U.S.-backed Philippine gov’t represses workers

Workers throughout the U.S. and around the world held demonstrations, protests and political gatherings on Sept. 21 to mark the 34th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines and to denounce current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s policy of war against Filipino workers and the poor.

The progressive Filipino movement charges that at least 740 people have died as a result of politically motivated killings by death squads and paramilitary groups since Arroyo came to power in 2001. All the victims are individuals who have worked with or for the poor in the Philippines: human rights activists, lawyers, journalists, trade unionists, church workers and members of Bayan—an alliance of progressive organizations and individuals.

In the past 12 months, political killings have happened at the rate of one every two days.

The period of martial law during the era of Ferdinand Marcos supposedly ended 20 years ago, but its legacy continues and is growing worse. The government has failed to carry out genuine land reform as promised or to nationalize industry—two measures that would have greatly alleviated poverty and raised living standards. Instead, Arroyo and her predecessors chose to carry out the dictates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. These “structural adjustment� programs have seriously eroded employment rights and the conditions of work, weakening trade unions and bringing deep cuts in health, education and other essential basic services.

Under Arroyo’s tenure, the national debt rose from 2.167 trillion pesos in 1995 to 5.9 trillion pesos in 2003—or over 100 billion U.S. dollars. It is estimated that for every one peso of taxes paid by Filipinos, 94 centavos go to servicing the country’s debt. (Bayan Muna)

Since the entry of the Philippines into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, the Filipino workers and economy have been further enslaved to a new set of rules that have led to the removal of all restrictions on the entry of foreign goods and the repatriation of foreign capital—meaning that local producers have been driven out of business while big transnational corporations are free to send their profits out of the country.

Joint ventures between local conglomerates and foreign interests from the U.S., Japan and others are concentrated on deregulated utilities, power, water, shipping, banking and telecommunications.

The control and monopoly of these vital services in the interest of profits has been disastrous for Filipinos. Since 1997, water rates have gone up 450 percent. (Bayan)

Hundreds of thousands of people lack safe, clean drinking water. In Payatas, a giant garbage dump in suburban Manila, 140,000 people live in dire poverty with no sewage, water or any other public services expected in an urban environment. The government has steadfastly refused to improve their living conditions, including providing clean water to drink, because they say they don’t want to encourage them to stay in the city, as if people would endure these horrendous conditions if they had any other choice.

Unemployment in the Philippines is now at a near record high. About 4.8 million Filipinos are unemployed and another 8.4 million are underemployed, bringing the number of people looking for a job or additional work to 13 million—about 18 percent of the entire population. The official minimum wage is 270 pesos per day—about $5.40—which is not even sufficient to cover the daily cost of living, calculated to be 618 pesos. Millions are forced to work at less than minimum wage.

Repression and intimidation

The workers in the Philippines have struggled long and hard to better their conditions and improve wages. But the Philippine government’s policy of subservience to imperialism is anchored on maintaining cheap wages and a docile labor force. Of the 740 victims of politically motivated killings, 64 were labor union leaders.

Recently, a fact-finding mission by a number of Filipino human rights organizations—including the National Coalition for the Protection of Workers; Center for Trade Unions and Human Rights; Kilusang Mayo Uno, a trade union federation; and Religious of the Good Shepherd—investigated and confirmed allegations that workers were harassed and their rights infringed at the Console Farm, a huge chicken farm and processing plant in Bulacan province.

They found that soldiers frequently visited the farm during 2005. The military conducted a census of workers and residents and convened weekly meetings presided over by military officers where workers were required to report all their union activities. Workers and union leaders were also visited by soldiers at home. Many union leaders resigned because of the harassment and fear of reprisals.

Workers confirmed that the management of Console Farm allowed the military to freely roam the farm. When the military called a meeting and workers did not attend, management compelled them to talk with the military. There have been reports of soldiers firing their guns at the houses of workers who did not attend meetings.

According to one resident, the army warned him against giving any aid to New Peoples Army (NPA) guerrillas in the area. “We really cannot do anything because they really kill people,� he said about the army. “They will not hesitate to kill you if you go against their wishes.� (Bulatlat.com)

Workers reported that, at one of the meetings convened by the military, they were warned not to help the NPA or they would be killed. At the same meeting, the union was “encouraged� to refrain from asking for higher wages or benefits from management.

Center for Trade Unions and Human Rights Executive Director Daisy Arago said there is virtually a military takeover of the union at Console Farm. She added that deployment of troops in the region caused complete disrespect for human rights. (Bulatlat.com)

The fact-finding mission reported its findings to the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment. The department representative stated that cases of “military intrusion� such as at Console Farm are beyond their jurisdiction. They said they can only act on cases of disputes between workers and management.

Like the dictatorship of Ferdinand Mar­cos, the Arroyo government and military are repressing the Filipino people and putting them at the service of imperialist interests like the World Bank, WTO and IMF.

But just like the U.S.-backed Marcos, the current regime will face the struggle—not just of the Filipino nation, but of the workers and oppressed of the world. It is vitally important that workers and progressive people everywhere unite in solidarity with the people of the Philippines.