SLORD Unipak Appeal
June 26, 2018
The Churchpeople Workers' Solidarity strongly appeals for solidarity for the workers of SLORD Development Corporation under the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD as they face illegal and unjust dismissal by the giant sardines company in Navotas Fish Port. Around 44 workers, mostly women were dismissed by SLORD Development Corporation in May 12, 2018.
We are saddened that for almost three decades of serving and contributing to the huge profits of the company, majority of the workers are contractual and their wages remain in starvation level from P350-370 per day and piece rate workers are paid even lower. While SLORD-Unipak paid millions of pesos to Kris Aquino for advertisement, workers receive nothing in terms of government mandated benefits such as SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig and even basic labor standards like 13th month pay, service incentive leave, holiday pay, rest day pay and maternity benefits for women workers. Inhumanely, workers are not allowed to have meal and snack break for 12-14 hours of work. SLORD Company is also not providing payslip and company ID to the workers.
We are alarmed that the dire working condition of workers in SLORD Development Corporation is also seriously impacting women workers who composed 85% of the total workforce in the factory. Women workers are unjustly dismissed when they are pregnant and not allowed to return to work even after their maternity. The company is also not giving mandatory paid maternity leaves for pregnant women workers. Children of workers are also severely affected especially after the massive dismissal as hunger strikes their families.
Worst, aside from lack of personal protective equipments, workers are also exposed daily to formalin- a toxic chemical used in preserving sardines but based on studies this chemical, even inhaled in small quantity can cause bronchitis and pneumonia and adversely can destroy vital organs for long exposure.
The bad working condition of workers is also confirmed by the labor inspections of the Department of Labor and Employment which discovered various violations to labor rights and labor standards. According to the workers, many of them were oriented by the management to lie about the status of their wages and benefits inside the company. Other workers were also forced by the company to went out the factory to avoid interviews by DOLE personnel.
Right after the labor inspection, SLORD management harassed and intimidated the workers. It implemented suspension orders without due process and forced workers to sign waivers that they are not part of any complaints at the Department of Labor and Employment. Workers are also accused of sabotaging the production and imposed penalties of P100-1000 for fabricated accusations.
Thus, we strongly stand with the workers under the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD-Unipak Sardines that they are regular employees in the company and therefore deserve their right to decent work and job security– a guarantee of social justice for the workers and their family. The law states that security of tenure means the employer shall not terminate the services of its workers except for just and authorized cause such as serious misconduct, habitual neglect, commission of a crime, illness of an employee or to prevent losses. However, none of these are committed by any of the illegally dismissed workers of SLORD. None of these are the true reasons of the company to dismiss the workers which are to bust the unity of workers who are asserting for their rights. Hence, we join the workers in calling to the Philippine Government and SLORD Management to:
1. Reinstate all illegally dismissed workers of SLORD Development Corporation.
2. Regularize all contractual workers of SLORD Development Corporation. Abolish all forms of contractualization in the country and implement national minimum wage.
3. Strictly implement labor standards and government mandated benefits in SLORD-Unipak factory including payment of minimum wage, 13th month pay, holiday pay, rest day pay, service incentive leave, SSS, Philhealth etc.
4. Respect the right to form and join unions and freedom of assembly.
Finally, we appeal to our brothers and sisters, fellow church people and workers and to all consumers of UNIPAK sardines to:
1. Hold solidarity mission or visit to the workers' camp of Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD-Unipak in Navotas Fishport and offer food, medicine and other basic needs for their struggle.
2. Send statements of solidarity or support to SLORD-Unipak workers.
3. Post, share or repost statements or calls denouncing the unjust dismissal and supporting the demands of SLORD-Unipak workers in facebook and other social media.
4. Campaign on the Boycott UniPak products.
Fr. Rudy Abao, MSC
Convener
Churchpeople – Workers Solidarity
Sr. Lydia Lascano, ICM
Convener
Churchpeople – Workers Solidarity
We are saddened that for almost three decades of serving and contributing to the huge profits of the company, majority of the workers are contractual and their wages remain in starvation level from P350-370 per day and piece rate workers are paid even lower. While SLORD-Unipak paid millions of pesos to Kris Aquino for advertisement, workers receive nothing in terms of government mandated benefits such as SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig and even basic labor standards like 13th month pay, service incentive leave, holiday pay, rest day pay and maternity benefits for women workers. Inhumanely, workers are not allowed to have meal and snack break for 12-14 hours of work. SLORD Company is also not providing payslip and company ID to the workers.
We are alarmed that the dire working condition of workers in SLORD Development Corporation is also seriously impacting women workers who composed 85% of the total workforce in the factory. Women workers are unjustly dismissed when they are pregnant and not allowed to return to work even after their maternity. The company is also not giving mandatory paid maternity leaves for pregnant women workers. Children of workers are also severely affected especially after the massive dismissal as hunger strikes their families.
