Hanjin strike

The militant regional labor center Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU) extends its high regards and salutations to the Hanjin workers who stood firm in the struggle. Bemedaled with arduous sacrifices since their employment in the company till their struggle for wages, security of employment, and rights, the Hanjin workers proved their foothold and determination to win.

We also commend the community and workers from other factories who untiringly supported the struggle of the Hanjin workers.

The recent events showed us the intensifying onslaughts of repression on workers and their unions, be it an independent or KMU-affiliated union.

The Hanjin workers are themselves witnesses as to how intimidations and harassments are used to curb and mar the rule of law. The workers themselves fall prey to the bludgeoning havoc instigated and executed by brutes in uniform and plainclothes who pay lip service to “serve and protect”.

Nevertheless, the awakening of the class consciousness of the Hanjin workers and the clarion call for a joint concerted action of communities and workers from other factories ushered the release of the Hanjin 4 and the re-establishment of the workers’ picketline.

The Hanjin workers and all the workers should take pride in this partial and initial victory.

The US-Arroyo regime, through its mercenary police, military, local government, and courts, brandishes out in the open its de facto martial law against the workers just so foreign capitalists, such as Hanjin Garments, can exploit the cheapest of labor they can get in the Philippines.

Our efforts to educate and organize all the workers in all factories will assure the defeat of trade union repression and promise the working class greater victories ahead. Through these salient tasks, our joint concerted defense and actions will be a smashing blow against the fortress of foreign monopoly capitalists, comprador big bourgeoisie, and landlords represented by the US-Arroyo regime.