Paul Yu workers stage protest anew

CEBU, Philippines – Workers of a big lampshade factory in the Mactan Export Processing Zone in Lapu-Lapu City refused to go to work yesterday in sympathy of seven leaders who were reportedly suspended due to a protest action last month.

Some 300 workers of Paul Yu, a locator in MEPZ II producing lampshades for the export and local market, massed up outside the plant gates in protest.

Willy Dondoyano, the leader of the Paul Yu workers and one of the seven suspended leaders said that the work stoppage almost paralyzed the plant operations as only a few employees were working inside the factory.

The work stoppage started at 8 a.m. yesterday when seven leaders of the Paul Yu workers’ association were reportedly prevented from entering the factory premises on the strength of a suspension order.

The preventive suspension was issued by management supposedly for an “illegal strike” conducted last May 8.

Officials of the Philippine Export Zone Authority have met with the workers to convince them to return to work without their leaders but protesters are adamant that all employees must be accepted back including those suspended by the management.

Dondoyano said that May 8 protest cannot be considered an illegal strike because the management agreed to face the workers in a dialogue together with PEZA officials.

According to Dondoyano the management is merely turning the tables on its workers as it is the management that is guilty of illegal acts and unfair labor practices.

Among these infractions, according to Dondoyano is the three-day workweek that was implemented last December that lacks proper documentation and due notice with the Labor Department.

He also added that the management is reducing the workdays for regular workers even as it continues to outsource 40 percent of its production to contractors. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (THE FREEMAN)