In Solidarity: Church People-Workers-Legislators Roundtable Discussion on Labor
September 15, 2015
In Solidarity: Church People-Workers-Legislators Roundtable Discussion on Labor
Minority Conference Room, North Wing Basement
Batasan Complex, Quezon City
September 15, 2015
9:00-11:30 AM
Minority Conference Room, North Wing Basement
Batasan Complex, Quezon City
September 15, 2015
9:00-11:30 AM
Tanduay Fact Finding Solidarity Mission
June 10, 2015
Some of the photos from the Tanduay Fact Finding Solidarity Mission in Cabuyao, Laguna (June 10, 2015).
Headed by the Churhpeople-Workers Solidarity (CWS) and Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR).
Some of the Churchpeople who joined: Task Force on Urban Conscientization (TFUC), National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), United Methodist Church (UMC), Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), Solidarity Philippines and Sr. Rebecca Pacete, MMS.
Also visited Sagara Metro Plastic Incorporated and Karzai Corporation workers.
Headed by the Churhpeople-Workers Solidarity (CWS) and Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR).
Some of the Churchpeople who joined: Task Force on Urban Conscientization (TFUC), National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), United Methodist Church (UMC), Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), Solidarity Philippines and Sr. Rebecca Pacete, MMS.
Also visited Sagara Metro Plastic Incorporated and Karzai Corporation workers.
Giving of School Supplies to the Children of the Kentex Factory Workers
June 6, 2015
Magandang Hapon.
Maraming salamat po sa mga tumugon sa solicitation ng CWS para sa school supplies ng mga anak ng mga factory workers ng Kentex at mga anak ng mga manggagawang kontraktuwal at naka strike. Patuloy po kaming nangangalap para sa year long support namin sa mga bata at para sa relief goods tulad ng bigas para sa naka welga na mga pagawaan.
Narito po ang ilan sa mga photos ng pamamahagi noong June 6, Saturday sa cover court ng Brgy. Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela City. Dinaluhan ito ng mga pamilya ng Kentex workers at ang mga bata.
Sa pamumuno ng CWS at Justice for Kentex workers, sumama ang ibang churchpeople organizations tulad ng PCPR.
Malaking pasasalamat namin sa mga taong simbahan na sumama at naging malaking bahagi sa plinanong programa tulad ng Congregation of the Daughters of the Divine Zeal (FDZ), Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), Holy Family Sisters (HFS), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).
Hinggil po sa pagpapatuloy ng laban ng Kentex factory workers, ipinagpapatuloy po nila ang laban para sa kanilang pagkuha ng compensation para sa SSS at separation pay at pag file ng criminal acts sa may ari ng Kentex.
Hindi rin nakakalimutan na ang nangyari sa Kentex ay pagpapabaya ng DOLE at ng DILG sa kanilang mga tungkulin na protektahan ang mga manggagawa (attached is an article regarding this matter (Aquino’s tack on Kentex fire deaths ‘selective political gimmickry’)
Pero higit sa lahat, pinagpapatuloy ang pag highlight ng laban ng Kentex ay laban ng lahat ng manggagawang contractual para ipagbawal o iban ang contractualization anu mang porma ito.
Nais din naming ilapit ang nangyayari ngayon sa Tanduay workers. Ito po ang ilang nakalap na pangyayari sa Tanduay Inc. workers:
1. Simula Mayo 18, 2015, itinayo ng 397 manggagawang kontraktwal ng Tanduay Distillers Inc. (TDI) ang piketlayn sa Gate 2 ng Asia Brewery Compound upang ipanawagan sa kumpanya ni Lucio Tan ang regularisasyon ng mga manggagawang lima hanggang labing-isang taon nang nagtatrabaho sa kumpanya.
