Cebu labor groups decry firm’s alleged move to dismantle union

Local

CHANTING calls for justice under the late morning sun, Cebuano workers, labor advocates, and student supporters staged a protest outside the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Cebu City on Monday, June 9.

This was to condemn alleged union busting by a garment factory based in the Mactan Economic Processing Zone (MEPZ).

The protest formed part of the Global Day of Action, a coordinated international campaign to show solidarity with Filipino garment workers and denounce what organizers described as illegal efforts to dismantle their union and suppress workers’ rights.

According to labor groups, workers at the MEPZ-based garment factory voted to unionize in March 2024, and the union was officially certified by DOLE as the Sole and Exclusive Bargaining Agent (SEBA).

But more than a year since the vote, workers said the factory’s management has refused to recognize the union and instead filed an appeal challenging the certification. Meanwhile, the factory has shut down operations for the past three months.

“We won the union last March 2024, but the management didn’t recognize it. Instead, they shut down the factory for three months — this is union busting,” said Audrey John Ampo-on, spokesperson for Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO).

“They also removed five union members from the company just because they were part of the union. That’s why they filed cases — because it’s clear that the company wants to remove all of us who are organizing. This is why we are protesting. For years, the Philippines has been ranked among the top 10 worst countries for workers. So we ask: What is DOLE doing? What is the process for them to prioritize and protect workers, especially those fighting for their rights?” he added.

Labor groups from across Cebu, including SENTRO, Partido Manggagawa, and the Organization of Garment Factory Employees for Empowerment and Genuine Unionism, joined the demonstration.

They were supported by international labor coalitions and student groups in simultaneous protests in other countries, targeting global fashion brands accused of sourcing from factories linked to labor rights violations.

“The workers and our organizations are here to support those who lost their jobs because of unreasonable actions by management,” said Dennise Derige, also of SENTRO.

“We believe the factory was shut down para pa surrender-on ang union — to force the union to give up,” she added.

Alan Esponga, the vice chairperson of Partido Manggagawa–Cebu and Bohol, explained that the rally was organized to express support for workers who have yet to receive a collective bargaining agreement from management.

“This rally is to show support for the workers who still haven’t received any collective bargaining agreement from management,” he said.

The three-month shutdown has left workers in limbo and stripped hundreds of garment employees of their daily income.

Labor leaders said the refusal to bargain with the union, despite legal certification from DOLE, is a clear violation of workers' right to organize and collectively bargain, rights protected under the Philippine Labor Code.

Placards condemning corporate greed and streamers calling for “Union Rights Now” waved above the crowd. Student organizations, including the Students for International Labor Solidarity (SILS), also joined the protest.

They urged their schools to reassess affiliations with brands like Lululemon, which they say benefit from outsourcing to factories that violate labor rights in the Philippines.

As the protest ended at midday, organizers vowed to continue applying pressure on the government and factory owners, calling for immediate union recognition, the reinstatement of displaced workers, and the reopening of the facility.(TGP)