Labor already under hell with Gloria’s de facto martial law

Labor already under hell with Gloria’s de facto martial law

We’re in an undeclared martial law, and it’s already hell for workers and labor advocates.

This is the reaction of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno to the possibility of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s imposition of martial rule on the entire country, taking off from the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao last Dec. 5. 

The country will mark the International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 amid calls from various groups for Mrs. Arroyo to end martial law in Maguindanao and to stop pushing for the imposition of martial law on a nationwide scale.

“As far as trade-union and human rights are concerned, Gloria’s rule is like that of Ferdinand Marcos – but without the open and official imposition of martial law on the country. The ‘salvagings’ are there, the abductions, and the various attacks on labor unions,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“On that point, her regime is more deceitful and therefore more dangerous,” added Labog. “Our leaders, members and organizers have operated best with the analysis that there is an undeclared martial law in the country today.”

The labor group said that since Arroyo became president in 2001, 92 labor leaders, members and organizers have died of government-instigated violence. Included in this count are those who died in the massacre of striking farmers and farmworkers in Hacienda Luisita. Many were killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

“Under the Arroyo regime, most of the victims were killed in broad daylight – unlike during the dictatorship. Many were killed in front of their comrades and families. That’s how brazen state agents are at present,” Labog said.

“Arroyo launched various forms of attacks against the trade-union movement, apart from extra-judicial killings and abductions. She has filed slap suits against our lawyers and organizers, has created Wiper or Workers for Industrial Peace and Economic Reforms to demonize unionism, and has recently resorted to induced killing with the death of Danilo Belano, a long-time labor organizer,” he added.

KMU also pointed out how workers’ actions in factories have been suppressed by the use of the DOLE secretary’s Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) powers, which legalizes the deployment of the military and police in picketlines and workplaces. Since 2003, the AJ’s issued outnumbered the strikes launched by workers.

“Before, the AJ was used to merely stop strikes that have already been launched. During the Arroyo regime, however, cases where the AJ was imposed to preempt a strike have multiplied. For six years now, the AJ orders have far outnumbered the actual strikes that workers have launched,” said Labog.

 The labor leader vowed to oppose the martial law in Maguindanao, saying it can be used as a stepping stone for declaring martial law in the country. 

“We will fight the possible declaration of martial law in the country with all our might. Undeclared martial law is already too much hell for us,” added Labog.