Glenn Thompson

Glenn Thompson

Wednesday, 17 January 2024 20:59

Palestine SIGTUR Statement

18th January 2024.
 
SIGTUR vehemently condemns the acts of violence and intimidation against the oppressed people of Palestine, enduring 75 years of post-Nakba struggle, facing dispossession, apartheid regimes, and oppression in terms of freedom, health, and opportunity.
 
As an organization dedicated to peace and freedom for all citizens, SIGTUR demands an enduring ceasefire to facilitate essential medical support, food, and accommodation for the victims.
 
Recognizing the root cause lies in the Israeli occupation of Palestine, SIGTUR insists on its immediate end and calls for the lifting of the siege on Gaza. Additionally, we urge the international community to promptly recognize an independent Palestinian state and devise a comprehensive plan for its reconstruction and security.
 
Commending South Africa's decision against Israel for alleged violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide on the people of Gaza, SIGTUR underscores the urgency for the Australian Federal Government to join the international chorus in acknowledging Israel's siege as an act of genocide. We demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate critical aid for the devastated areas and peoples. Until this occurs, SIGTUR cannot sustain its current relationship with Israel, emphasizing the need to work peacefully towards a long-term solution that ensures the secure and permanent freedom of the people of Gaza.
Tuesday, 10 October 2023 00:01

JUSTICE FOR JUDE FERNANDEZ!

source: KMU wordpress
 
At around 4 PM on September 29, 2023, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) elements entered the rented house of labor organizer Jude Fernandez in Brgy. Macamot, Binangonan, Rizal. They were carrying an arrest warrant for an individual named Oscar Dizon. 
 
The police allege that Fernandez resisted, forcing them to retaliate with gunfire. Based on reports and preliminary investigations, nearby residents heard two gunshots, while confirming that there were no signs of commotion from the house. This proves that the CIDG operation was a clear case of extrajudicial killing.
Who is Jude Fernandez?
 
Jude Fernandez is a veteran organizer of workers from the Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement). He finished his studies in the University of the Philippines Los Baños and took up labor rights activism during the Marcos Sr. dictatorship. For decades, Jude actively campaigned and fought for the rights, welfare, and well-being of Filipino workers and citizens.
 
Why are workers and unionists getting killed?
 
The killing of Fernandez is the 72nd case of extrajudicial killing among workers and unionists since 2016. This is the fourth case after the ILO High Level Tripartite Mission (ILO HLTM) this January 2023. This case shows the Marcos Jr. government’s violent response to campaigns for people’s economic and political rights. For seven years in a row, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has listed the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries for workers.
 
Unionists, activists, organizers, and the general public are suppressed to sabotage campaigns for meaningful wage increases, a family living wage, a national minimum wage, job security, and freedom of association.
 
OUR CALLS:
 
To the Office of the President:
 
1. Instruct the Department of Labor and Employment to conduct its investigation, intervention and appropriate action in the killing of Fernandez and in other cases of violations such as trumped-up charges, illegal arrests, enforced disappearances, intimidation, and harassment.
 
2. Immediately implement the recommendations of the ILO High Level Tripartite Mission and labor groups. Amend Executive Order 23 to include representation of workers and employers in the Inter-Agency on Freedom of Association.
 
3. Bar the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from using the full extent of force that leads to the arbitrary killings in the conduct of their operations. Instruct them to fully comply with the guidelines set by the Supreme Court in the execution of warrants, including the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras (A.M. No. 21-06-8-SC) during operations.
 
To the House and Senate:
 
4. Launch a congressional inquiry into the worsening climate of violence against unionists, activists and rights defenders. Enact legislation to protect citizens’ right to life and liberty, according to due process of law. 
 
To the United Nations (UN) and International Labor Organization (ILO):
 
5. Conduct further inquiry into the worsening situation of human rights in the Philippines, as indicated in the rising number of extrajudicial killings, torture, abduction, enforced disappearances, and illegal arrest and detention.
 
6. For the UN Office of the Commission Human Rights to send a Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to the Philippines.
 
7. For the ILO to subject the Philippine government to regular review of its commitment to Labor Convention 87. Push the government of the Philippines to implement the recommendations of the 2023 HLTM.
 
To the Commission on Human Rights
 
8. Conduct an independent investigation into the killing of Jude Fernandez. Issue a comprehensive report and analysis on the cases of extrajudicial killings and other grave human rights violations. Recommend measures for executive action.
 