2. Subalit ang walang palyang isinusukli ng kumpanya sa panawagang ito simula nang ilunsad ang piketlayn ay ang matinding pandarahas sa mga manggagawa sa pamamagitan ng mga security guard at bayarang goons. Halos araw-araw nagaganap ang pambabato ng bato at bubog, panunusok ng mga bakal, panghahampas ng tubo, at pambobomba ng tubig na may buhangin, na nagbunsod na ng napakaraming bilang ng mga sugatan sa hanay ng mga manggagawa.
3. Si Lucio Tan, isa sa itinanghal na pinakamayaman na Pilipino ng Forbes Magazine, ay walang ikalulugi kung ireregularisa niya ang mga manggagawang kontraktwal, kahit pa bigyan niya ng buwanang bonus ang mga ito. Dahil sa bawat P1.00 kinikita niya sa Tanduay na likha ng mga manggagawang ito ay P0.00331 lamang ang napupunta sa bawat manggagagawa. Kaya’t hindi nakapagtataka na umabot sa mahigit P10B at P12B ang kanyang kabuuang kita sa Tanduay noong 2013 at 2012.
4. Ipinananawagan na huwag tangkilikin, o i-boycot, ang mga produkto ng Asia Brewery na pangunahing pagmamay-ari ni Lucio Tan.
Ilan sa mga produkto nito ay ang mga sumusunod:
Tanduay Liquors
Beer na Beer Pale Pilsen
Cobra Energy Drink
Absolute Distilled Drinking Water
Summit Natural Drinking Water
Vitamilk Soy Milk
Coco Fresh
5. Inaanyayahan kayo sa :
Fact Finding Mission at integrasyon sa picketline ng Tanduay workers (Cabuyao, Laguna)
June 9, Tuesday; 7:30am;
Meeting place: CICM Provincial House
Room 106, CICM Guest House Building
No. 60, 14th Street, New Manila, Quezon City
Packed lunch and snacks
Please bring food and relief goods like rice, canned goods na maibahagi ng taong simbahan sa picketline.
6. Mahalaga po ang presence ng mga taong simbahan sa araw na ito.
Pakipaabot po sa secretariat (landline no. (02) 584.3190 / Mobile: 0932.515.4066 ; 0946.468.9826) kung makakasama kayo.
Salamat.
Ellen/Tony
Maraming salamat po sa mga tumugon sa solicitation ng CWS para sa school supplies ng mga anak ng mga factory workers ng Kentex at mga anak ng mga manggagawang kontraktuwal at naka strike. Patuloy po kaming nangangalap para sa year long support namin sa mga bata at para sa relief goods tulad ng bigas para sa naka welga na mga pagawaan.
Narito po ang ilan sa mga photos ng pamamahagi noong June 6, Saturday sa cover court ng Brgy. Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela City. Dinaluhan ito ng mga pamilya ng Kentex workers at ang mga bata.
Sa pamumuno ng CWS at Justice for Kentex workers, sumama ang ibang churchpeople organizations tulad ng PCPR.
Malaking pasasalamat namin sa mga taong simbahan na sumama at naging malaking bahagi sa plinanong programa tulad ng Congregation of the Daughters of the Divine Zeal (FDZ), Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), Holy Family Sisters (HFS), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).
Hinggil po sa pagpapatuloy ng laban ng Kentex factory workers, ipinagpapatuloy po nila ang laban para sa kanilang pagkuha ng compensation para sa SSS at separation pay at pag file ng criminal acts sa may ari ng Kentex.
Hindi rin nakakalimutan na ang nangyari sa Kentex ay pagpapabaya ng DOLE at ng DILG sa kanilang mga tungkulin na protektahan ang mga manggagawa (attached is an article regarding this matter (Aquino’s tack on Kentex fire deaths ‘selective political gimmickry’)
Pero higit sa lahat, pinagpapatuloy ang pag highlight ng laban ng Kentex ay laban ng lahat ng manggagawang contractual para ipagbawal o iban ang contractualization anu mang porma ito.
