PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation, Inc. Workers’ Union (FPPIWU) with 224 regular members decided to formally disassociate themselves as members of the National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno (NAFLU-KMU) through a resolution agreed by its officers and members during their General Assembly on June 28, 2019 at Barangay Bayugan 2, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, July 16.
Pursuant to their General Assembly Resolution No. 1, Series of 2019, the FPPIWU decided to separate from NAFLU-KMU in order to pursue a more independent stance to some issues confronting their organization to achieve organizational objectives under the principle of self – determination consistent with internationally-accepted principles and domestic laws.
According to one FPPIWU Officer, they appreciated the assistance extended by KMU to their members for the past years in uplifting the workers’ welfare, facilitating salary increase and improving their working conditions in the FPPI. “KMU really supported us in voicing out our concerns to the management, but there were many instances where the results were far more unbeneficial to our workers, such as the conduct of hunger strikes, rallies and barricades against the management.”
“Being one of the leaders of the FPPIWU in the previous years, I was thankful that we had the KMU to fight for our rights as workers, but eventually, I personally witnessed how corrupt they were, when we, as members, must pay one hundred pesos as our monthly dues. But when I needed assistance for my hospitalization after an accident, the KMU never extended any assistance, not even a single centavo,” according to Romer, recalling his experience with the KMU.
The FPPIWU-NAFLU-KMU was registered back in January 2007 with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga Regional Office as the only authorized bargaining agent of Filipinas Palm Oil Plantations Inc. (FPPI), where Romer and other workers became members, totaling to as many as 192 last month.
“With our current effort to end the local communist armed conflict in Caraga, we give more emphasis in addressing not only the Terrorist New People’s Army but also its support systems such as the KMU which Joma Sison personally tagged as one of their legal fronts. That is why aside from intensified conduct of security operations in the mountains, we also conduct community support operations to address these NPA-allied organizations,” according to Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Datuin, Commanding Officer of 75th Infantry Marauder Battalion.
On the other hand, FPPIWU separation started when they learned the connection of KMU to the terrorist CPP-NPA during the intensive information campaign conducted by the 75th Infantry Battalion and 41st Civil Military Operations Company in Rosario, Agusan del Sur, which encouraged their President, Mr. Elmer Jamero, to reorganize his members and form a new workers’ union with the assistance of the FPPI management.
Mr. Gil delos Santos, General Manager of FPPI, also expressed his appreciation to this development and promised to support the newly organized workers’ union, the Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation Inc. Independent Workers Union (FPPIIWU), and provide a humane condition with just compensation to all the workers of the FPPI.
In turn, Mr. Jay Lagapa, the FPPIIWU President, promised to uphold the company rules and regulations and never embark on violent means to express their concerns. “We will serve as an instrument to maintain the peace and development in FPPI,” he said.
According to Colonel Allan Hambala, Commander of 401st Infantry Brigade, this effort must be replicated to other affected businesses and private companies in the province to effectively stop this particular tactic of the terrorist CPP-NPA, which capitalizes mainly on the issues of the labor force. “This is one concrete evidence that the KMU, like any other CPP-NPA legal organizations, is losing its support from the labor force and other sectoral organizations. They can no longer deceive the Filipino people with their worthless cause,” Col Hambala added.
75th Infantry Battalion 4th Infantry Division Philippine Army
Cpt Edwin Leo Francisco
CMO Officer, 75IB, 4ID, PA
Bislig City, Surgao del Sur
09778474763
Cpt Edwin Leo Francisco
CMO Officer, 75IB, 4ID, PA
Bislig City, Surgao del Sur
09778474763
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