umabot sa mahigit 20,000 ang kontraktwal.

Dagdag pasakit din sa mga manggagawa ang mga patakaran na ipinataw nang gubyernong Rodrigo Duterte tulad ng Department Order 174 at Executive Order 51 na sa katunayan ay nagpapatindi lamang ng iskemang endo.

Dagdag pa nang KnM, malaking dagok din ang TRAIN law na siyang bumubutas sa bulsa at kita ng mga manggagawa.

Habang binabarat ang sahod, patuloy naman na pinahihirapan ang mamamayan sa mga dagdag bayarin at buwis.

Binigyang-pugay din nila ang mga manggagawa na siyang tunay na bayani at tagalikha ng yaman.

Malaking hamon naman sa mga manggagawa na labanan ang tumitinding atake sa mga manggagawa kagaya nang pambubuwag sa mga unyon, pagpaslang at pagsasampa ng mga gawa-gawang kaso sa mga lider unyonista. # (Ulat at bidyo ni Joseph Cuevas)

‘Ang ibinigay sa atin ay TRAIN’

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“Ang mga manggagawa na nananawagan ng pagwawakas ng kontraktwalisasyon para sa nakabubuhay na sahod ay naibigay ba ni Duterte? Ang ibinigay sa atin ay TRAIN. Taas-presyo ng mga bilihin na lalong nagpapahirap at nagpapagutom sa taong bayan.”—Einstein Recedes, Anakbayan secretary general

PLDT

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ni Rene Boy Abiva

 

Hindi ko alam kung saan yari ang iyong kaluluwa

kung ‘to ba’y yari sa sala-salabat na old fiber

o sa ipinagmamayabang mong new wireless fiber.

‘Di ko lubos maisip kung tao ka pa nga ba

at kung bakit ni katiting na hibla ng awa

ay ‘di mo kayang maibigay sa higit pitong libong manggagawa.

 

Gaya na lamang ni Atong Alagwa

na sampung taon mong pinagbuhat at pinaghila

ng dambuhalang bakal, kawad at linya.

Na kung umuwi’y turing nang biyaya

kung mai-abot nang buo ang sweldo sa may sakit na asawa.

 

At mukhang nag-iinis ka pa

sa bawat imaheng ‘yong ipinapakita

sa telebisyon, tabloyd at billboard sa mga kalsada

gaya na lamang sa mukha

ni Pia Wurtzbach at Kris Aquino na ngangang-nganga

habang sa gilid ay naka-ukit sa lona

ang mga katagang DSL, hacker at ultera.

 

Gaya mo rin pala ang NutriAsia,

na kung toyoin ang manggagawa’y anong saya.

Punyeta’t sarap na sarap pa,

sarap na sarap na binuwag ang barikada!

gayong sing-alat na ng patis at asim ng suka

ang pawis at luha

ni Aling Leticia.

 

Suma total ay gaya mo si Digong

who cares about human lives

but not human rights.

At ngayon sinasabi mong ‘yong babaguhin ang mundo?

Sa pamamaraang may iiyak at magugutom

hanggang sa sukdulan ng pagdanak ng dugo

at pag-atungal ng libo-libong balo.

 

At ngayong pinaboran ng DOLE ang mga manggagawa

sa unang pagkakatao’y anong ligaya nila,

ngunit anong kapal mo’t umaangal ka pa?!

hanggang islogan ka lang pala!

 

 

Agosto 1, 2018

Lunsod ng Queson, Maynila

NutriAsia guards, Meycauayan police deliberately attack journalists

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During the violent dispersal of striking NutriAsia workers and their supporters last Monday, July 30, company guards and Meycauayan police under the direct supervision of Superintendent Santos Mera attacked and arrested without provocation members of the media covering the incident.

This video is a collection of actual footage by Kodao and Altermidya reporters who were arrested and hurt, as well as Supt. Mera’s illegal efforts to prevent others to inquire with him if they arrested the five journalists.

Scores hurt, arrested from violent dispersal by police and NutriAsia guards

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Nineteen NutriAsia workers and supporters were arrested as 100 elements of the Meycauyan Police and security guards dispersed the picketline just outside the factory in Marilao, Bulacan.

In a phone interview with Bulatlat, NutriAsia worker William Espiritu said the violence started at around 3. pm. today, July 31.

While an ecumenical prayer by some 300 workers and supporters was being held, company security guards started pushing the workers using police’s shields. After a few minutes, the policemen and guards hit the protesters with rattan sticks and threw stones at them.

“They kept on striking us, even as we raised our hands,” Espiritu said. “They did not have any mercy.”

Espiritu said a dialogue between the management and their union was scheduled today. “We were ready to dismantle our picket if need be. Our only demand is to reinstate all the dismissed workers,” he said in Filipino.

One of the supporters of NutriAsia workers hit by the police. (Photo courtesy of Anakbayan)

One of the supporters, identified as Leticia Espino, a member of Kadamay from Pandi, Bulacan was among those hurt. A photograph posted by Anakbayan shows blood all over Espino’s mouth, spilling on her scarf and blouse.

Two others, Espiritu said, were brought to the hospital in critical condition. At least 20 more were wounded and given first aid.

Nineteen were arrested and brought to Meycauayan Police Station, according to Karra Taggaoa, spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students (LFS). Among those arrested were Anakbayan Secretary General Einstein Recedes and LFS Secretary General Mark Quinto.

After the arrests and beatings, Espiritu said the policemen and security guards destroyed the workers’ makeshift tents and confiscated their laptops, cellphones, bags containing cash and personal belongings.

Espiritu said at least 20 motorcycles and some bicycles owned by NutriAsia workers were also taken by policemen and security guards and brought inside the NutriAsia compound.

NutriAsia workers began their strike on June 2 after management dismissed 50 workers. The NurtiAsia workers are also demanding regularization.

Journalists hurt, arrested

Also apprehended were journalists covering the incident.

Rhea Padilla, national coordinator of Altermidya, said one of their volunteers, Hiyas Saturay sent her a message informing her that she and her colleagues Eric Tandoc, Avon Ang, Psalty Caluza were being taken by policemen.

A campus journalist, Jon Angelo Bonifacio of the Scientia publication of the College of Science of UP, was also arrested.

The five were among the 19 arrested and are currently detained at the Meycauayan Police Station.

Another journalist, Rosemarie Alcaraz of Radyo Natin Guimba, was hurt when NutriAsia security guards hit her with rattan sticks and pushed her away. While filming the dispersal, a policeman hit her camera, a Canon 70D.

“They knew that I’m a journalist. I’m wearing my ID,” Alcaraz told Bulatlat.

Kodao reporter Joseph Cuevas was also told by a company guard to stop filming or his camera would be destroyed.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the arrest of the five journalists, the attack on Alcaraz and threat against Cuevas.

“We denounce the security personnel of NutriAsia for deliberately targeting journalists and the Bulacan police not only for failing to prevent or stop this outrage from happening but, even worse, arresting five colleagues, making false claims about them, and then preventing other journalists from inquiring after them and covering their detention,” the NUJP in a statement said.

The group demanded the release of the five detained journalists by the Meycauayan police and forget plans of filing trumped up criminal charges against the journalists.

The NUJP likewise called on Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde to initiate an immediate investigation into this clear abuse of authority by his subordinates.

Kodao tried to interview NutriAsia guards after the dispersal and arrests but was refused. At the Meycauayan PNP station, the Kodao team was told to leave the precinct when it inquired about the arrested journalists. # (Len Olea/Bulatlat and Raymund B. Villanueva/Kodao)