Wyeth-Nestlé workers and their supporters mounted consecutive mass actions and activities to demand the reinstatement of 140 workers who were illegally terminated by the company on May 18 and five other workers who were fired earlier.

Members of Wyeth Philippines Progressive Workers Union (WPPWU) protested on May 30 in front of the Nestlé Cabuyao Factory before heading to Halang, Calamba, Laguna for the hearing of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board of Calabarzon. The mass action was held in time for the third hearing on the “notice of strike” filed by the union. They were joined by youth groups, church people, other unions and workers, federations, union centers, migrants and artists. Their call includes the reinstatement of workers who were removed in April.

Meanwhile, the Makabayan Bloc filed House Resolution 1067 on May 31 in congress. It called for an investigation into the unfair “cost cutting and restructuring strategy” used by Nestlé to justify mass layoffs.

The Wyeth union won the support and solidarity from other Nestlé unions in Cagayan de Oro City and Lipa City, Batangas. On May 26, these unions wrote to Nestlé demanding the reinstatement of their fellow workers. They urged the management in Canlubang to implement the company’s touted policy of open communication and dialogue to safeguard the rights of its workers.