DoLE decision on Luisita strike favors Cojuangcos; justness of the strike already proven

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today supported the position of the Central Azucarrera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU) to defy the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) regarding the labor dispute at the sugar estate.

“Repressive labor laws are always imposed by DoLE to squash legitimate workers’ protests and strikes with just demands. Sa ilalim ng mga umiiral na mga batas paggawa, walang legal na welga. Pero ang pangunahing usapin sa Hacienda Luisita ay ang mga makatarungang batayan ng welga ng mga manggagawa at manggagawang bukid,” KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod said.

Maglunsod said that the ruling issued by Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas favors the Cojuangco-Aquino management and is out to crush the unions of sugar mill workers and farmworkers at Hacienda. “The ruling simply legitimized union busting at Hacienda. The demands of the workers and farmers were outrightly disregarded.”

DoLE’s 10-page resolution ordered the dismissal of all union officers and directed the CAT management to pay the sugar mill workers their unpaid salaries and effect wage adjustments covering the fourth and fifth years of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), payment of P15 daily wage hike for the workers and one-time lump sum of P12,500. All CATLU workers were ordered to report to work within five days from the time of reciept of the decision while the management will have the to accept the workers without retaliatory actions.

“The decision is clearly anti-worker. Union busting is at the core of Sto. Tomas’ ruling. They are bent on crushing CATLU and the United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU). Aside from this, no reference was made on the demands of the 6,000- strong ULWU members, mostly farmworkers at the Hacienda.

Maglunsod said that the operations at the Hacienda will remain paralyzed until the management resolves the ULWU strike. “The management must address calls for the junking of the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) and to distribute land to the Luisita farmers.”

“Sto. Tomas cannot wash her blood-stained hands through the issuance of the resolution. After all, the decision only caters to the interests of the Cojuangco-Aquinos. It is a win-win decision both for the CAT management and the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The workers and farmworkers were again left out. We still hold Sto. Tomas highly accountable for the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, “ Maglunsod stressed.

KMU said they will join the series of protests next week in time for the commemoration of the 18th year anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre.