Dispersed, laid-off Triumph International workers appeal to poll bets

Amid the heat of local and national candidates’ campaign, a workers’ picketline in an undergarment factory in Taguig was violently dispersed by goons and security forces, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno said as it echoes the workers’ call for help from poll bets.

KMU said workers of Triumph International who have been on strike against the factory’s illegal closure tasted repression last Tuesday after more than 100 security forces of Food Terminal Inc. (the owner of factory grounds) and 50 goons wearing bonnets swooped down on the picketline and smashed everything there.

Security forces also harassed five workers of the independent Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Triumph International (BPMTI) and injured them after pushing them out of the union office. A Taguig court’s temporary restraining order dated April 23 which brands the strike as “unlawful” was used as justification for the dispersal.

“At this point, Triumph workers do not expect anything from the Arroyo regime, whose rule spawned unparalled violence in picket lines. They instead look up to national and local bets for help, even just a show of solidarity to their plight at the minimum,” said KMU executive vice president and Anakpawis Vice chair for Luzon Lito Ustarez.

“Candidates who claim to be pro-worker have a chance to prove that they really are by making a stand against the violent dispersal and unjust layoff of Triumph workers. They should do it now, not after the elections,” he added.

Swiss-based Triumph International illegally closed its factory in the country in August 2009, laying off more than 1,600 workers without any solid basis. Before this, it also denied workers of much-needed wage increases and benefits. It also laid off 2,000 workers in Thailand.

International labor issue

In a joint complaint dated Dec. 3, 2009, Filipino and Thai workers brought the issue of illegal and unjust layoffs in the Philippines and Thailand before the Swiss OECD National Contact Point, a complaint center for transnationals. The National Contact Point, however, has yet to release its findings on the complaint.

“Triumph’s case, as well as cases of unfair labor practices in other transnational companies, will be a test whether the next administration will succumb to big foreign businesses or will defend its people from blatant attacks to labor rights,” Ustarez said.

“What the next president should do is pressure the Swiss Embassy as well as the Swiss OECD National Contact Point to hold Triumph accountable for its neglect of the labor rights of thousands of workers,” he added.

KMU and Anakpawis  Partylist, in support of Triumph workers, call on the public to send protest letters to the Department of Labor and Employment, the Swiss Embassy as well as the main office of Triumph International in Switzerland. #

TRIUMPHWEG 6, BAD ZURZACH, CH-5330,
SWITZERLAND
FAX: 41 056 269 93 30
TELEPHONE: 41 056 269 91 91
WEBSITE: www.triumph.com

Swiss Embassy-Philippines:
Email: vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Telephone: 757-9000
Fax: 757-3718
Address: 24th Floor, Equitable Bank Tower, 8751 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT-PHILIPPINES
Muralla St. cor. Gen. Luna St., Intramuros
1002 Manila, Philippines
Secretary Marianito Roque: 527-3000 Loc. 701 up to 707, 527-2121, 301-0182,
527-5523
Email: roquemd@dole.gov.ph