[APWSLMembers 219] KMU-affiliated union gets landslide victory in Dole Philippines certification election

[Kilusang Mayo Uno]

KMU NEWS RELEASE
March 28, 2006

KMU-affiliated union gets landslide victory in Dole Phils. 
certification election

The Amado Kadena, a local union of National Federation of Labor 
Unions (NAFLU) affiliated to the militant labor center Kilusang Mayo 
Uno (KMU), yesterday attained landslide victory in the certification 
election (CE) at food processing company Dole  Phils. in Polomolok, 
South Cotabato.

Nick Galia, Vice-President for External Affairs of the AK-NAFLU-KMU, 
said that the KMU-affiliated union garnered 3,954 votes out of 4,960 
votes cast. He said this is the first time in the history of trade 
unionism in DOLE Phils. that a union is able to command 80% of votes. 
Moreover, Galia noted that it is also the first time that 94% of 
qualified voters have exercised their rights, "Matindi ang 
pagpupursigi ng mga manggagawa na makapag-participate sa 
CE."  (Workers are very determined to participate in the CE)

There are 5, 255 total qualified voters in the company. Regular 
workers totaled 5, 380. Other votes cast were: NFL(910), 
PTGWO-TUCP(6), No union (5), Spoiled (37), Invalid (40).

The AK-NAFLU-KMU is the incumbent union in Dole Phils since 2001. 
Galia said that under their steer, they were able to push for the 
regularization of more than 1,500 workers. Other gains of the union 
in their CBA include monthly rice subsidies, bottom line bonus, and 
10 percent wage increase for three years. The AK also pioneered a 
mini-mart program which subsidized grocery items for workers at low cost.

Dole Philippines has pineapple growing operations in the Philippines 
since 1963. It is a subsidiary of DOLE Food Company, Inc and employs 
about twenty thousand people including contractual workers. It is 
owned by the Murdock Group of Companies.

KMU Executive Vice President Lito Ustarez, also the president of 
NAFLU said that, "Isang malaking tagumpay hindi lamang sa NAFLU kundi 
sa kilusang paggawa ang pagkapanalo ng AK sa Dole Phils. Tagumpay 
itong nagpapalakas sa mga manggagawa sa pinyahan sa haharaping 
panibagong CBA at iba pang pakikibaka."  (The victory of AK is not 
only a victory for NAFLU-KMU but a victory for the labor 
movement.  This is a victory that will further strengthen the 
pineapple workers in their fight for a new CBA and other struggles.)

Ustarez noted the spirit of excitement and cooperation in Polomolok 
even before the attained victory of the union, "Sa kabila ng hirap ng 
buhay, nagawang kumuha ng 9 days leave without pay ang mga 
manggagawang kababaihan para tumulong sa mga paghahanda at kampanya. 
Sama-sama lahat dito pati mga pamilya, alam nila na laban nila lahat 
ang eleksyon ng unyon."  (Despite the economic crisis, the women 
workers took a 9-day leave without pay in order to help in the 
election preparation and campaign.  The whole family of the workers 
were together in this fight because they consider the union election 
their fight as well.)

The labor leader also said that the AK-NAFLU-KMU also spearheaded a 
signature campaign for the Free Ka Bel Movement (FKBM) in the area 
which already garnered thousands of signatures worldwide. ###

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