Factsheet and call for support against the violent dispersal of the Triumph International Workers' picketline

May 4, 2010, 7:50 AM | Sheriff from the Pasig City Regional Trial Court and Food Terminal Incorporated Management/personnel arrived at the picketline escorted by more than 100 security forces of Food Terminal Incorporated, more than 50 goons wearing  bonnets and shirts on their head, more than 30 security forces from the local government unit (village) and members of the Philippine National Police.
The Sherriff and the lawyer said that they are giving the workers five (5) minutes to pack all the things in the picketline. After 5 minutes, FTI forces violently smashed and put away everything in the picketline including sewing machines and cloth used as livelihood in the picket, kitchen utensils,tents, streamers, water jugs, tables, chairs and personal belongings of the workers.

During the same time and same number of security forces and goons forcedly entered the office of the Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Mangaggawa sa Triumph International at the back of the Triumph factory. Five workers were brutally harassed and forcedly pushed out of the union office. They were injured and attained bruises and sprain. After 10 minutes, the picketline at the front and back vicinity of the Triumph International factory is already demolished and are fully barricaded with galvanized iron sheets. The workers asserted their rights peacefully, ask for ample time to fix the things in the picket and even cried but the government forces and goons threat them that they will be arrested if anyone will resist.

11:00 AM

Workers had a meeting and united to build again the picket beside the Triumph factory and plan to have a dialogue very soon with the Food Terminal Incorporated Management. Workers denounce the violence made by the Philippine Government and calls for support of fellow workers, labor rights groups, solidarity groups, advocates, nongovernment organizations, church people and everyone to join them in their calls.

1. Call to the Philippine Government to stop the harassment and threat against the striking workers of Triumph International, lift and stop the implementation of the Temporary Restraining Order and pursue with peaceful dialogue with us.

We STRONGLY call to the FTI and the Philippine Government to fully support our concrete proposal to let us (Triumph workers) operates the closed Triumph International factory. This will surely give employment to many retrenched workers.

2. Call to Triumph International to start a constructive and productive negotiation with our union, Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Triumph International and give the just demands of the workers for just and higher compensation and benefits.

3. Support our complaint filed at the Swiss OECD National Contact Point regarding the “Unjust Lay-off in the Philippines and Thailand” committed by Triumph International.

Attach here are pictures in pdf copy and short video. Please send your appeals and protest letters to:

Food Terminal Incorporated
Maria Theresa A. Pinto
Vice-Chairman/President

Direct Line: 828-2122
Fax Number: 828-2123
E-mail Address: taspinto33@yahoo.com
New Administration Bldg. FTI Complex, East Service Road, South Superhighway, Taguig City, Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT-PHILIPPINES
Muralla St. cor. Gen. Luna St., Intramuros 1002 Manila, Philippines

Secretary Marianito Roque: 527-3000 Loc. 701 up to 707, 527-2121,  301-0182,  527-5523
Email: roquemd@dole.gov.ph

Mayor Freddie Tinga
TAGUIG CITY HALL
General Luna Street, Tuktukan, Taguig City
+63 2) 628-1999 local 300 - 305
Email: FT@taguig.gov.ph

TRIUMPHWEG 6, BAD ZURZACH, CH-5330, SWITZERLAND
FAX: 41 056 269 93 30
TELEPHONE: 41 056 269 91 91
WEBSITE: www.triumph.com

TRIUMPH INTERNATIONAL HEAD OFFICE PHILIPPINES:
Telephone: +63-8983211
Address: 3/F ALCO Building, 391 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Manila

Swiss Embassy-Philippines:
Email: vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Telephone: 757-9000
Fax: 757-3718
Address: 24th Floor, Equitable Bank Tower, 8751 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City

For more details, please call +639198429151 or +639236884792 or mail us
at defendjobphilippines@yahoo.com and bpmti_workers@yahoo.com.


Defend Job Philippines is a campaign and network asserting the right of everyone to have real, decent and secure
jobs especially in the midst of the global crisis. It is initiated by the workers of Triumph International united to defend
jobs and fight against unjust lay-off and different forms of injustice and exploitation against the workers. Defend Job
oppose the policy of the giant capitalist and governments to pass the brunt of the global economic crisis to the
workers. Defend Job is also a movement for social justice seeking and promoting genuine short, medium and long
term solutions on the basic problems of the Filipino workers.


Written as of 5:30 PM, May 4, 2010