Nais din naming ilapit ang nangyayari ngayon sa Tanduay workers. Ito po ang ilang nakalap na pangyayari sa Tanduay Inc. workers:
1. Simula Mayo 18, 2015, itinayo ng 397 manggagawang kontraktwal ng Tanduay Distillers Inc. (TDI) ang piketlayn sa Gate 2 ng Asia Brewery Compound upang ipanawagan sa kumpanya ni Lucio Tan ang regularisasyon ng mga manggagawang lima hanggang labing-isang taon nang nagtatrabaho sa kumpanya.
2. Subalit ang walang palyang isinusukli ng kumpanya sa panawagang ito simula nang ilunsad ang piketlayn ay ang matinding pandarahas sa mga manggagawa sa pamamagitan ng mga security guard at bayarang goons. Halos araw-araw nagaganap ang pambabato ng bato at bubog, panunusok ng mga bakal, panghahampas ng tubo, at pambobomba ng tubig na may buhangin, na nagbunsod na ng napakaraming bilang ng mga sugatan sa hanay ng mga manggagawa.
3. Si Lucio Tan, isa sa itinanghal na pinakamayaman na Pilipino ng Forbes Magazine, ay walang ikalulugi kung ireregularisa niya ang mga manggagawang kontraktwal, kahit pa bigyan niya ng buwanang bonus ang mga ito. Dahil sa bawat P1.00 kinikita niya sa Tanduay na likha ng mga manggagawang ito ay P0.00331 lamang ang napupunta sa bawat manggagagawa. Kaya’t hindi nakapagtataka na umabot sa mahigit P10B at P12B ang kanyang kabuuang kita sa Tanduay noong 2013 at 2012.
4. Ipinananawagan na huwag tangkilikin, o i-boycot, ang mga produkto ng Asia Brewery na pangunahing pagmamay-ari ni Lucio Tan.
Ilan sa mga produkto nito ay ang mga sumusunod:
Tanduay Liquors
Beer na Beer Pale Pilsen
Cobra Energy Drink
Absolute Distilled Drinking Water
Summit Natural Drinking Water
Vitamilk Soy Milk
Coco Fresh
5. Inaanyayahan kayo sa :
Fact Finding Mission at integrasyon sa picketline ng Tanduay workers (Cabuyao, Laguna)
June 9, Tuesday; 7:30am;
Meeting place: CICM Provincial House
Room 106, CICM Guest House Building
No. 60, 14th Street, New Manila, Quezon City
Packed lunch and snacks
Please bring food and relief goods like rice, canned goods na maibahagi ng taong simbahan sa picketline.
6. Mahalaga po ang presence ng mga taong simbahan sa araw na ito.
Pakipaabot po sa secretariat (landline no. (02) 584.3190 / Mobile: 0932.515.4066 ; 0946.468.9826) kung makakasama kayo.
Salamat.
Ellen/Tony
Mass for the 9th Day of Kentex Fire Tragedy
May 22, 2015
On the 9th day of the Kentex Fire Tragedy (May 22, 2015) the Churchpeople-Workers Solidarity (CWS) together with Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) and Solidarity with the Workers Network (SWN-Bulacan) held a mass in San Juan Dela Cruz Parish, Ugong Valenzuela. It was attended by the sponsoring organizations, parishoners of the parish, media people, relgious sisters from Holy Family Sisters (HSF), Notre Dame Sisters (NDS), and Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), priests from Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and United Methodist Church (UMC). After the mass the group went to the site of the tragedy, Kentex Factory and had a short program with candle lighting. The group also had a chance to talk to some of the families of the victims. #JusticeforKENTEXWorkers
Press Conference of Churchpeople
Press Conference of Churchpeople
April 28, 2015
On Labor Day, Remember Human Dignity and the Common Good
'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality
We, church people from different Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, organizations and institutions spearheaded by Churchpeople Workers Solidarity (CWS) are deeply saddened to recognize that the situation of our Filipino workers has gone worse under the present government. The dignity and rights of our workers are further undermined as evidenced by the following unfortunate developments:
growing legalization of contractualization/joblessness
It gravely undermines workers’ rights to security of tenure, self-organization, and collective bargaining agreement (CBA). President Aquino has kept the contractual-employment legal and more widespread through Department Order 18-A Series of 2011.
