Dolefil Employees Ended AK-NAFLU-KMU’s Reign of Deception
Date: 12 March 2011
Reference Person:
Chito D. Herbolingo, ISF Executive Director
Contact information:
09488498898
Press Releases
“The employees of Dole Philippines ended AK-NAFLU-KMU’S reign of deception after their newly-formed union Labor Employees Association of Dolefil-Polomolok Hourlies (LEAD.PH) have won a battle in the recently-concluded certification elections.”
This was an advocacy group Industrial Security Focus’ reaction to the results of the February 22 certification elections in Dolefil in Polomolok, South Cotabato which presently employs 3,853 hourly rank-and-file workers, in which an independent union Lead-PH won over Amado Kadena-NAFLU, a union affiliated with the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Kilusang Mayo Uno.
“The loss in the certification elections of the crooked workers’ union in Dole Philippines surely delighted the workers. As long as KMU continues to carry out its deceptive strategy in luring the workers to embrace a Marxist ideology, Lead-PH would surely preserve its hard-earned victory and continues to promote a harmonious relationship with the management,” said Chito Herbolingo, ISF Executive Director.
“AK-NAFLU-KMU’s unprecedented defeat in the certification elections is the result of more than ten years of deceiving the workers. For the whole period, this union allegedly robbed the workers of their monthly union dues, mini-mart and their rice allowance including unreasonable assessment fees from their signing bonuses. Hundreds had been terminated and suspended for influencing the workers to violate some company policies. Despite their link with the international and local leftist groups who tried to influence and pressure the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) by presenting unsubstantiated accusations against the company, the workers continue to stand and expressed their right” he added.
“KMU is certainly insulting the workers when it accused Dolefil and the military of intimidation and vote buying just to have LEAD.PH won. The workers preferred a company-friendly union because it is Dolefil who gave them job and not the KMU who is getting rich at the expense of the workers they represent. On the issue that KMU as being a communist front is already an open book, which, no less than Jose Ma. Sison categorically stated that KMU is the leading force of the Philippine revolution,” Herbolingo added.
“The workers believe that in these difficult times, the war should not be labor versus capital but labor and capital versus the threats of economic failure. It is sincerity, mutual tolerance and the capacity to make mutual sacrifices in order to save both the business and the jobs. The struggle for higher wages, job security and the exercise of trade-union rights can only be achieved within the framework of symbiotic relationship between the management and labor,” Herbolingo said.
