[APWSLMembers 64] Toyota infringes workers’rights in the Philippines

[Oidon]

IMF NewsBriefs No.11/2005
http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm?n=111&l=2&nbid=5363
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Toyota infringes workers’rights in the Philippines

The IMF seeks a satisfactory resolution for the workers and their union
at a Toyota plant in the Philippines whose trade union rights have been
violated by the company in an ongoing dispute.

PHILIPPINES: Despite a Supreme Court decision and an International
Labour Organisation (ILO) ruling in the workers’ favour, the Toyota
Motor Philippines Corporation continues to overlook the fundamental
rights of workers at its plant.
The Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation Workers’ Association (TMPCWA)
first sought certification as the bargaining agent at the plant in
February 1999, a move that was vigorously opposed by the company.
Certified in October 2000, the TMPCWA submitted a collective bargaining
proposal to the company.

The company again appealed the certification of the union and the
government called for a hearing on the issue. Dismayed by this turn of
events, the workers staged a peaceful protest during the hearing.

In response the company dismissed 227 union officers and members and
suspended 64 union members for 30 days for taking part in the peaceful
assembly. Meanwhile the government once again confirmed the
certification of TMPCWA as the collective bargaining agent.

The union took strike action in March 2001 calling for the reinstatement
of the workers. This strike was eventually violently dispersed by police
and security guards and the government’s labour relations commission
stepped in to mediate the dispute, ultimately ruling in favour of the
company.

The TMPCWA then lodged a complaint with the ILO, which ruled in November
2003 that the company had infringed on the workers’ rights to freedom
of association and their rights to bargain collectively. The Supreme
Court of the Philippines has also ruled in favour of the union.

Despite both of these rulings the company refuses to recognise the
union, will not reinstate workers sacked for trade union activities and
fails to negotiate a collective agreement.

The IMF fully supports the TMPCWA’s efforts to have its fundamental
trade union rights recognised by Toyota, and is appalled by the
anti-union stance taken by the company.

The IMF is consulting with its affiliates in Japan to find a
satisfactory resolution for the union and workers in the Philippines.

[August 10, 2005] AG