KMU-SMR Denounces Systematic Repression of Progressive Union Movement

During the KMU-SMR press conference held today, Vicente “Boy” Barrios, president of Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (NAMASUFA) in Compostela, Compostela Valley Province recounted the series of threats and intimidation he has received since NAMASUFA was formed last year. The union was registered in mid-August last year, and is the union of workers at Packing Plant 90 in Brgy. Siocon, Compostela, Compostela Valley under the Fresh Banana Agricultural Corporation.

Last Saturday, June 10, an armed, bonneted man wearing black corduroy jacket and black pants forcibly entered the house of Barrios in Purok 2-Valencia, Brgy New Alegria, Compostela, Compostela Valley Province around 9:30 pm while a companion waited outside.

Members of NAMASUFA and workers at Packing Plant 92, near Barrios’ house, testified during a fact-finding mission on Wednesday that they have never known Barrios to have any enemies or anyone to have bad will toward him. Only when the union was formed did threats against Barrios begin. The series of threats began in September with a disinformation and intimidation campaign by members of the 28th IB – Philippine Army who removed the union’s streamers, accused Barrios of being an NPA organizer, and called a meeting with the workers in the packing plant telling them that the union was led by rebels.

NAMASUFA filed a money claims case in August 2005 with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) for non-payment of COLA, holiday pay, service incentive, and other non-wage benefits. In the process of case, the DoLE found that the contractor of Plant 90, Ildefenso Lendio, was operating without a license. He has since been forced out of his position as contractor.

Starting June 12, 2006, two officers of Packing Plant 92 workers union began receiving death threats through text messages from an unknown number. Their union was registered with the DoLE in April 2006. When they began organizing in February, they were called to the house of the captain of barangay New Alegria, who is also the contractor of Plant 92, and told that he does not want them to join the union because it is led by rebels.