WHAT WE CAN DO:
1. Unions, federations, mass organizations, institutions, individual personalities, and other groups are urged to issue a statement to condemn the brutal killing of Fernandez and call for swift justice.
 
2. Participate in the campaign to stop all forms of violence against workers and citizens. Our banner call: “Stop the killings! Stop the attacks against freedom of association! Fight for our right to organize!”
 
3. Donate to the legal fund for the case of Jude Fernandez, as well as the campaign for the protection of trade union rights and human rights. 
 
Bank Name: EASTWEST BANK
Account Name: Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)
Account Number: 200056974139
SWIFT CODE: EWBCPHMMXXX
 
GCash:
Maria Elena P
09519251037
 
4. Intensify the struggle for the economic and democratic rights of the people. Resist attacks and advance our fight for wage increase, regular employment, freedom of association, food on the table, and other fundamental rights.
 
#JusticeForJudeFernandez #StopTheAttack #StopTheKillingsPH #SahodTrabahoKarapatan
The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) condemns the Philippine government’s designation of peace negotiator Louie Jalandoni as a “terrorist.”
 
We enjoin  all the anti-imperialist, democratic, and peace-loving peoples and organizations of the world to sign the petition to remove Louie Jalandoni from the "terrorist list.” Luis Jalandoni is a former priest, peace warrior and an anti-imperialist, fighting the exploitation and oppression of the Filipino people against US imperialism and its local lackeys.
 
 
Statement
September 21, 2022
 
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) are writing to express our profound concerns at the ongoing human rights crisis in the Philippines on this 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial law of September 21st, 1972.
 
The first Marcos regime resulted in 14 years of oppressive military rule, widespread torture, imprisonment, and thousands of extra judicial killings in an ongoing attempt to crush dissent. The dictatorship also gave rise to a large bloated military command structure which has played an ever-increasing role in the country’s political life. In addition, during the Marcos family’s dictatorship between 5 to 10 billion dollars were embezzled, only a fraction of which was ever recovered, much of this wealth remains in the hands of the Marcos children and their cronies in a myriad of Swiss and offshore accounts, and properties.
 
The Marcos Dictatorship rather than creating sustainable growth set in motion a labour export program that exists to this day, sending a huge workforce overseas to generate foreign exchange reserves for the oligarchs and political elites. More than 10 million Filipinos now work and live abroad, of which 800,000 are in Canada. It’s the largest, fastest growing migrant group in Canada.
 
Fifty years on, the Philippines is at a crossroads. Over the past six years we have seen once again an accelerated drift away from democracy towards a military state. During this period there have been documented upwards of 30,000 extra judicial killings by the police and military with total impunity.
 
The Duterte government institutionalized the militarization of society through the NTF-ELCAC and its total war approach. The regime targeted and harassed labour activists, farmers, journalists, lawyers, environmental activists, church people and human rights advocates, scores were killed and hundreds remain in prison. In terms of accountability for human rights the legal system is largely not functioning, out of the tens of thousands of state orchestrated killings less than a handful have produced charges against the state security forces.
 
There are now new storm clouds on the horizon. The May 2022 elections brought the Marcos-Duterte team to the highest executive offices in the country, along with a coterie of oligarchs and family dynasties who control the Senate and Congress. Political power was purchased on a wave of ill-gotten wealth, fraud, vote buying and a highly sophisticated disinformation campaign. It was a presidential campaign funded in part by billions of dollars stolen by the Marcos family in the 1970s and 1980’s during the Martial Law period.
 
In the early days of the new Marcos-Duterte regime, it withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court. It is an ominous sign for the respect for International Human Rights conventions and human rights in the Philippines.
 
The Marcos-Duterte administration has refused to engage in a peace process with the NDFP and it has continued redtagging organizations and individuals who stand against status quo. It has continued to attack and silence the press, by shutting down Rappler, one of the few critical independent media outlets in the Philippines. It intends to resume the brutal War on Drugs, generated by the Duterte Regime. It is early days, but the Bongbong Marcos rule has taken on the characteristics of the brutal Duterte Regime.
 
On the 50th Anniversary of one of the darkest periods in Philippine history, the human rights community are uniting in calling for an end to state violence, an end to democracy for the rich and the democratization of the economy through land reform, better wages and working conditions for the Filipino. The Filipino people cannot expect anything from a government implementing neoliberal policies which prioritizes big businesses and kowtows to the dictates of foreign powers.
 
We call on the international community to stand with the Filipino people’s struggle against the fascist Marcos-Duterte regime.
 
