Open letter of MTTPWEA-ADLO-KMU regarding the sudden closure of MUSTAD TTPI leaving 169 workers jobless

31 May 2011

To our fellow workers here in the Philippines and around the globe, to all those who do fishing whether as sport or as a commercial enterprise, and to all the people,

Greetings!

We are legitimate workers of Mustad Terminal Tackle Phils. Inc. Our union is comprised of daily rank and file employees with 120 members. Our average daily wage is Php464.34 (~US$10.26). We have been employees of Mustad for the last 15 to 24 years.

Last May 24, 2011, Tuesday, 10:15 in the morning, the management summoned three representatives from our union. In the presence of five management lawyers, supervisors, confidential employees and three representatives from the monthly rank and file union, the management announced that the company will be shutting down on that very day. They asked us to drop everything even though we were previously instructed to rush our production because we have a ship-out due on that day.

The management has not filed for closure at the Department of Labor and Employment. To go around the law and cover up for this [non-compliance with due process], they already prepared a 30-day salary and we need not work for it. Without warning, the management dropped a bombshell on us and put us in a very difficult situation. They would release our last payroll, which we worked for, only if we accept and sign the termination notice, waiver, quitclaim, separation pay of 26 days per year of service, 13th month pay, and half of the general (sick leave/vacation leave) and the additional 30 days [which was supposed to serve as a prior notice before the shutdown.]

Because of shock, confusion, difficulty and fear felt by our colleagues, they were forced to accept the offer even if it is against their will.

Out of the 169 employees of MUSTAD TTP—nine of which are supervisors, 32 monthly rank and file, and 120 are daily rank and file—102 accepted the separation pay. Sixty of us from the daily rank and file and three from the monthly rank and file were left to continue the fight for wages, job and our rights.

The MUSTAD management gravely violated us. What they did to us is extremely disconcerting.

MUSTAD has monopolized the global production of fishing hooks and fishing materials since 1980s. Despite this achievement, this is what they have done to us workers who created the quality and expensive products that gave wealth to and strengthened this multinational company.

This is why we are calling for support from you and the whole world. We are also calling for a boycott of all products of MUSTAD while they continue doing these things to us.

We are hoping for your warm and positive response because this fight is not ours alone but a fight of the entire working class against an oppressive system.

Thank you and long live to all!

MUSTAD TTP Workers and Employees Association-Association of Democratic Labor Organization-Kilusang Mayo Uno (MTTPWEA-ADLO-KMU)