Cebu labor teams and pupil organizations stage a protest Monday, June 9, denouncing alleged union busting and calling for the reopening of a garment manufacturing unit shut down for 3 months. | CDN Photograph/ Suzaine Gallardo
Cebu labor teams slam garment manufacturing unit over union rights violation
By: Suzaine Gallardo, Susej Frasco, Lieka Fernandez – CNU Interns
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Labor teams and staff staged a protest exterior the Division of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional workplace in Cebu Metropolis on Monday morning, June 9.
They denounced what they described as “union busting” by a garment manufacturing unit working within the Mactan Financial Processing Zone (MEPZ).
The protest, held round 10 a.m., was led by the labor coalition Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), alongside different Cebu-based staff’ teams and pupil organizations, in response to the continued non-recognition of a union shaped earlier this yr.
“We gained the union final March 2024, however the administration didn’t acknowledge it. As a substitute, they shut down the manufacturing unit for 3 months. That is union busting,” stated Audrey John Ampoon, SENTRO spokesperson.
Ampoon stated the corporate’s refusal to acknowledge the union and its determination to halt operations shortly after the unionization had been a type of retaliation meant to weaken employee solidarity and discourage future organizing.
READ: One other layoff in MEPZ: 300 staff axed
The demonstration comes amid rising concern over labor practices within the MEPZ, significantly within the garment sector that provides main international manufacturers.
Protesters are calling for the manufacturing unit’s instant reopening and for the administration to formally have interaction in collective bargaining negotiations with the newly shaped union.
Dennise Derige, one of many labor organizers and protest spokespersons, stated the manufacturing unit shutdown gave the impression to be a deliberate transfer by administration to stress staff into giving up their union.
He stated that the problem went past job displacement, framing it as a broader try and suppress staff’ rights.
Labor teams stated that over 100 staff have been displaced following the sudden suspension of operations, many with out entry to various employment or clear communication from the administration.
Furthermore, Alan Esponga, vice chairperson of Partido Manggagawa for Cebu and Bohol, stated that Monday’s protest was a part of the World Day of Motion to help staff’ rights and expose systemic labor rights violations throughout the availability chains of worldwide attire firms.
“This rally is to indicate help to the employees who nonetheless haven’t obtained any collective bargaining settlement from the administration,” Esponga stated.
Pupil teams, together with these beneath the banner of the Worldwide Labor Solidarity (SILS), additionally joined the protest to amplify requires accountability.
They urged their academic establishments to reevaluate any affiliations or partnerships with international attire model Lululemon, which labor teams allege is linked to the manufacturing unit in query.
The coed teams are calling for “institutional divestment” from manufacturers implicated in labor abuse and have demanded transparency in sourcing practices.
In the meantime, organizers stated they plan to file formal complaints and search the company’s intervention to mediate the dispute and examine attainable labor rights violations.
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