Labor leaders picket Dole Philippines main office amid takeover of local union

Labor federation National Federation of Labor Unions today condemned what they call the “management takeover” of the workers’ union in Dolefil’s plantation in South Cotabato, saying the Dolefil management is resorting to “blatantly illegal moves” to bust the militant local union.

In a picket in front of Dolefil’s main office in Ayala Avenue, Makati, federation members and leaders of Naflu took turns in condemning the impeachment of active union officers of Amado Kadena-NAFLU-KMU (AK-NAFLU-KMU) in a general assembly convened by a management-backed union, UR Dole. New union officers, who are company-backed, were also elected during the assembly.

“The ‘general assembly’ which UR Dole and the Dolefil management convened is illegal, pure and simple. You don’t convene workers in a general assembly if you are not their union officials. You don’t impeach incumbent officials without due process. And you don’t go on electing yourself through an illegal general assembly,” said Antonio “Tony” Pascual, Naflu secretary-general.

Just last week, the Dolefil management upheld the results of the illegal “general assembly.” This, after reports from the local union saying the Dolefil management was responsible for bringing people to the venue of the illegal “general assembly” with company service vehicles.

“The Dolefil management is trying to look sophisticated with these moves, using a management-backed union to implement its plan. But the Filipino workers and people can see clearly through the deception. This is the management of a transnational corporation using all its might to bust a union and twist all legalities to suit its interests,” he added.

Naflu said the local labor union has been militant in asserting higher wages, security of work, and trade-union rights together with the Dolefil workers. It said the Dolefil management has long been trying to bust the local union because of this.

“Only pressure from people can stop the power of the profit motive. That’s why the Dolefil management has to be pressured with our call: Don’t recognize the illegal ‘general assembly’! Stop union-busting in the Dolefil plantation! We hope the Dolefil management plays fair in dealing with the labor union,” said Pascual.