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Strikers and Goons Clash in Nestle Plant in the Philippines

KMU NEWS RELEASE, June 24, 2003

More than 500 strikers, supporters and residents near the Nestle Cabuyao plant clashed with elements of the military, police, guards and hired goons around 3pm, yesterday in Laguna.

Violence erupted when the Matrix Security Guards (MSG) and goons started beating up the protesters as they attempted to re-establish their picket line in front of the plant's gates 1 and 2. Fifty (50) strikers and their sympathizers were rushed to the Cabuyao Community Hospital and St. James Hospital. Christopher Oliquino, a sympathizer who was hit hard twice on the head was transferred to the Philippine General Hospital later that night due to continuous bleeding and vomiting. Almost all the protesters suffered minor contusions.

According to the Diosdado Fortuna, President of the Union of Filipro Employees (UFE-DFA-KMU), the workers and sympathizers were standing linked-arms preparing to take back the plant gates and establish their picket lines. Tension escalated even more as RSAF elements were carrying high-powered rifles. "It was as if they were preparing to launch and ambush. And who's their target? Definitely not the goons inside the gate, as they were hanging around the vicinity of the picket line the whole time," added Fortuna.

Meanwhile, at 2am today, around 400 goons and elements of the Regional Special Action Force (RSAF) treacherously attacked the workers which numbers up to a hundred. The policemen who were present only watched as goons destroyed the picket line and dispersed the workers. Only the residents of the community have obliged to rescue the strikers.

The Nestle workers strike has been going on since January 2002. Since then, 6 strikers have died without seeing the implementation of the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court decision declaring that the retirement benefits are a legitimate section of the CBA negotiations. Despite these legal decisions, the Nestle management, represented by Marcelino Pineda, Corporate HR Manager and Atty. Jack de la Rosa, Legal Counsel, is still indisposed to opening up another round of negotiations with the union.

"We have been experiencing all forms of harassment, from grave threats to physical beatings since day one of our strike. We will not stop until legitimate cause triumphs. We demand to be reinstated to work," said Fortuna.

Meanwhile, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Chairperson Elmer Labog condemned the grave harassment and violent dispersal of the protest. He said that "workers all over the country have been experiencing the same fate under Gloria Arroyo's leadership. Such incidents further prove Mrs. Arroyo's consistent anti-worker and anti-people stance. She remains a faithful servant for the elite while undermining the welfare of the toiling masses."

The KMU vowed to intensify the campaign to boycott all Nestle products from the national to international level. Several workers organizations in different countries have already pledged their strong support