In a press conference on May 25, labor groups led by Kilusang Mayo Uno revealed a government concerted effort on intensifying attacks against workers and unionists nationwide. They warned the public of the new modus operandi of filing “terrorist financing” charges against unionists and development workers.
Unionists from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao exposed continuing violations of human rights, particularly on the freedom of association. Even after the conclusions and recommendations of 2023 ILO High Level Tripartite Mission, workers continue to experience a myriad of violations such as in the enforced disappearance of Southern Mindanao labor organizer William Lariosa, the continued harassment of workers in Gardenia Bakeries and PhilFoods in Calabarzon and the recent filing of “terrorist financing” charges against KMU vice chairperson for Visayas and AMA SUGBO KMU chairperson Jaime Paglinawan.
“Ang impact ng mga atake na ito, hindi lang sa mga unyonista at progresibong grupo. Ultimately, ang nasa losing end, ay ang mga manggagawa at mamamayan na sana’y makakatamasa ng tulong at serbisyo na ibinibigay ng mga grupo. Kapag nadiskaril o natigil ang operations ng mga pro-worker na grupo, nasasagasaan rin at di naaaddress ang ibang karapatan ng mga manggagawa.” said Jerome Adonis, KMU secretary general.
KMU slammed the US-Marcos regime for perpetuating these attacks, and for deliberately undermining the ILO HLTM recommendations. It can be recalled that Marcos issued EO 23 forming an inter-agency task force to end FOA violations, which labor groups called farcical. It is a far cry from the tripartite mechanism demanded during the mission.
“Nagpapabango ang gobyernong Marcos na diumano’y tinutugunan nila ang panawagan ng mamamayan para wakasan ang FOA violations. Pero ang tinayo nila, isang inter-agency task force to end FOA. Ang mga violators na AFP at PNP ay imbitado sa piging, habang pinagsasarhan ng pinto ang mga manggagawa”
“Mayroon din pong global na propaganda campaign itong Biden regime sa Estados Unidos na champion sila ng labor rights, pro-labor na Pangulo ng US ang kanilang pakana. Pero ang US, sa kasaysayan, sa kaniyang pananakop at mga polisiyang idinidikta niya sa mga bansa, ang numero unong violator ng workers’ rights. Sa katunayan, ang paglikha ng NTF ELCAC na salot sa manggagawa ay naka-pattern sa mga kontra-insurhensyang programa ng US.” added Adonis.
KMU called on workers and the people to expose and oppose the continuing violations of their rights and steadfastly commit to ensuring our fundamental and Constitutional rights and freedoms are held.