We call on our governments to hold the perpetrators of Human Rights violations in the Philippines accountable through existing legal mechanisms including the Magnitsky Act.
 
We call on our governments to hold the new Marcos Government accountable for its human rights record by ending all arms sales to the Philippines and all technical cooperation for the police and military.
 
We call on the International Criminal Court to vigorously pursue the case of Crimes Against Humanity against Rodrigo Duterte and those complicit in human rights violations in his government.
 
We call on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to review the case against the Philippines and go beyond the domestic measures compromise decision of 2021.
 
We are united in our declaration.
 
Never again to Martial Law!
Respect Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law!
End the wars on the Filipino People, stop State-sponsored violence!
 
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, (ICHRP)
On Wednesday 6th October the Australian Unions hosted by UnionsWA International Committee/SIGTUR held an open meeting inviting supporters to attend via Zoom to hear a report on the repression of unions in the Philippines. Elmer Labog, Chairperson of KMU, a Philippines union federation of over 115,000 members spoke and responded to questions.  
 
Elmer talked about the Duterte Government's use of unlawful violence and killings in its war on drugs that has also targeted unionists and other civil society leaders as a way of silencing dissent. Elmer has recently been identified and "red tagged" a process of victimisation and targeting by the PNP and military.  
 
A broad-based coalition including the KMU and other unions as well as civil society organisations has been formed to counter these measures and raise awareness.  As the Philippines is now heading towards a national election, and Duterte himself cannot be a Presidential candidate for election, the KMU and others are working on industrial as well as electoral strategies to counter these repressive measures. 
 
Below is a short video interview that Elmer gave on his 2020 visit to Perth, covering some of these issues.
This being the sixth month of the Bloody Sunday massacre in Southern Tagalog on 2021 September 7,  Kilusang Mayo Uno filed a complaint before the International Labor Organization (ILO) regarding the trade union and human rights violations of the Duterte regime, particularly the killing of workers. 
 
The complaint detailed the various cases of attacks on workers since Duterte came to power. To this day, 56 workers had been killed and hundreds had been arrested on trumped-up charges. (A copy of the complaint is attached below.)
 
The Bloody Sunday brutal attacks on activists in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal. In separate but synchronized police and military operations, trade union organizer Manny Asuncion was killed while unionists Steve Mendoza and Mags Camoral were arrested. Less than two weeks later, union leader Dandy Miguel was gunned down on his way home from work.
 
 
 
stop red tagging
 
Red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation of workers and unionists, primarily carried out by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), had since persisted. Two unions based in Laguna reported repeated threats, harassment, and intimidation from NTF-ELCAC agents frequenting unionists’ homes.
 
Union members were urged to disaffiliate their unions from the progressive federations and cut ties with KMU. Attached herewith is the timeline of attacks and details regarding the situation of the Wyeth Philippines Progressive Workers Union- DFA-KMU. 
 
In line with our #DefendOurUnions campaign, we will be launching particular actions for #StandWithWyethWorkers. We are requesting urgent support. 
 
What you can do:
1.     Post statements and messages of support for the campaign on your social media pages or website. We request you to send a copy of your postings to kmu.intl@gmail.com
 
2.     Host online discussions or post infographics/ explainers to help with information dissemination to amplify the campaign. Please share the campaign with your network of labor advocates and rights organizations. 
 
3.     Send a letter to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Philippines requesting immediate action on the violation of the freedom of association.
 
4.     Send material or financial support to the campaign. This may be sent through the KMU bank account, Paypal, or other arrangements. For further information, you may contact kmu.intl@gmail.com or through our Viber or WhatsApp account at 0961 769 6822. 
 
Our calls:
Stop the attacks on workers! No to union infiltration!
NTF-ELCAC, out of our communities and workplaces!
Uphold freedom of association! No to forced disaffiliation!
#StandWithWyethWorkers
#ManggagawangMayLaban
#DefendOurUnions
#WorkersFightBack
There's a crisis on the doorstep of Australia.  The International Committee of UnionsWA, The Southern Initiative for Global Trade Union Rights (SIGTUR), and Union Aid Abroad APHEDA convened a webinar to show solidarity and support with the working people of Indonesia, the webinar heard about the struggle and how workers are surviving the pandemic today and working to prevent the pandemic of asbestos in the future.
  
