Paul Yu workers bring protests to cyberspace

CEBU, Philippines – Beleaguered workers of Paul Yu have brought their fight to the cyberspace even as they continue their labor protests on the ground.

Willy Dondoyano, president of Paul Yu Workers Association, said their online campaign is aimed to garner more support in their protest against the management, which already suspended more than 300 workers.

Dondoyano said that they were inspired by protesters against constituent assembly who use the cyberspace to air their sentiments.

Paul Yu, a Taiwanese company at the Mactan Export Processing Zone in Lapu-Lapu City, produces lampshades for local and international markets.

Dondoyano said that through their online campaign, they can send their appeal to labor and advocacy groups abroad.

He said the Paul Yu workers are also appealing to “our fellow Filipinos and workers to sign up for the online campaign as an innovative form to complement their grassroots protests.”

The online campaign can be accessed at http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=543.

Partido ng Manggagawa-Cebu spokesman Dennis Derige said that since the online campaign started last night, at least 10 unionists from the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, India and Malaysia have already signed up to signified their support.

Derige said the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) sent the Paul Yu management a letter to express its concerns.

In its letter, UE states: "We will be watching this situation closely, and urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that the labor protections and associational rights of your employees under both domestic and international law are respected. It is our hope that you will reverse the suspensions and engage in a serous and meaningful dialog with the workers association in order to regularize employment and create a work environment beneficial to both your employees and the company."

A copy of the letter, which was signed by top three national officers of the union representing 35,000 workers in the US, was furnished to the Labor Department and the Philippine Export Zone Authority.

Over the weekend, the US-based advocacy group International Labor Rights Forum also sent a letter to the Paul Yu management expressing concern about its alleged labor rights violations. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM (THE FREEMAN)