Violations of workers� rights
Violations of union rights and other workers' rights grew within Gloria Arroyo's close to three years in office. According to the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), there were 91 recorded cases of attacks on workers in picket lines from January to November this year, victimizing 1,857 workers.
Most of the cases involved arrests and imprisonment, attacks on picket lines, surveillance of worker-leaders, grave threats, sexual harassment and murder.
Based on CTUHR's partial reports, there were 28 cases of attacks on picket lines with 1,621 victims. There were 394 victims in nine incidents of threats on strikers and surveillance of the movements of worker-leaders. Two-hundred and three workers were injured in three incidents of beatings and truncheoning while picket lines were being dispersed.
There were ten cases of arbitrary arrests involving 50 workers. Meanwhile, 35 people were victimized in seven cases of illegal detention.
Women workers were not spared from sexual harassment. There was one recorded case of killing.
Violence occurred in the picket lines of workers at the Light Rail Transit (LRT), La Tondeña, Lepanto Mining Corporation, Nestlé Philippines, NE Poultry Processing Plant, Rustan's, Sackline Industrial corporation, San Miguel Corporation, Sulpicio Lines, Yusung ADVENTURE, Martex, Kosiphil, GOP, Reino's Chicken, PASVIL/Pascual Liner and Ren Transport. A workers' community was demolished in Parola, Tondo in Manila.
| Violations of union rights and other workers� rights grew within Gloria Arroyo�s close to three years in office. |
Aside from using guards, scabs and goons, management colluded with the national and local government against the workers. It used forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP), including the Regional Special Police Force, Regional Mobile Group, Special Warfare Team (SWAT) and the police of PEZA. Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), sheriffs and even barangay tanods were also involved.
The present government bears a huge responsibility for the growing number of violations of workers' rights. In Arroyo's attempt to illegalize strikes, she harshly suppresses workers and unleashes violence on them. Arroyo unbridledly suppresses workers' rights to prove her support for her capitalist masters.
|
