“ Public Eye nomination, termination of union officers prove Dole Philippines’ disrespect of workers’ rights”

Asosasyon sa mga Mamumuo sa Dolefil Alang sa Kalingkawasan ug Demokrasya sa Nasud –NAFLU-KMU today denounces the latest illegal dismissal of one of its Board of Directors by the Dolefil management. 

Peregrino Banguis, Board of Director for agriculture was terminated yesterday. The company has earlier dismissed Florentino Beghanilum and Edmundo Velonero, the union’s vice-president for organization and treasurer respectively.  Last year, Oscar Serohijos, the  union’s secretary was also dismissed from work.

 “These people have served the company for over 30 years. They have done nothing against the company except that they are active officers the union. Obviously, the management’s ultimate goal is to cripple and eventually crush our union. Except for Serohijos, the three were terminated on charges of “absent without permission”. We see it malicious because they were said to be absent even on days we were having CBA negotiations with the management in 2006,” Jose Teruel, AK-NAFLU-KMU president says. 

“ This anti-worker antics of the company earned a nomination at Public Eye Global Awards 2008 for worst companies. This shows that Dole Philippines’ notoriety for violating workers’ rights is recognized worldwide,” Teruel adds.  

Dole Philippines is in the short list of Public Eye nominees along with AREVA Group,S.A and Bayer CropScience, for continuous implementation of labor-only-contracting and using banned chemicals like endosulfan.