[APWSLMembers 665] wave of dispersal against striking workers in Korean-owned Hanjin Garments

[kmu id]

6 Feb 2008

Dear friends,

Please find below and attached a latest update about the series of dispersal
against striking workers of Hanjin Garments. Four workers were arrested and
13 injured in the early morning dispersal. This afternoon, police again
dispersed an indignation rally in front of the municipal hall where the
arrested workers are detained. Two (2) supporters were arrested, namely,
Randy Evangelista of Anakpawis and Arnold Cerdo, Vice President of the union
in Sensuous Lingerie Inc. Cerdo was badly beaten by the police before he was
put to jail. A female supporter identified as Carmela Almayda was dragged
like a pig. The latest wave was at around 8pm today, where police went to a
nearby church and dispersed some workers who took refuge there.

Hanjin workers formally declared their strike after 12 days of picket
protest. They are demanding employment regularization, implementation of
minimum wage reinstatement of dismissed workers and union recognition. All
of the 1000 workers in Hanjin are contractuals, including those who have
been 12 yrs in service.

We are appealing to your kind hearts to support the strike by propagating
this information. Please also bring this to the attention of Korean
Consulates and Embassy in your area and ask their government to act on
oppressive Korean capitalists.

Thank you in advance for your support.

In solidarity,
KMU International Department

----------------------------------

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno
(PAMANTIK-KMU)
Solidarity of Workers in Southern Tagalog-May First Movement


NEWS
06 February 2008

Striking workers in a Korean company dispersed, 13 injured, 4 nabbed

More than 100 policemen violently dispersed workers upon their formal
declaration of strike in Korean-owned Hanjin Garments
Incorporated in front of the Gatchalian Industrial Subdivision in Barangay
Banay-Banay, Cabuyao, Laguna at 7:41AM today.
The dispersal, which lasted for nearly 30 minutes, left 13 workers seriously
injured while 4 detained.

Cabuyao Police Chief Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, refusing to negotiate
with the workers, ordered the dispersal as
soon as he arrived on scene at 7:13AM.

Detained at the Cabuyao Police Station are Hanjin union vice-president
Christopher Capistrano, Erica Lee Balane, and
Edison Alpiedam. While Gerald Daria, a worker from another garments factory
who happened to pass by the strike area
and was supposed to go to work at that time, was also collared and detained
by the police.

Amy Capistrano, Hanjin worker and wife of the union vice-president, was
among the 13 injured workers. She was beaten black-and-blue.

Also injured were Eva Occidental, Riza Adiaton, Lilibeth Ilaga, Marivic
Cresidio, Marife Loyola, Rosalinda Esquelito, Meljun
Aquino, Ivy Villanueva, Edwin San Jose, Arnel Vito, Ricardo Basagre, and
Melchor Magtibay.

Indignation rally

At 11:15AM, Hanjin workers and their supporters marched to the Cabuyao
Municipal Hall to condemn the recent incident. After holding a program, they
proceeded to
the Cabuyao Police Station calling for the immediate release of the detained
workers.

The workers, through their legal counsel, negotiated with the police.
However, Bersaluna, himself, refused to release the detained workers.

"Hindi kami aalis dito hangga't hindi nila pinalalaya ang mga kasamahan
namin (We will not leave until they free our detained comrades)," cried
Romina Ibarrola,
spokesperson of independent union Aniban ng mga Manggagawang Inaapi sa
Hanjin Garments (AMIHAN).

"Sobra-sobra na ang pasakit na ibinibigay nila sa aming mga manggagawa.
Dahas at pagkukulong ba ang kailangan nilang
isukli sa aming paghihirap ng 12 taon… sa aming kahilingan ng regularisasyon
at pagpapatupad ng minimum wage? (They are inflicting too
much pain on us workers. Should harassment and detention be the worthy price
for our 12-year sacrifice… for our
demands of regularization and the implementation of the minimum wage?),"
continued Ibarrola.

Hanjin workers and supporting workers from other factories continue to
mass-up in front of the police station. They vowed to hold a vigil and
gather more
support until the detained workers are released.

"We don't see any reason why the police should brutally disperse and detain
these workers who only hold true and strongly to
their demands as their defense. Hanjin management, the local government, and
the police treated these workers as if
they are animals and criminals," said Romeo Legaspi, chairman of Pagkakaisa
ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU) or Solidarity of Workers
in
Southern Tagalog.

"In the final analysis of right and reason, after a series of carnage these
workers have to endure, it is the Hanjin
management, local government, and the police who are rightful of the title
brutes and criminals," concluded Legaspi.

Hanjin workers established their barricades and formally declared their
strike this morning at 5:15AM, 13 days after launching
their picket protest. Workers demanded for the reinstatement of dismissed
workers, regularization, implementation of
the minimum wage, and union recognition.

Korean nationals Jeong Kee Min and Mak Rae Min own Hanjin Garments which
employs more than 1,000 contractual workers. The company exports to the US
pants and suits
with expensive brandnames such as Mossimo, Limited, Kohl's, Croft and
Barrow, Elle, and Merona.###

___________________
Reference:
Romeo Legaspi, PAMANTIK-KMU Chairman, Mobile
Number: 09293313189.
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