Wyeth-Nestle and union CBA. The Wyeth Philippines Progressive Workers Union formally signed a new CBA with Wyeth-Nestle Philippines on December 9. The union successfully secured a ₱6,000 wage increase for the next three years. Through collective action, the union also won a ₱30,000 signing bonus and other benefits.

Gardenia and Philfoods workers’ protest. The workers and unions of Gardenia Bakeries Phils Inc and Philfoods Fresh Baked Products Inc protested inside the factories and outside the Laguna International Industrial Park (LIIP) in Biñan, Laguna on December 19. They demanded wage increases, benefits, and to end attacks against union members.

US-deported seafarers charge DFA, manning agencies. After suffering arbitrary US deportation, Filipino seafarers asserted their rights and held the DFA and manning agencies accountable. In a dialogue on December 12, a DFA official promised to speed up the processing of new passports for the affected seafarers, provide assistance in appealing the visa cancellations, and waive related fees.

Workers uphold rights at Wipro Cebu. Employees of Wipro Philippines in Cebu held a silent protest while their representatives held a dialogue with the company, and DOLE on December 1. The employees complained of the company’s numerous violations of their labor rights. Their main grievance was Wipro Cebu’s unjust plan to place 400 employees under “floating status” starting December 15.

Filipino workers in Taiwan vote to strike. On December 1, Filipino women workers at Taidoc Technology Co. Ltd. voted to go on strike against the company’s violations of labor laws. The violations included forced factory cleaning, strict dormitory rules, and unreasonable charges. This was the union’s first strike.