[Marxism] STRIKERS MASSACRED IN THE PHILIPPINES: BMP SOLIDARITY APPEAL

[Reihana Mohideen <reihana_m@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

STRIKERS MASSACRED IN THE PHILIPPINES
Three days ago, on 16 November, fourteen people were killed by army and police 
in the Philippines. They were strikers at the Hacienda Luisita, in Tarlac.

The strike is in defence of 327 workers fired by management in a clear-cut case 
of union busting. The union was defending the right of workers to collectively 
bargain for wage increases.

The strike busting was carried out by the Department of Labor and Employment 
Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, who through the strike breaking mechanism -- 
"assumption of jurisdiction" of the strike  --  issued a "return to work order" 
thus setting the scene for the police and army to move in.

Two of those killed were children, aged two and five, who died from suffocation 
as a result of the tear gas used. Some 35 people suffered gunshot wounds, 133 
were arrested, hundreds more were wounded.

Hacienda Luisita is owned by the family of former president Corazon 
Cojuangco-Aquino, who replaced the dictator Marcos during the 1986 Edsa 
uprising.

The trade union movement in the Philippines has called for massive protests 
condemning the murders, demanding a full investigation of what happened. They 
are demanding justice for the workers, that hundreds of workers illegally 
dismissed be rehired, and that criminal charges against the strikers be 
dropped. They are also demanding the repeal of the 'assumption of jurisdiction' 
authority of the labor department, and resignation of the Labor Secretary 
Patricia Sto. Tomas.

The protest actions have begun and will continue next week, with coordinated 
nation-wide actions, culminating in a major mobilisation on November 30.

Please send your messages of solidarity to be read out at the protests and to 
be sent on to the Department of Labor and Employment.

BMP International Desk

bmp_philippines@xxxxxxxxx










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