Respect Trade Union Rights of Iranian Workers , Respect Democratic Rights of the Iranian People

Today, on the occasion of the Global Solidarity Action Day for Justice for Iranian Workers, the National Confederation of Transportworkers Unions (NCTU), the Philippine Transport Unions (PMT) and the National Union of Workers in Hotel Restaurant and Allied Industries (NUWHRAIN) joins the global labor movement in expressing our protest over the Iranian government’s oppressive policies against workers who want to exercise their fundamental rights and to express our solidarity with the many Iranian workers, who have joined the demonstrations in the streets to call for respect for their inalienable democratic rights.

We are appalled by the Iranian government’s brutal repression of independent trade union actions in recent years, most recently on 1 May 2009 as they attempted to hold a peaceful May Day rally at Laleh Park in Tehran. Many of them are still detained by the police.

We are aware that many Iranian workers continue to face tough times. They often wait for months to receive wages, are made “redundant” when they complain, and are beaten up and arrested when they protest.

We deplore that fact that trade unionists like Mansour Osanloo, Ebrahim Madadi (bus workers), Farzad Kamangar (teacher), Ali Nejati (sugar worker), and Mahmoud Salehi (bakers) are regularly arrested and harassed.

We are gravely concerned that the repression of fundamental rights has now intensified and widened as Iranian security forces violently suppressed the many demonstrations in the wake of the election, with hundreds of people being arrested.

This repression is an unacceptable denial of fundamental human rights. Iran refuses to sign the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions on the freedom to join unions and negotiate with employers.

In solidarity with all working people around the world who are taking action against the Iranian government this day, we demand that the Iranian government take action on the following:

1. Free all imprisoned trade unionists.
2. Respect of Trade Union Rights for all Iranian workers. Recognize the right of workers to organize, strike, protest and assembly in furtherance to their job security and economic well being.
3. Recognize all independent workers’ organizations in Iran.
4. Ratify ILO Conventions on freedom of association and right to collective bargaining
5. Reinstate all unfairly dismissed workers.
6. Stop oppression, harassment and persecution of workers and rights activists.
7. Respect Democratic Rights for all Iranians.
8. Stop the brutal repossession of political dissenters.

We will continue to monitor developments in Iran as we remain in solidarity with Iranian working class.

APL joins mass action on Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday

Rene Peñas’ last speech

Ka Rene’s last public appearance was last May 28 at the Ateneo de Manila University screening of Lupang Hinarang, a new documentary by Ditsi Carolino about recent struggles of farmers for land reform. GMANews.tv

Excerpts from Ka Rene Peñas’ last speech:

Napakahaba po ng struggle ng magsasaka, ngunit walang imposible kung manindigan lamang at magkaisa. Pero napakasakit isipin lamang na kung noon ay galing sa Maynila ang batas, dalhin mo sa baba, at ipaalam sa magsasaka na ito ang batas ng ating gobyerno, ngayon baliktad po. Mas may alam ang magsasaka sa batas, dinala niya papunta sa Maynila upang ipaalam sa ating gobyerno - “Ito po ang batas niyo.” Napakasakit isipin na ganoon…

Tuloy po ang laban namin, salamat sa lahat ng suporta niyo. Nanalo po kami sa Sumilao, ngunit pangako po namin, hindi lang po para sa amin ang aming pakikibaka kung hindi para sa lahat ng landless na Pilipino sa buong bansa.

- Howie Severino, GMANews.TV

Statement of APL on the assassination of Ka Rene Peñas

The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) condemns in the strongest possible terms the cowardly killing of Ka Rene Peñas as well as the attempted murder of his two companions.

Ka Rene and two of his colleagues were on their way home when they were ambushed by at least two shotgun-wielding murderers. He died on the spot after sustaining 11 gunshot wounds – three on his chest that exited on his back and eight all over his arms. Fortunately, his two companions, though injured, managed to escape.

