[APWSLMembers 484] Chiyoda workers win certification elections

[KMU International Department]

PAMANTIK-KMU
NEWS RELEASE
22 February 2007
 
 
Chiyoda workers win certification elections
 
Workers claim victory after having won the majority “yes to union” vote in 
a certification election conducted today in Chiyoda Integree Philippines 
Incorporated, a Japanese-owned electronics company in Light 
Industries and Science Park I (LISP I), Cabuyao, Laguna.
 
Representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) 
supervised the elections which started from 9:45AM until 11:04AM.  Out of 
the 110 official voters, 108 cast their votes.  Tunay at Lumalaban sa 
Ikatatatag ng Manggagawa sa Chiyoda (TALIM-Chiyoda-Independent), 
the sole union vying for certification gathered 58 votes, no to union got 40 
votes, and 10 challenge votes.
 
Before the elections, around 8:30AM, Chiyoda workers and supporters 
held a march from the LISP gate 1 to the plant gates calling for suppport 
for the “yes vote”.  After work hours, at 5:30PM, the Chiyoda workers 
staged a victory march this time from the plant gates to the LISP main 
gate.
 
According to union president Felimon Alfiler, “Despite the 
management’s conscious intent to discourage and disqualify our union, 
our victory is the result of the workers determination to establish a 
geniune union which will guarantee our employment security, wages, 
benefits, and safeguard our rights.”
 
Alfiler reported management’s outright attempts to “demonise” unionism.
 
“The workers were asked by the management to attend an ISO seminar 
on February 17, 2007.  However, we walked out from the actual venue 
when the agenda to be discussed is about anti-unionism, linking the 
issue on anti-terrorism campaign.”
 
“We exercised our right to form our union - a provision which is clearly 
stated in our National Constitution.  We abided by the legal process.  
We are not terrorists.  And that made us won in the certification 
elections,” claimed Alfiler.
 
Alfiler was earlier reported to have been receiving death threats as 
some motorcycle-riding men follow him from the factory and often 
frequent his house.
 
Meanwhile, the militant Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog 
Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU) lauds the Chiyoda workers’ victory.
 
“Today, workers in Southern Tagalog look head up to the victory of 
workers in Chiyoda.  The Chiyoda workers’ collective will and 
determination to win their union is exemplary to other workers in the 
export processing zones where horrendous trade union repression and 
human rights violations loom,” said a statement from PAMANTIK.
 
“From the onset, the Chiyoda capitalist has been active in its attempt to 
nip in the bud workers’ unity.  Now that the workers have legitimately won 
their union, they have proved their strength superior against the 
underhand moves of the capitalist.”  
 
However, there is no room for complacency.  We encourage the 
Chiyoda workers to defend and consolidate this initial victory.  Further 
strengthen the union, win over the workers whose minds were poisoned 
by the management, and carry on intensifying active mobilisations to win 
further victories in the struggles ahead,” concluded PAMANTIK.###