On Tuesday 31st August participants from around the world heard from Dr. Anna Suraya,  Darisman, Chair of Local Initiative for OSH Network (LION), Indonesia, and Phillip Hazelton from Union Aid Abroad APHEDA.  
 
anna sm
 
 
Dr Anna Surya is a medical doctor also studying for her PhD and director of the Fit2Work Occupational Medicine and Environmental Study Centre where she focuses on developing health surveillance of Indonesian workers for supporting industries and government to establish occupational health program and a lecturer at Binawan University, Jakarta.
 
Darisman
 
 
Darisman is one of the founders of the Local Initiative for OSH Network (LION Indonesia), a civil society organization focused on strengthening grassroots movements to protect workers' rights. In 2010, together with labor, environmental, and health activists established INA-Ban, an asbestos ban network organization in Indonesia. The initiative to establish the LION-Indonesia and INA-BAN organizations based on his experience in organizing victims of occupational accidents and illnesses who together must speak up and become front liners in improving working conditions and the environment. Currently, Darisman is active in capacity building and campaigns to protect workers' rights in Indonesia.
 
Phillip Hazelton
 
Phillip Hazelton is currently Coordinator Eliminating Asbestos Related Diseases Campaign for Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA across SE Asia and is currently based in Cambodia. Phillip was Executive Officer of APHEDA 1990-2001 and has since worked as National OSH Coordinator AMWU 2006-2009 and spent 15 years living in Asia (Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia) working for both the ILO (Chief Technical Officer Industrial Relations Project 2014-2016 Vietnam) and APHEDA in various roles.
Wednesday, 01 September 2021 23:15

KCTU President YANG Kyeung-soo Arrested

On July 3, around 8,000 members of the KCTU marched through downtown Seoul to demand to protect the lives and save the jobs and employment. The rally was originally planned to be held in Yeouido but the participants gathered at Jongro-3ga after the police blocked the gathering by erecting barriers. 
 
The police announced that it will consider applying the Act on Demonstration and Assembly, Infectious Disease Control Act, and Criminal Law provision on obstruction of the general traffic.
 
KCTU president YANG, Kyeung-soo was arrested today for organizing an unauthorized rally. The police raided the KCTU office where Yang was staying as early as 5:28 am this morning.
 
KCTU Arrest 1
 
The SIGTUR network stands in solidarity with the KCTU and its members. We are calling on the Government of South Korea to respect the rights of workers to protest and demand the immediate release of president YANG, Kyeung-soo. 
On the 26th of July, President Duterte will be delivering his last State of the Nation Address, which we expect to be charged with lies of change and progress as he has done in his past addresses. On the same day, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) together with other democratic groups will be calling for a Global Day of Action to hold Duterte accountable for his crimes against the Filipino workers and people.  
 
Failed pandemic response
More than a year into the world’s longest lockdown, Covid-19 cases continue to rise and have already surpassed the 1.5 million mark in the Philippines. Hospitals are overwhelmed and overrun due to a lack of facilities, equipment, and staff. The positivity rate in the country is still at 10.7%, but the government’s capacity for testing reaches only 50,000 tests per day compared to its target of 101,000 tests per day in order to lower the positivity rate to 5%. 
 
Despite these, no comprehensive and pro-people stimulus package was extended by the government to give support to workers and people. No immediate, sufficient and sustained cash relief program was implemented to support displaced workers. Less than one million workers received Php 1000 cash relief.
 
Unprecedented economic crisis
The pandemic revealed and worsened the already plummeting economy. In the year 2020, the Philippine economy dropped to -9.5%, marked by job losses and meager wages. 
 
As prices continue to rise due to the inflation rate reaching 4.7% by the end of February 2021, meager wages can barely suffice for basic needs. In his 5 years of presidency Duterte only ordered for a wage increase twice in the National Capital Region, equivalent to only Php56 (1.12 USD). Currently, the minimum wage in NCR is Php 537 (10.69 USD) per day, and lower in provinces due to wage regionalization. This is far off from the estimated family living wage of Php 1,022 per day. This has been worsened by the increasing inflation rate which eroded the real value of wages by Php 100. 
 
This is coupled with a jobs crisis in the country. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, more than 3.7 million workers were unemployed in May 2021. More than 500,000 overseas Filipino workers affected by the pandemic were repatriated. Up to 16.7 million are working part-time and in need of additional jobs, while 1.3 million full-time work was lost. 
 
In addition to this, Duterte’s campaign promise to end the short-term contractual scheme (contractualization) has not been realized. According to the independent think tank IBON Foundation, around 9 million workers (33%) in the private sector are contractual. Contractual workers are the most vulnerable due to lack of job security and access to benefits and rights enjoyed by regular workers, such as the right to unionize. 
 
