Philippines workers fight dictatorship

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RECENT years have seen an important development of struggle by the working class of the Philippines against the Marcos dictatorship. _ Central to this has been the remarkable development of KMU lor May Ist Mu 'emeni - since it was formed on May 1, 1980]. Bill Peters, who has been in Japan, interviewed WILLY MARTENEZ, the KMU representative who was there for the conference of Rodo Joho (Labour Information), a militant left-wing

grouping based around a fortnightly newspaper.

Guangzheu (Canion) "Taichung

Hanoi Hong Kong ILAND Paracet Tarlac Quezon City ok Balangaş PHILIPPINES VIETWAM Hoilo 5 Ho-Chi Minh Spratty Mindanac City *Davao Malaya INDONESIA Tell me about the growth of the KMU.

The KMU is the only militant trade union federation in the Philippines. This is the significance of its development. Before it was established at a conference on May 1, 1980, we had only reliow and rightwing trade unions.

1 believe it grew very quickly?

Yes. In 1980 it had 50,000 members and b" 1982, 150,000 members.: Now it has a strong structure with many Regional branches.

What made this possible? Firstly it is because it is the only union giving any answers to the terrible conditions facing the Philippine workers and because it takes up the political struggle against the yellow Secondly, it reflects the fighting spirit of the workers in the Philippines.

There is also another tactor, that is the attitude of its leaders in contrast to the yellow unions. They do not enrich themselves at the expense of the workers. Quite the opposite, they fight for the, interests of the workers of the Philippines. Recently our offices were raided and some of our leaders arrested in a crackdown.

What conditions are workers facing in the Philippines today?

Conditions are very bad. Wages are low. The workers do not have the money LAOS KAMP. to buy proper food or to buy clothes or the things they need to live. I don't have the exact figures, but unemployment is very bad _ far worse than in any of the first world countries. We don't have the right to strike and the multi-nationals get fat at the expense of the workers of the Philippines. The Marcos: offering the multinationals anti-strike laws and 'the most competitive wage rates in the world' workers face corruption in the government and corruption in the military.

ponse this?

The upsurge came in 1981, making that year a phenomemal year for the working class movement. There were strikes in many sectors of industry, which Marcos could not control.

So what did he do about it? In 1981 he made a law which is BP 130. (BP is the 'Batas Pamtansa' which means Cabinet Bill).

Macao Kaohsiung (Brit)

South China Sea Bandar Seri This ambiguous law claims to restore the right to strike, but in reality makes it almost impossible since it imposes so many conditions.

First to strike you have to have a two thirds majority of the general membership - all the membership, not just those voting.

Secondly before you can has been the resof the workers to TaipeiR Tainang TAIWAN (Portugal)

abag Bagulo Manila Palawan S Sandakan, ° - go on strike there is a minimum of 15 days cooling off period. • Contracts ICBAs -collective bargaining agreements) have to be of 3 years duration by law, and if the strike involves the CBA there is a 30 day cooling off period.

But even after that you can't strike! The union then has to give 7 days notice of strike action to the Ministry of Labour.

Then you can strike? No, there are many other problems.

A union has to be recogLuzon nised by management before it has the right to strike.

Can you strike recognition?

No, all strikes demanding recognition are illegal. All strikes over trade union rights or the breach of collective agreements are banned. Even strikes over the refusal of the employer to pay the legal minimum wage rates are banned!

So how does a union become recognised? There is a procedure. First you have to get 30% of the workers into membership. Tehn you can apply to the Ministry of Labour for a certification election. If they grant it, they will then conduct it and the union has to get more than 50% of the vote. Do the government discriminate in issuing the certificates?

Yes, of course they do! If it is a militant union like the KMU the management will use every method to break the union during the certification process -sacking the leaders using goon squads to attack militants — everything.

Even if you are recognised it is only for 3 years - then there can be another election if anyone demands it. What the employers do is bring in a right wing union or create a yellow union who then demand acertification It is then a three way fight — one union, the other union, or no union.

If workers are discriminated against, they have to decide if they are prepared to take the consequences of a strike under Marcos in the Philippines.

Have there been against these laws?

Oh yes, there was an upsurge of strikes after BP 130 took effect. Workers challenged the provisions and some were successful in doing so. It resulted in the militarisation of the picket lines and many police abuses. But the balance tilted in favour of the workers. The foreign investment climate became disrupted and tremendous production losses were recorded. It was these factors which brought about a piece piece of sister legislation to BP 130 BP 227.

What is that?

This is fraudulently called by Marcos the 'anti-scab and picketing law.' Under BP 130 the management used to send in goons to attack the pickets, and then the government would ban the strike for breach of 'public order' BP 227 claimed to protect the pickets against the goons. In fact it did nothing of the sort, the goons continued but BP 227 brought in new restrictions on strikes.

For example, it gave the Minister of Labour the power to issue an injunction order against a strike -without even talking to either side.

It also outlaws strikes in what it may decide is a 'vital sector of industry'. To Marcos, every section of industry is 'vital'. this development. The multi-nationals moved intoelectronics, tropical food processing, garments, cars.

American Imperialism has worked on this with the multi-nationals, the IMF and the world bank.

They have possessed awesome power over neocolonies plagued with chro nic economic crisis whose only hope of stabilisation lies in the funds controlled by the IMF and the World bank.

Seemingly independent states, the Philippines foremost amongst them, willingly comply. External loans to the Philippines are not $18 billion.

This has led to the setting up of the free trade zones in the Philippines in designated geographical areas in which every incentive and facility is given to the multi-nationals and nothing to the Philippine workers.

These companies are not even required in practice to comply with the minimum legal wage.

Marcos advertises to the multi-nationals that in the free trade zones of the Philippines strikés are illegal and the wage rates 'the most competitive in the world.

What are the living tions of the workers Philippines?

Probably worse than you can imagine. Whole families live in one room a few metres square. Everything is done in that room, living, cooking, sleeping, washing for maybe 6 or 8 people! One quarter of the population of Manila (2 million) live in the shanty towns. They are called 'squatters' They are regularly harassed by the government and their houses bulldozed down. In the banana plantations it is even worse.

I believe there is an armed struggle against Marcos? Yes, I understand from the newspapers that it is getting stronger. There are some liberated areas. It is conducted by the New Peoples Army.

What is the attitude of the average Philippine workers to the armed They are sympathetic, particularly in the countryside. Everyone wants to see an end to the Marcos military regime.

How do you see things developing now in the Philippines?

The KMU will not compromise. We intend to continue to represent the workers of the Philippines in their struggles against the Marcos, the employers, and the multi-nationals!

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MALAYSIA Bruner ala/Lumpur Begawan, SINGAPORE Kuchne Sarawak