KMU salutes Union for being steadfast in its fight for economic gain

The Kilusang Mayo Uno rejoices with the union members of Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Triumph International (BPMTI-IND), the local Union in Triumph Int’l, for forging a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and settling other labor matters with the Triumph management in November 18.

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment assumed jurisdiction on the CBA deadlock on the rationale that Triumph International is one of the few remaining underwear TransNational Corporations in the country. An overwhelming seven hundred Triumph Filipina workers filed mass leaves and took part in the protest against the Assumption of Jurisdiction.

Lita dela Cruz, union President of BPMTI-IND, said,”In its desire to protect or bailout the Triumph company, DOLE ignored its constitutional mandate to protect the right  of the Filipino workers for collective bargaining and peaceful concerted activities, including the right to strike in accordance with law.  It took several concerted picket-protests in the streets, entailing public display of oversized underwear bras and panties, before DOLE and Triumph finally recognized our painstaking struggle and heeded our demand.”

The new CBA provided for seventy pesos (P70) wage increase for the 3—year first phase of the CBA. Daily wage increase provision: 1st year P24,  2nd year P23, 3rd year P23. Gains in increase rice subsidy, education fund and May 1st, plus the usual signing bonus.  

“The  fight for decent wages is just and urgent as the workers’ families are buffeted by escalating prices of basic necessities resulting from the government’s implementation of anti-people policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization.  With the Triumph CBA deadlock and DOLE AJ we have no choice but to unite and fight,” added dela Cruz.

Wilson Baldonaza, KMU Secretary-General said, “It is therefore imperative that in carrying forward the painstaking struggle for economic and social improvements and campaigns against trade union repression, criminalization of activists and other human rights violations, workers consider both the economic and political causes of their predicament.”