The Wyeth Philippines Progressive Workers Union (WPPWU) DFA-KMU won the reinstatement of not less than 10 terminated workers in the third and last round of negotiations with the company management on June 16 in Calamba, Laguna. The reinstated workers include the union’s president and four other officials. In total, only 22 workers still refuse to accept the Enhanced Separation Package (ESP) offered by the management. The original demand was for the company to reinstate 145 laid off workers.

The union also secured a higher amount for the ESP of workers who agreed to be terminated, as well as the expansion of the company’s payment for workers with severe illnesses. A “separation package” is a bundle of wages and benefits that a laid off worker receives. This is usually based on the length of a worker’s service in a company.

The union expressed gratitude to all those who supported their struggle. “We may not have won the reinstatement of all workers, but this proves yet again that only through unity and struggle can we hope for victory,” said the WPPWU.