Attacks on the worker's movement
Amid this crisis, Duterte has led a national campaign against the rights of the people. During the pandemic, the government fast-tracked the passing of the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020. 
 
56 workers were killed under the Duterte regime, including union leaders Dandy Miguel, Manny Asuncion, and Carlito Badion. Meanwhile, 30 labor leaders and unionists remain in jail because of false charges. Forms of harassment, intimidation, red-tagging are being utilized against union members and organizers. 
 
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has launched a systematic campaign to force unions to disaffiliate from KMU by visiting union leaders in their homes and workplaces. 
 
Yet Duterte has continuously declined investigations from international bodies regarding violations of human rights, including his “war on drugs” campaign that has led to the death of more than 30,000 innocent lives. 
 
No to term extension
With all his crimes on hand, Duterte has recently declared his intention to run for the vice presidency in the upcoming national elections, admitting that the reason behind this is to avoid any forms of accountability for his crimes. 
 
Call to Action
 
It is of this backdrop that we enjoin you to the Global Day of Solidarity with the Filipino Workers on July 26. Below are some of the actions you may do to support the call for decent wages, secure jobs, and trade union and human rights:
 
1. Hold a physical protest action in your country and post documentation on your social media pages. We are also requesting that you send photos of your protests to this email.
 
2. For online activities, you may post solidarity statements, photos with calls, and other related materials and send them to this email as well. 
 
3. Letters and messages of solidarity to the PH workers will be very much appreciated.
 
4. Donate to the legal and campaign funds for wages, job security, and trade union rights. 
 
The following calls may be used for solidarity materials and protest actions: 
 
End contractualization in the Philippines!
Defend trade unions in the Philippines!
Stop the attacks! 
Stop killing workers!
Stand with Filipino workers!
Labor leader Dandy Miguel was shot dead in Laguna province last Sunday night 28 March. According to initial reports, he was shot eight times while on his way home from work. Miguel’s killing came three weeks after nine activists were killed in simultaneous dawn operations called Bloody Sunday in the Southern Tagalog region south of Manila, where Laguna is located. 
 
Miguel is a member of the KMU National Council, Vice Chairperson of regional chapter PAMANTIK-KMU and President of local union Lakas ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Fuji Electric – OLALIA- KMU. 
 
Along with other union leaders and families of the Bloody Sunday victims, Miguel filed a case at the Commission on Human Rights last March 15. Despite threats to his life and security, Miguel was at the forefront of the struggle to defend the rights and welfare of the people. 
 
Kilusang Mayo Uno condemns the brutal killing of Dandy Miguel. We call for justice for all victims of political killings! We call to stop all forms of human rights violations in the Philippines!
 
What you can do:
 
1. On March 29 at 5 PM Philippine standard time (UTC+08:00), Philippine organizations will be holding a nationally coordinated candle-lighting and indignation protest. We encourage the global community to join this action. Post pictures and statements on your individual and organizational social media pages with the hashtags #JusticeForDandyMiguel, #StopTheAttacks, and #HandsOffTradeUnionsPH, and tag our Facebook page (1. facebook.com/KMUinternational) and Twitter account (@kilusangmayouno). Actions may also be held from March 29-31, 2021.
 
2. Issue statements of condemnation on the killing of Dandy Miguel, and the continuing attacks on trade unions and human rights in the Philippines. 
 
3. Write to the Philippines’ Supreme Court and Department of Justice to investigate the continuing trade union and human rights violations, including the recent killing of Dandy Miguel. 
 
4. Petition the Philippine government to accept the International Labor Organization High-Level Tripartite Mission that could investigate the cases of trade union and human rights violations in the Philippines.
 
5. Lobby your respective governments to take action to urge the Duterte administration to respect human rights in the Philippines, and withdraw support and funding for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). 
 
6. Contribute to the legal and campaign funds of the Defend Our Unions Campaign. 
 
Account Name: Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)  
*Without the (KMU), the transaction will be invalid. 
Type of Account: BDO Peso Account 
Bank: Banco de Oro (BDO)
Bank branch: BDO Aurora Blvd.- Anonas 
Account Number: 001490187039  
Swift Code:  BNORPHMM
Address: 63 Narra Street, Barangay Claro, Project 3, Quezon City
 
#JusticeForDandyMiguel
#StopTheAttacks
#HandsOffTradeUnionsPH
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