We believe that Ka Rene was killed by those who continue to fight against everything that Ka Rene stands for – the full emancipation of our peasants. His death is therefore the collective sin of all greedy and vicious landlords who continue to cling to their antiquated and dubious ownership claims over vast tracts of land.

Coming at a time when the farmers have just succeeded in forcing the House of Representatives to adopt a bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law with reforms, this dastardly act once again reminds us all how far these parasitic and indolent landlords are willing to go to defend their selfish interests!

We squarely blame the Arroyo regime for failing to stop the political killings that has hounded the entire progressive movement for several years now. Up to now, the government has yet to give justice to the dastardly murder of hundreds of journalists, trade unionists, peasants and political activists, creating a climate where dastardly elements like the killers of Ka Rene can act with impunity and even with relish!

We call on the government agencies to redouble their efforts to bring to justice not only the butchers of Ka Rene and all the victims of political killings, but more importantly the masterminds behind these ruthless slaughters!

At the same time, the APL vows to honor Ka Rene’s death by reaffirming its unwavering support to the peasant struggle for emancipation from feudal and capital bondage, as the APL unwaveringly struggles for the emancipation of labor from the clutches of capital and tyrants, and eventually to achieve a genuine social transformation.

Stop corruption in Mandaluyong Traffic Division! Stop harassing transport workers!

Leaders of big transport unions in Mandaluyong today filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against Luisito E. Espinosa, chief of the Traffic and Parking Management Office (TMPO) of Mandaluyong City, and all the traffic enforcers of the TMPO who are under his supervision, to stop what they believe is an attempt to defraud transport workers of hundreds of thousands of pesos every year.

Last December 2008, Espinosa issued a directive requiring all drivers of PUJs, Tricycles and Pedicabs plying Mandaluyong to pay PHP 100 to secure an annual driver’s ID under pain of a fine of not less than PHP 1,000 but not more than PHP 3,000. This directive is purportedly aimed at implementing Ordinance No. 325 that was issued by the Sanguniang Panlunsod of Mandaluyong way back in December 2005.

“The problem is, Ordinance No. 325 never mentioned anything about collecting PHP 100,” Ernesto Cruz, President of Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator sa Starmall, EDSA Crosing at Kalentong Annex (STOMEKA), said.

“Worst, Ordinance No. 325 applies only to drivers of PUJs whose terminals are within the boundaries of Mandaluyong. And yet, Espinosa wanted all PUJ drivers, including those whose route merely traverses Mandaluyong, be included,” Cruz added.

But what makes Espinosa’s directive more questionable is the fact that drivers are required to get their IDs from an organization called Federation of Mandaluyong Drivers’ Association or FEMANDA. Thus whatever is collected through his directive would not accrue to the government

“There is nothing in Ordinance No. 325 that authorizes FEMANDA to issue the ID nor does Espinosa have the power to authorize the same. Clearly, Espinosa is abusing his authority,” Anton Loresca, president of Lagarista Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (LAJODA), declared.

It was estimated that this illegal directive would affect at least 9,400 drivers. This means that FEMANDA stands to gain at least PHP 940,000 or almost a million pesos every year. Why was FEMANDA granted this financial favor?

It was reported that those who are opposing the directive, particularly the members of STOMEKA, LAJODA and P. Victorino, Hulo, Kalemtong Operators and Drivers Association (PVHUKODA), are being harassed and cited by TPMO traffic enforcers. But the transport unions are determined to continue fighting the directive.

“We vow to fight until this illegal directive is rescinded,” Aries C. Chuaquico, Board Member of the PVHUKODA, said. “Our complaint before the Ombudsman is just the beginning. Next we will file a criminal case against Espinosa and his cohorts,” he added.

Between them, STOMEKA, LAJODA and PVHUKODA have at least 600 members. These organizations are affiliated to the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union (NCTU), which in turn is a member of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) and the International Transportworkers Federation (ITF) based in London.