Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines take plight of Toyota Motors workers, joins international protest

The Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP) and Toyota Motors Philippines Corporation Workers Association (TMPCWA) along with Kilusang Mayo Uno and workers from other Japanese-owned car companies held a protest action on September 12, 2006 in front of the Japanese embassy to condemn the anti-worker policy of the Japanese transnational company, Toyota.

MWAP condemns the Japanese government and the Philippines Department of Labor and employment for not taking action against Toyota Tokyo and its local company, Toyota Motors Philippines Corporation (TMPC), for its complete disregard for international laws.

On September 2003, the Supreme Court issued a resolution enabling TMPCWA to request TMPC to sit at the negotiating table, and the ILO Recommendation (Case No.2252), 1) reinstate dismissed union members; 2) lift criminal cases to the leaders and members of the union; 3) start the CBA-negotiation; and 4) recognize the union. Despite this, the TMPC refused to enter into CBA, instead they formed a union TMPCLO and held a certification vote against TMPCWA.

TMPCWA and Protest Toyota Campaign (Support Groups for TMPCWA) jointly filed a complaint about TMPC and TMC (Toyota Motors Corporation Japan) over the infringement of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises to OECD's national contact point (Second International Organization, Division Economic Affairs Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan) in March 2004. However, and despite growing support, the National Contact Point in Japan has not even issued the result of its initial assessment yet after 2 years.

On August 16, 21 TMPCWA members went to the DOLE to update their case, but they were violently pushed away and injured most of the workers. The police have charged TMPCWA members with damage to properties, assault, and inciting to sedition.