Victory of Nissan workers, victory to the whole working class!

The workers in the region under the militant Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU) or Solidarity of Workers in Southern Tagalog mark in high spirits and commend the decision made by the Supreme Court in the long-running labor dispute in Nissan Motors Philippines Incorporated.

On June 21, 2006, the Supreme Court issued the decision on the case between the Nissan management and the union Bagong Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Manggagawa sa Nissan Motors Philippines, Incorporated (BANAL-OLALIA-KMU). The Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals earlier decision and resolution on February 7, 2003 and May 15, 2003, respectively, the recall of more than 140 dismissed workers and award them certain economic benefits.

Since the start of their strike on October 1, 2001, the Nissan workers were not tamed by demoralizations and defeat. Like their picketline which still stands to this day, the workers firmly held their ground despite management bribes to stall their struggle and even if for several times brutally dispersed by company guards, goons, police and military. Their legitimate and just struggle, nonetheless, reaped and still reaps support from communities and workers from other factories, here and abroad.

On 2005, the Nissan workers were extremely dispersed, detained and charged by elements of the Western Police District in Manila while they were conducting a peaceful assembly in front of the Supreme Court to air their insistence for an immediate and favourable decision.

The favoured decision which the Nissan workers achieved would not have been possible without their firm and heroic decisiveness to pursue the struggle through steel-strong unity despite their poverty, in the midst of the strength and influence of capitalist Nissan and intensifying trade union repression.

The heroic feats exemplified by the Nissan workers serve as model to all workers in the region, in the country and to the whole working class. This proves that the workers’ solid strength and determined action can break any barriers.

PAMANTIK-KMU believes that the united strength of Nissan workers will pursue until the Supreme Court’s decision is directly implemented, until victory and justice are fully achieved where life and death sacrifices were served.

Long live workers of Nissan Motors Philippines!