In January of 2014, Philippines jobless rate rose to 7.5 percent, up from 6.5 percent in the previous period. Such employment situation gives us a glimpse of how millions of Filipinos are unable to cope with rising prices of petroleum and basic commodities.
unjust wages
The present statistic shows that the profit of transnational corporations grew from 20 – 100 % – the highest since 1940s. On the other hand, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said that the growth in the salary of workers throughout the world from 2008 to 2009 decreased by 50%.
In the Philippines, the imposition of the Two-Tiered Wage System has meant a wage cut and a wage freeze. The gap between the minimum wage and the living wage has further increased. Millions of Filipino workers continue to lose human dignity with very meagre wages and substandard quality of work. But still the Aquino government has continued to reject calls for a significant wage hike. The Php 15 increase daily for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila is very insulting that the amount is just enough for a pack of instant noodles and eggs according to CTUHR.
the right to organize
The present government continues to implement the same anti-labor policies as the previous administrations. The unwritten incentive for foreign investors: “Come to the Philippines ‘where labor is cheap, docile, not unionized.” In practice, the workers are unjustly terminated when they are suspected of organizing themselves.
Migrant Filipino workers
The Philippine government has called OFW’s as the country’s modern heroes. However, these praises ring empty considering the government’s unwillingness to stop the staggering outflow of 6,092 Filipinos leaving daily in search of employment abroad, only to be exploited by their foreign employers. Added to this is the death inflow of six to ten bodies of OFW’s repatriated every day, citing data from Migrante International.
This phenomenon is the result of forced migration. Poverty and massive joblessness in the country push our people to look for jobs abroad. This is coupled with the government’s policy to export our labor thereby reducing people as mere commodities in the global market. What happened to Mary Jane Veloso is a glaring example of this injustice.
Call to Action
In the face of such miserable plight of the Filipino workers, we, church people reiterate and affirmed our stand to advance the struggle of the working people. In the context of worsening conditions of the workers, we are determined to pursue the struggle for workers’ dignity and rightful recognition as partners in the pursuit of peace and progress in the country.
In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis said, "Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. We are called to denounce and combat a global economic system dominated by profit, new forms of slavery have developed and are worse and more inhumane than that of the past".
CWS affirms the “dignity of work based on the dignity of workers as co-creators of God and aims to live by the principle of putting the interest of labor above that of capital: workers’ rights over profit.”
Our urgent calls:
- Uphold workers' rights! Reclaim the Dignity of the Human Work!
- Demand for social justice, living wage now!
- Support the call for National Minimum Wage – P 16,000.00 monthly!
- Uphold workers’ rights and dignity!
- No to contractualization! Yes to Regular Employment Bill!
- Denounce modern forms of slavery, forced labor and prostitution!
- Condemn an economy of exclusion and inequality!
- Save the life of Mary Jane Veloso! Stand against human trafficking and modern day slavery of migrants!
- Stand against corruption, greed and labor export policy!
Catechism on Labor Book Launching
January 1, 2015
In the light of Pope Francis’ recent visit to the Philippines and the celebration of the “Year of the Poor”, Churchpeople Workers Solidarity (CWS) invites you to the:
Launching of Catechism on Labor
Presentation of Catechism on Labor
MOST REV. GERARDO A. ALMINAZA, D.D.
January 30, 2015 (Friday), 9:00 a.m.
4th Floor, San Pio Building(beside Sto. Domingo Parish Office)
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Launching of Catechism on Labor
Presentation of Catechism on Labor
MOST REV. GERARDO A. ALMINAZA, D.D.
January 30, 2015 (Friday), 9:00 a.m.
4th Floor, San Pio Building(beside Sto. Domingo Parish Office)
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City