A very special gift

The Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera in behalf of the workers of the Cordillera region would like to express its gladness over the resignation of Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas. It is a very special gift to the workers and their families and supporters who were victims of the many labor violations committed during the reign of Sto. Tomas!

We welcome the resignation of Sto. Tomas even if it is already long overdue. The workers were longing for her resignation because of her anti-worker and pro-capitalists memoranda and department orders. Under her administration in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), many workers, their families as well as their supporters and friends were injured and murdered. Her unjust issuance of Assumptions of Jurisdiction (AJ) over the struggles of the workers for democratic rights and welfare led to the numerous labor and civil rights violations mostly committed by people in authority. Such is the Hacienda Luisita massacre on November 16, 2004 where the police and hired goons shot and killed many of the striking workers of the sugar plantations.

Here in the Cordillera, many workers of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) including their families were hurt, illegally arrested and incarcerated by the members of the 1064th Provincial Mobile Group of the Benguet Philippine National Police (PNP). The police was armed to do so after Sto. Tomas issued an AJ over their legitimate strike on 2005.

Sto. Tomas should go but this does not mean that we will forget her bloody hands on the various violations of labor rights of the workers. She should still be held responsible and accountable for all the sufferings and deaths of the struggling workers.

KMU-Cordillera is happy anyway over Sto. Tomas’ resignation but the workers should be still be vigilant to whoever will succeed her office. Even if many labor secretaries will come and go as long as the repressive and oppressive system of DOLE will not change, the workers will still be at the losing end.

JUSTICE FOR THE WORKERS!

LET PATRICIA STO. TOMAS TOGETHER WITH HER BOSS, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO BE LIABLE FOR THE LABOR AS WELL AS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS INFLICTED TO THE WORKERS

STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRATIC LAB0R RIGHTS AND WELFARE!