"Military take-over" of Robina and Console farms' unions in San Miguel, Bulacan protested

MEMBERS of the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) joined the Fact-finding Mission led by the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) and the National Coalition for the Protection of Workers Rights (NCPWR) this morning to investigate harassments of military in Console and Robina Farms located in San Miguel Bulacan.

The mission aims to determine reports of trade union and human rights violations against union members and workers of the said farms. Workers and union members have reported series of military harassments from members of 7th Infantry Division formerly under the wing of retired Maj.Gen. Jovito Palparan. They complained that the Army runs union meetings, collect union dues and forced workers to resign from their unions and disaffiliate with KMU.

According to Elmer 'Bong' Labog, chairman of KMU, they will personally go to San Miguel Bulacan to give their support to their fellow workers and show to the military that union rights and basic human rights must not be trampled by men in uniforms who swore to protect the people.

" Workers of Robina and Console farms continue to complain to us that the military forced them to report all their union activities. Even at their homes and communities, soldiers keep on conducting surveillance operations. It is virtually a military takeover of the unions of workers. Out of fear, some workers in the farms refused to talk to us since military warned them that it will cost their lives by doing so," Labog said.

Labog also castigated the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for failing to act on the reported harassments and "military takeover" of the unions of Robina and Console farms.

" Expectedly, the DOLE is inutile to stop these wanton violations of human and union rights. Where are these labor officials when we needed them badly? Are they just waiting that this issue will catch nationwide attention for them to act like in the case of the Hacienda Luisita massacre? If this is the case, we are calling our fellow workers and the public to join us in this fight. We fought martial law and succeeded. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's fascist dictatorship must also be crushed by our collective strength and actions, " the labor leader stressed.