Wyeth workers picket over threat of retrenchment; KMU supports fight for job security and union recognition

Workers led by Wyeth Philippines Progressive Workers Union (WPPWU) staged a picket at Wyeth Philippines’ Makati office to protest threat of massive job cuts with the looming buyout of Wyeth by Pfizer.

Big pharmaceutical firm Pfizer Inc. announced in January that it will purchase Wyeth Inc. by the end of the year, thereby posing the threat of huge layoff of workers locally and abroad. At least 3,000 workers in both companies face retrenchment woes.

Ronald Sarmiento, officer of WPPWU, said “Wyeth Philippines cannot just remain silent on the terms of the buyout while thousands of workers face the threat of retrenchment.”

“The looming buyout is simply a bitter pill to swallow as we workers risk losing our jobs after working for the company for several years. We demand that Wyeth Philippines secure our tenure and the standing benefits under our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“We also demand that the jobs of Pfizer workers be secured,” he added, saying more than 2,000 Pfizer workers risk being laid off.

Sarmiento said the management’s vague statement that workers will be absorbed with the buyout is not enough. “We want Wyeth Philippines to sit down with us workers and draft a concrete terms of reference. We have seen too many buyouts were workers were put at a disadvantage despite assurances from management.”

Wyeth Philippines failed to fulfill its promise of holding talks last week, prompting more protest actions from the union, which is under the Drug, Food and Allied Industries–Kilusang Mayo Uno (DFA-KMU).

Maximizing profits, destroying unions

KMU Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog said the buyout of big companies is a much-used excuse to actually maximize profits by pooling the workers of two companies at the expense of job cuts and destroyed unions.

“We support the Wyeth and Pfizer workers’ fight for job security and union recognition. Wyeth and Pfizer cannot just run away from their obligations to workers by simply going into a marriage,” said Labog.

KMU urged workers of both companies to link up, unite and fight for their common interest, citing the divide-and-rule tactics of companies versus workers in previous cases of acquisitions and buyouts.

“We urge workers of both companies to guard against and defeat the profit-boosting schemes of massive layoff and union-busting via buyout,” Labog said. ###