LABOR WATCH

Flour Mill Strikers Decry Picket Dispersal

Workers of General Milling Corporation (GMC) demanding a P47-wage increase over two years found exactly how deadset management was against granting their demand. SWAT-trained security guards dispersed their picket line, using tear gas, caustic soda, fire extinguisher, truncheons and stones, resulting in severe head injuries to at least 14 strikers.

BY RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat

Workers of General Milling Corporation (GMC) demanding a P47-wage increase over two years found exactly how deadset management was against granting their demand. SWAT-trained security guards dispersed their picket line, using tear gas, caustic soda, fire extinguisher, truncheons and stones, resulting in severe head injuries to at least 14 strikers.

The General Milling Corporation Labor Union (GMLC) filed a notice of strike before the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) last July 15.  The union decried violation to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), particularly on the provisions for wage increases. 

In an interview with Bulatlat, GMLU President Renato Balmeo said the management insists on a P8 and P9 wage increases for the next two years. Their CBA sanctions a P23- and P24-hike and, he said, the management has erroneously considered the Emergency Cost of Living Allowance (ECOLA) to be part of the increase in their pay.

On the same day, the DoLE released an assumption of jurisdiction (AJ) citing the strike will “affect the national interest.”

Raymundo Gasona, another union officer, retorted, “Binabaan agad ng AJ, back to work order, hindi pa nga kami naka-strike” (They immediately released an AJ and back to work order even as we have not even started our strike).

The union filed a motion for reconsideration. But the DoLE has not decided yet on the matter.

GMC in Ugong, Pasig City is owned by George Young. It manufactures feeds for poultry, hogs and aqua, flour, Granny Goose snacks, Home Pride cooking oil, soya oil, corn oil, Kape de Oro. It is also the distributor of Nutties peanut butter and an importer of wheat, soya beans and corn.

Union busting

After the issuance of AJ, management dismissed five union members and suspended 25 others for 30 days on Aug. 31 for “serious misconduct.” The rest of the 110 union members received a memorandum threatening them of dismissal or suspension.

Balmeo said the workers decided to go on strike again as the union foresees another round of retrenchment.  They filed another notice of strike last Sept. 14 for union busting.

Violent dispersal

The picket line was set up the following day.  Balmeo related, “Alerto ang mga gwardiya.  Habang nakikipagnegosasyon kami, inupakan agad.Kami ay pinagpapalo, binato, ini-spray-an ng teargas at fire extinguisher. Sinabuyan kami ng caustic soda na naging dahilan ng pagkapaso ng balat ng mga manggagawa” (Security guards are on alert.  While we negotiate with them, they began attacking us.  We were hit by truncheons and stone, sprayed teargas and fire extinguisher on us.  They used caustic soda to burn our skin.)

Fourteen were hospitalized due to head injuries.  Balmeo himself got two stitches on the head.  “Marami pang sugatan pero hindi na nagpa-ospital.  Kailangang bantayan ang picket line.” (Many more were wounded but they decided not to go the hospital for treatment. We have to guard our picket line) 

Balmeo said they were forced to defend themselves using their bare hands.  The clash lasted for one and a half hour.  Balmeo said members of the Pasig Elite Police only watched on.

Balmeo revealed that members of the Eagle Watch Security Agency assigned to GMC are trained by the police.  He claimed that two policemen supposedly on active duty, a certain Canones and a certain Alvarez, are also working for the agency.

Gasona also said that members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) police have been “visiting” the security guards since July. “Lumakas ang loob ng mga gwardiya gawa ng SWAT.” (The guards are emboldened with the support of the SWAT)

Arrested

Jimmy Gammad, a union member was arrested last Sept. 19 for alleged theft.

Gasona said they only prevented a plainclothesman from passing through their picket line. Gasona said they found out that the man was to deliver 100 rounds of .38 caliber bullets and explosives to GMC.  Gasona deemed these might be used against them.

Gammad was immediately arrested by SPO2 Arsenio Reyes without warrant.  He was detained and charged with robbery.  As of press time, Gammad is still in prison. 

Accusations

In a Sept. 20 memorandum, Gilbert Gillera, director of GMC’s Luzon operations announced the temporary suspension of operation for not longer than six months.  He cited the GMCLU’s continued and brazen violation of the AJ order from DoLE, actual and imminent destruction of company property and equipment and slowdown of production. 

Gasona, a technician at the GMC, said, “Pinagbibintangan kaming naninira ng makina.  Bakit namin gagawin ‘yon  sa makina kami kumukuha ng ikabubuhay?” (They accuse us of destroying the machines.  Why would we do that if we get a living by working on the machines.)

Gasona said there is indeed a slowdown of production because the management transported the other machines to Cebu. “Anong gagawin naming eh binawasan nga ang mga makina?” (What are we to do if they reduce the number of machines?)

Gasona also hit the management for peddling lies to the media.  He said that an article in a tabloid said they have stolen a forklift.

Balmeo said, “Hindi totoo ‘yon. Gusto lang nila kaming kasuhan para maging criminal case sa halip na labor dispute.” (That’s not true. They only want to file criminal cases against us instead of seeing this as a labor dispute.) Bulatlat

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