[APWSLMembers 127] Fwd: End of Hacienda Luisita strike Significant victories won, the struggle continues

[Luke Coxon]

------- Forwarded message -------
From: "Kilusang Mayo Uno" <kmuid at tri-isys.com>
To: "Kilusang Mayo Uno" <kmuid at tri-isys.com>
Subject: End of Hacienda Luisita strike    Significant victories won,  the  
struggle continues
Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 20:11:32 +0800

To all our dear comrades and friends,

On behalf of ULWU and CATLU, we would like to extend our heartfelt
gratitude especially to all our friends in the international
community who expressed their solidarity and support to the striking
workers, especially by sending protest letters to the Cojuangcos,
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, NOLCOM, AFP, Department of Labor and
Employment and other concerned government agencies; sent solidarity
messages to the ULWU and CATLU unions; exposed the issues of the HLI
workers and campaigned for the resolution of the labor conflict;
conducted protest actions on their respective countries in support of
the struggle of the HLI workers; sent technical and material support;
gave financial donations to help maintain the strike; and many others.

The victory of the Hacienda Luisita strike is a victory of the whole
working class.  Once again, we have proven to the big landlords,
bourgeoisie comprador and the state that nothing can defeat the
determination and unity of the workers.  No amount of killings,
repression, intimidation and terrorism can crush the firm solidarity
of the workers.

While we celebrate this significant victory of the HLI workers, we
pay tribute to all the martyrs who have offered their lives so that
the workers can enjoy the fruits of their labor, so that the workers
can enjoy their right to life.

The struggle against landlessness and poverty, just wages,
employment, decent housing and many more continues. Let us pledge to
defend the victories that we have won in the face of an expected
retaliation of the combined forces of the Cojuangcos and the
state.  Let us not forget the invaluable lessons we have learned from
the Hacienda Luisita strike.

Onward to a future where no exploitation and oppression exists!
Long Live International Solidarity!

In solidarity,
Elmer Labog
KMU Chairman

Tess Dioquino
Secretary
KMU International Department




JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
    December 9, 2005

    From: Rene Galang
    President
    United Luisita Workers' Union
              Cell Phone # 0921-786-9185

              Rene Tua
               Spokesperson
               Cell Phone # 0918-473-4145

    End of Hacienda Luisita strike
    Significant victories won, the struggle continues

    Yesterday, we victoriously ended our 13-month strike at the Hacienda
Luisita. While we appreciate the gains and victories we earned, we extend
our thanks to our supporters and honor our martyrs whose blood nurtured our
struggle.

    It was a great battle as witnessed by the entire nation and beyond,
participated in by tens of thousands of mill and farm workers and their
families, supported by an unending throve of sympathizers here and abroad.
The historic strike is rife with lessons and sacrifices.  We had to fight
off the terrorism and violence wrought by the NOLCOM (Northern Luzon
Command) and its death squads,
the manipulations and treachery of the politically influential Cojuangcos,
and the oppressive laws under the Arroyo administration.

    When we started this particular battle, what we had was our collective
will to press for just wages and benefits and to stave off an impending
wholesale eviction of mill and farm workers from the hacienda.  It was a
question of survival for the 800 mill workers and more than 5,000 farm
workers at the hacienda.  With sheer militance, grave determination and
great inspiration from our supporters, we got our demands, and even more.

    We consider the strike a victory because the agreement contains the
following major demands:

    1. All the thirty four [34] dismissed union officers of CATLU and fifty
[52] of the remaining retrenched union officers and members of ULWU will go
back to work. The thirty seven [37] retrenched seasonal workers belonging  
to
ULWU will go back to work as seasonal workers. The fifteen [15] retrenched
permanent workers of ULWU will receive full separation benefits and will be
rehired as seasonal workers. [There were originally 35 CATLU officers who
were dismissed, including CATLU president Ricardo Ramos who was murdered
last October 25.]

    The unions will remain as the bargaining agent of the workers. A new
collective bargaining agreement [CBA] for CATLU will also be signed on
Thursday and the new CBA for ULWU will be forthcoming as plantation
operations normalize. Nineteen [19] ULWU officers will receive regular pay
while doing full-time union work. Management failed to bust the unions.

    2. A financial package worth about P21 million will be given to more  
than
700 CATLU members. This includes a daily wage increase of P15 retroactive
 from July 1, 2004 to the end of the strike, a one-time signing bonus of
P13,000  as well as this year's christmas  bonus and other benefits. ULWU
will receive about P8.2 million in unpaid wages and benefits for more than
5,000 master list, seasonal and permanent workers.

    3. ULWU is given the right to harvest and get the proceeds from the
standing sugar cane crop worth about P30 million. In addition, ULWU  
chapters
in all the ten [10] barangays comprising the hacienda will receive P200,000
each as financial assistance for crop production.


    4.  The plantation workers will retain all their rights as stockholders  
of
the corporation.

    Likewise, we were able to avert the massive retrenchment and eviction
scheduled in 2004-2005 to give way to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
Project (SCTEP) and the prospective  infrastructure and agribusiness
projects.  Not
only that, we were able to till big portions of the agricultural lands for
food production, something that hadn't been done since the Cojuangcos
acquired the hacienda from Tabacalera.

    But these could only be small victories as the war against landlessness  
and
poverty is far from over.  The Cojuangcos still control the lands of  
Hacienda
Luisita and dispose of them for sale or lease without any consideration of
the claim of the farm workers to the land.  Likewise, we sense some degree  
of
indecisiveness on the part of the PARC (Presidential Agrarian Reform
Council) to uphold the revocation of the SDO (stock distribution
option) as recommended by the DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform).

    Besides, the NOLCOM maintains the hacienda as a garrison where more  
than a
battalion of military troops watch over the 10 barrios of HL
(Hacienda Luisita).  Violations of
human rights and international humanitarian law are widespread making the
hacienda a dangerous place to work and live.

    Since the workers struck, NOLCOM hirelings and Cojuangco goons carried  
out
a spate of killings not only in Hacienda Luisita but in the provinces of
Tarlac and Pampanga. Thirteen people who have supported the strike have so
far been killed. [See December 6 Press Statement].

    Numerous cases of illegal arrests, detention and interrogation have been
documented. The military bandies a list of some 30 people in every barangay
in the hacienda whom they intimidate and harass on mere suspicion that they
are members of the New People's Army. Scores of hacienda residents have  
been
beaten or mauled by the soldiers and cases of indiscrimate firing of guns
have traumatized even school children. The soldiers roam the barangays at
night instilling fear and terror among the people, especially when they are
drunk.

Personal belongings, cows and goats are reported to have been stolen by the
soldiers. The soldiers are also responsible for forcing the bulldozers to  
run
over people who are blocking the construction of the SCTEP.

     We couldn't be complacent and put our guards down as we anticipate the
Cojuangcos' and the Arroyo regime's machinations to negate whatever we  
gained
 from our struggle.  Thus, while we celebrate our victory, we issue the call
to our fellow mill and farm workers to strengthen our ranks to face greater
battles to come.  The struggle continues to defend our gains and earn more
victories.  ###


Note:  italics ours



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