Worst, aside from lack of personal protective equipments, workers are also exposed daily to formalin- a toxic chemical used in preserving sardines but based on studies this chemical, even inhaled in small quantity can cause bronchitis and pneumonia and adversely can destroy vital organs for long exposure.
The bad working condition of workers is also confirmed by the labor inspections of the Department of Labor and Employment which discovered various violations to labor rights and labor standards. According to the workers, many of them were oriented by the management to lie about the status of their wages and benefits inside the company. Other workers were also forced by the company to went out the factory to avoid interviews by DOLE personnel.
Right after the labor inspection, SLORD management harassed and intimidated the workers. It implemented suspension orders without due process and forced workers to sign waivers that they are not part of any complaints at the Department of Labor and Employment. Workers are also accused of sabotaging the production and imposed penalties of P100-1000 for fabricated accusations.
Thus, we strongly stand with the workers under the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD-Unipak Sardines that they are regular employees in the company and therefore deserve their right to decent work and job security– a guarantee of social justice for the workers and their family. The law states that security of tenure means the employer shall not terminate the services of its workers except for just and authorized cause such as serious misconduct, habitual neglect, commission of a crime, illness of an employee or to prevent losses. However, none of these are committed by any of the illegally dismissed workers of SLORD. None of these are the true reasons of the company to dismiss the workers which are to bust the unity of workers who are asserting for their rights. Hence, we join the workers in calling to the Philippine Government and SLORD Management to:
1. Reinstate all illegally dismissed workers of SLORD Development Corporation.
2. Regularize all contractual workers of SLORD Development Corporation. Abolish all forms of contractualization in the country and implement national minimum wage.
3. Strictly implement labor standards and government mandated benefits in SLORD-Unipak factory including payment of minimum wage, 13th month pay, holiday pay, rest day pay, service incentive leave, SSS, Philhealth etc.
4. Respect the right to form and join unions and freedom of assembly.
Finally, we appeal to our brothers and sisters, fellow church people and workers and to all consumers of UNIPAK sardines to:
1. Hold solidarity mission or visit to the workers' camp of Samahan ng Manggagawa sa SLORD-Unipak in Navotas Fishport and offer food, medicine and other basic needs for their struggle.
2. Send statements of solidarity or support to SLORD-Unipak workers.
3. Post, share or repost statements or calls denouncing the unjust dismissal and supporting the demands of SLORD-Unipak workers in facebook and other social media.
4. Campaign on the Boycott UniPak products.
Fr. Rudy Abao, MSC
Convener
Churchpeople – Workers Solidarity
Sr. Lydia Lascano, ICM
Convener
Churchpeople – Workers Solidarity
Urgent Appeal for Nutri-Asia
June 15, 2018
Church People Workers' Solidarity stands in solidarity with the workers of Nutri-Asia in Marilao Bulacan as they are facing violations to their right to job security, just wages and humane working condition, right to unionize and to strike. Nutri Asia is a big company producing popular household brands such as Jufran and Mafran ketchup, Datu Puti, Papa Ketchup, and Mang Tomas Lechon Sauce. The company is run by none other than the Chief Executive Officer of the multi national coportation Del Monte Philippines Incorporated, Mr. Joselito D. Campos.
We are saddened that today, June 14, 2018, armed policemen including members of the SWAT who are armed with water cannons and armalite rifles violently and brutally dispersed the peaceful collective actions of Nutri-Asia wokrers. According to the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Nutri-Asia-Independent Union, since their strike began on June 2, 2018, police forces are regularly manning and entering their picketline and giving them order to disperse and terminate their picketline within 72 hours.
We believe that this is a clear violation of the right of the constitutional rights of our workers to unionize, to peaceful assembly and right to strike. Police forces are supposed to be 50 meters away from the picketline and should not interfere to issues such as labor disputes. The temporary restraining order of Nutri Asia against the legitimate collective action of workers for their rights only shows the blatant disregard of the company to the just demands of workers.
Our brothers and sisters in Nutri-Asia have offered their hardwork to the company for decades already and mainly contributed to the super profits of Nutri Asia. Yet, they are not treated decently and with dignity and security. Out of 1200 workers, only 100 are considered regular employees and the rest are contractual under the scheme of labor cooperative—a form of contractualization. Sometime in March 2018, the Department of Labor and Employment issued the result of their labor inspection inside the Nutri Asia factory which states that Nutri Asia is implementing labor only contracting which strengthened the demand of workers to be regular employees inside the company. Moreover, despite very low minimum wage rate in Bulacan amounting to just P380.Nutri Asia paid them below the minimum wage alongside with illegal salary deductions for uniforms, personal protetive equipment and health insurance. 13th month pay and the yearly 5 days service incentive leave are also not complied by Nutri Asia.
