Key issues and challenges on FOA and Civil Liberties, Trade Union Rights and Enforcement of Labor Laws in the Tarlac and Other Ecozones in the Region including Suggested Responses by Bro. Reynaldo Reyes, April 27, 2010, Clark

KEY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES ON FOA AND CIVIL LIBERTIES, TRADE UNION RIGHTS AND ENFORCEMENT OF LABOR LAWS IN THE TARLAC AND OTHER ECOZONES IN THE REGION INCLUDING SUGGESTED RESPONSES IN FORM OF ROLES, MANDATES, PROGRAMMES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING
By Bro. Reynaldo Reyes, Union Representative, ALU-TUCP
27 April 2010, Holiday Inn, Clark, Pampanga

Salamat, on behalf of TUCP, our members, their families and our partners, for this opportunity to speak about, our experiences and about some of our/my personal struggles and victories in the trade union movement.

Some of you may remember me from the assembly lines, from labor hearings, from frontlines of union pickets, from certification elections.

I started, kept sane and thrived in the movement
I was once a worker in the ecozone and most of my life, a union representative in this region

It is difficult to talk about some things
Especially kung maaalala mo, injustices and hardships foisted by our system

Pero masarap din to look back on our victories, and
remember the people, partners and experiences which helped us overcome almost everything.

These experiences have one thing in common–
You are all part of it!

UNION ORGANIZING

We had good labor laws then
But implementation was no good
Institutions protecting labor and networks, groups, and fostering even anti-union elements
Despite setbacks, we were not deterred from organizing
In 1995-2000, TUCP would sign 15 collective bargaining agreements for every 100 organizing campaigns launched.
We just organized despite

We have more and improved labor laws today
More avenues for discussions, interactions, negotiations
It should have been easy to organize unions
Well it isn’t happening

These days, we are signing just 3 to 5 CBAs per 100 organizing campaigns.
Our system, procedures, practices — misused by employers, government and even a few unions

TUCP, and many from other unions
Fought anti-union actions and sentiments in many fronts
In workplaces, in communities, even inside our homes violated by anti-union agents

You probably hear these things from somewhere
or worse, you have experienced them once, twice or many times in your lifetime:

Workers dismissed because of their participation in union activities (isa ako dun!)
Union leaders and members charged with trumped up cases (tanungin nyo ang mga taga Subic)
Local officials forcing workers to drop union membership
Threats of company closures
Overnight overtime and declaring the certification election day as company holiday
Preventing the election from taking place despite lawful orders, even in the presence of labor arbiters

and threats, harassments, abuse, discrimination, intimidation, even violence

Mga natututunan  sa mga union-busting seminars
And union-free consultants

Unions, including TUCP, have not been remiss in their responsibilities in organizing.  Ginagawa namin ang lahat ng kailangan para makapag-organisa …

It’s just that many employers under organizing have done everything to resist unions.
Some sectors in government and elsewhere assist them.

As a result, there have not been better results in organizing.

Kakantyawan pa tayo ng employers na union organizing is low!
At kokonti daw lang ang covered ng unions!
Mga walanghiya!

UNIONS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE

We all agree that workers and their organizations have rights
In the Constitution, labor laws and regulations and ILO conventions
People like us, until we invoke those rights
As long as we keep silent and don’t disturb the balance, unions are okay

Despite all the good things unions do, we hear the worst about us all the time.
When unions win elections and sign collective bargaining agreements, you don’t hear anything about it.
When unions conduct strikes, headline!
At magulo daw tayo! Troublemakers!

Kahit na! E ano ngayon?
We will continue and insist to be agents of change
Despite all legal, technical and real difficulties in freedom of association and collective bargaining
Hindi kami susuko! Ang sundalo susulong kahit ang mundo’y paurong!

We will continue to do our best, think of ways to get things done
We will continue to challenge rules, procedures and practices which go beyond the law
We promise to keep government people focused on their duties and responsibilities to workers and unions
We will overcome
Despite lack of resources and support — to organize unions, protect workers, their families, their communities

We will make use of different venues to impress upon the world
To make you all understand, accept and appreciate that
We need better implementation of labor laws in the country to assure workers of their rights
And to keep them from resorting to violence to better their lot.

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

We heard statements, perspectives, commitment
Parang totoo na!
Tingnan nga natin!

The measure of this event’s success lies in what comes after
The follow up and the development of a culture
where trade unions will be engaged, will not be restricted,
and will be free to make their contributions to society

To our social partners

You have conceded, if I may use that word, on many of our issues – child labor, occupational safety and health, women/gender issues.

If only you could do the same, with much enthusiasm and attention, to the promotion and protection of freedom of association and collective bargaining.

To our government partners

We ask no support from government, national, regional or local.  We ask only that the authorities implement the law and not to tolerate or assist anti-union elements.

We also ask mabilis na resolution of cases, particularly those involving organizing and related issues.

Kakahiya na labor injustice natin!
Kahit employers nagko-complain na!
Makapal ba talaga tayo!

For employers

We ask only that they leave workers alone to decide by themselves – for unions.
A few destructive groups should not overshadow the many responsible unions

So, let’s go and try to change the world
Together
Kung ayaw nyo, tutuloy pa rin kami
At magsisisi kayo!

O ano? Tara na!
Mag-usap na tayo.

Thank you.