To collectively assert what is right for the workers, Nutri Asia workers started to educate themselves about their rights and form their union, the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Nutri-Asia Independent Union. However, upon learning the organizing efforts of workers, the company unjustly and illegally dismissed 5 union leaders then followed by 75 union members. To stop the evil tactics of the company, the workers' union has no other option but to wage their right to strike and set up their picketline on June 2, 2018.
Thus, we join with the workers of Nutri Asia in their calls to fight for regularization of more than 1100 contractual workers of Nutri Asia and to abolish contractualization in the company and all over the Philippines; to reinstate all illegally dismissed union leaders, members and workers without any form of rataliatory actions and to recognize the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Nutri Asia as the representative of the workers in the collective bargaining agreement and to release without precondition all those illegally arrested and detained during the violent dispersal of picketline. Access to remedy should be given to all workers and to all victims of harassment and violence.
In this light, we appeal to all our church peoples' and workers' network to:
1. Join the ecumenical prayer and solidarity mission tomorrow at 5am at the picketline of nutri asia (urgent ito para matulungan ang workers na manatili ang kanilang picket line
2.Send statements of solidarity or support to Nutri Asia workers including the support for those workers and sympathizers who were injured and or illegally arrested and detained.
3. visit the striking workers and their families and offer food, medicine and other basic needs for their struggle.
4. Post, share or repost statements or calls denouncing the violent dispersal and supporting the demands of Nutri Asia workers in facebook and other social media
5.Boycott nutri asia products(datu puti, mang tomas lechon manok sauce,del monte, silver swan, Hans, ufc catsup
For more details, please visit facebook of cws or contact the secretariat at [email protected]
We are saddened that today, June 14, 2018, armed policemen including members of the SWAT who are armed with water cannons and armalite rifles violently and brutally dispersed the peaceful collective actions of Nutri-Asia wokrers. According to the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Nutri-Asia-Independent Union, since their strike began on June 2, 2018, police forces are regularly manning and entering their picketline and giving them order to disperse and terminate their picketline within 72 hours.
We believe that this is a clear violation of the right of the constitutional rights of our workers to unionize, to peaceful assembly and right to strike. Police forces are supposed to be 50 meters away from the picketline and should not interfere to issues such as labor disputes. The temporary restraining order of Nutri Asia against the legitimate collective action of workers for their rights only shows the blatant disregard of the company to the just demands of workers.
Our brothers and sisters in Nutri-Asia have offered their hardwork to the company for decades already and mainly contributed to the super profits of Nutri Asia. Yet, they are not treated decently and with dignity and security. Out of 1200 workers, only 100 are considered regular employees and the rest are contractual under the scheme of labor cooperative—a form of contractualization. Sometime in March 2018, the Department of Labor and Employment issued the result of their labor inspection inside the Nutri Asia factory which states that Nutri Asia is implementing labor only contracting which strengthened the demand of workers to be regular employees inside the company. Moreover, despite very low minimum wage rate in Bulacan amounting to just P380.Nutri Asia paid them below the minimum wage alongside with illegal salary deductions for uniforms, personal protetive equipment and health insurance. 13th month pay and the yearly 5 days service incentive leave are also not complied by Nutri Asia.
To collectively assert what is right for the workers, Nutri Asia workers started to educate themselves about their rights and form their union, the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Nutri-Asia Independent Union. However, upon learning the organizing efforts of workers, the company unjustly and illegally dismissed 5 union leaders then followed by 75 union members. To stop the evil tactics of the company, the workers' union has no other option but to wage their right to strike and set up their picketline on June 2, 2018.
Thus, we join with the workers of Nutri Asia in their calls to fight for regularization of more than 1100 contractual workers of Nutri Asia and to abolish contractualization in the company and all over the Philippines; to reinstate all illegally dismissed union leaders, members and workers without any form of rataliatory actions and to recognize the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Nutri Asia as the representative of the workers in the collective bargaining agreement and to release without precondition all those illegally arrested and detained during the violent dispersal of picketline. Access to remedy should be given to all workers and to all victims of harassment and violence.
In this light, we appeal to all our church peoples' and workers' network to:
1. Join the ecumenical prayer and solidarity mission tomorrow at 5am at the picketline of nutri asia (urgent ito para matulungan ang workers na manatili ang kanilang picket line
2.Send statements of solidarity or support to Nutri Asia workers including the support for those workers and sympathizers who were injured and or illegally arrested and detained.
3. visit the striking workers and their families and offer food, medicine and other basic needs for their struggle.
4. Post, share or repost statements or calls denouncing the violent dispersal and supporting the demands of Nutri Asia workers in facebook and other social media
5.Boycott nutri asia products(datu puti, mang tomas lechon manok sauce,del monte, silver swan, Hans, ufc catsup
For more details, please visit facebook of cws or contact the secretariat at [email protected]