Giardini workers led to another defeat by the union
The following article about the recent strike at the Giardini del Sole factory in the Philippines is published by the ICC's section Internasyonalismo
After two days strike of Giardini[1] workers led by the union last February 3-4, the union and the leftist party[2] that control them agreed with the management and local government of Mandaue City to lift the strike and accept the retrenchment package.
This is another defeat of the workers who are united to fight and defy capitalist laws to defend their jobs in the midst of crisis of over-production. Worst, even the separation pay and back wages that has been promised will depend on the capacity of the company to "recover" from the crisis[3].
Before the strike, the union led them to its first defeat by agreeing on the work rotation. But it was a trap by the capitalist because the real aim of the latter is to kick them out from the company.
The lessons of this defeat:
1. For an effective and powerful resistance against capitalist attacks - redundancies, work rotation, reduction of working days - united workers must DEFY the capitalist laws that prevent them to launch strikes and paralyse the production of the company. For two days strike, Giardini workers defied capitalist laws that make their struggle effective. Militant Filipino workers in the ‘70s and ‘80s had many experience of defying the dictatorial and military rule of the state in launching strikes.
2. Isolated strike, like what the union did to Giardini workers leads to defeat and submission to what the bosses and government want. Giardini workers struggle by defying capitalist laws. But they struggle alone....that's why they were defeated.
The only effective militant struggles today are widespread struggles in as many companies as possible like what happened in Bangladesh textile workers strike last 2006 or Egypt's textile workers mass strike in 2006-2007. Only through the extension of struggle to many factories and companies that the anti-working class laws and the suppressive apparatus of the state could be prevented.
3. The workers themselves must be the one to decide and lead their own struggles through their assemblies and factory strike committees or inter-strike committees at the city level, at the very least. They must struggle outside the control of the union or any electoral party of the Right or Left of the bourgeoisie. Unions and electoral parties in the Philippines are only interested in the projection of their own organization for more union membership or electoral gains. As the economic and political crisis worsens as never before, their competition also worsens. Intense competition within the unions of Right and Left and electoral parties against each other continue to grow deeper. Unions and parties prevent the extension and widespread unity of the workers because it means self-organization of the latter outside the unions and reformist parties. Most of all, unions already become an appendage of the state to protect the interests of national capitalism.
4. They must coordinate their struggle in the international level and learn the experience of their brothers/sisters in other countries, especially in countries where the workers have more experience in struggle - Western Europe. International workers' solidarity is the best weapon to win the struggle against world-wide attacks of the bosses. Filipino proletariat could learn well the experience of the militant workers around the world in launching "illegal" strikes (ie wildcat strikes) which are increasing today and mass meetings or general assemblies which are the main forms of organization in struggle.
The defeat of Giardini workers gave valuable lessons to the militant Filipino proletariat in their future struggles against national capitalism and attacks by their bosses. With this, the struggle of the workers of Giardini has not been in vain. More than ever before, the clarion call, "THE EMANCIPATION OF THE WORKING CLASS MUST BE THE WORK OF THE WORKERS THEMSELVES" is valid and necessary, especially in the epoch of decadent capitalism where communist revolution is already on the historical agenda.
[1] Giardini del Sole, an Italian-owned furniture export company based in Cebu, Philippines. It has 485 workers. But because of the world crisis, it sacrificed 245 workers by kicking them out of the street and let them die in hunger.
[2] They are led by Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party), a leftist electoral party.
[3] "NCMB 7 Director Edmundo Mirasol Jr. expressed optimism that the labor dispute will be settled soon. Mirasol said that once the company can afford to give the separation pay, payments will be coursed through the Dole 7." (Source URL: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/jonas-steps-row-strikers-management-come-deal)
Comments
Shallow article
I believe the article above is very shallow in content and analysis. What criteria did the author utilize in declaring that the struggle was a defeat for the workers?
The author calls the gains of the workers struggle as "retrenchment package" yet he/she did not provide any details. The article failed to discuss the specifics of the package and show he/she came to the conclusion.
The article shows clearly that the author has no deep understanding of what happened. If the purpose of this article is for us to study the experiences of our worker brothers and sisters and draw intelligent conclusions and lessons from them then it is a total failure.
I am pasting a copy of a news report below for the benefit of workers and activists who are studying this case. While there are different ways of looking at this issue, I believe that we should be intellectually honest to recognize the gains of the Giardini workers and their union.
I am not saying that the result was a perfect and total victory for the workers but all of us recognize that the present status of the workers movement both domestically and internationally is not close to ideal. This is the context of the workers struggles and we have to factor that in.
Maraming salamat.
Pepe
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Workers in Mandaue furniture factory end strike
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/17/2009 12:45 PM
Workers of the Giardini del Sole furniture factory in Mandaue ended Tuesday a strike protesting impending layoffs in the company.
Primitivo Ginoo, Jr., president of the Nagkahiusang Puwersa nga Mamumuo sa Giardini (NPMG), said management of Giardini del Sole agreed to several concessions for the workers after factory workers went on strike last February 3.
The concessions include:
1. Immediate payment of separation pay of 13 days per year of service
2. P5,000 assistance previously released by management will not be charged to the separation pay
3. Refund by management to workers of unremitted SSS payments since July 2008 and other similar benefits
4. Grant of P360,000 in employment assistance from the city government of Mandaue to workers who are residents of the town
5. Capitalization for a worker-owned and managed furniture-making cooperative from the Department of Labor
"If we had not launched a strike that paralyzed the company, then we would have been without jobs and would have been lucky to receive a separation pay after six months. But because we fought for our rights, we got from management and the government a 'bailout package' that is more than what they were initially willing to give," Ginoo said in a press statement.
Renato Magtubo, chairsperson of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), stated that the Giardini workers struggle can serve as a model of the "pro-labor bailout scheme" that would help retrenched workers.
PM is campaigning for a 5-point bailout package for workers and the poor that consist of subsidy for displaced workers from the SSS, GSIS and OWWA; tax refund for wage earners; expansion and reform of the public employment program; extension of health care coverage for displaced workers; and moratorium on demolitions and evictions.
The labor dispute at Giardini del Sole started last January 5 when more than 300 Giardini workers held an impromptu protest at the factory gates upon learning that only 100 employees were allowed to work after returning from the holiday break.
as of 02/17/2009 12:45 PM
Copyright © 2008 ABS-CBN Interactive All rights reserved.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/17/09/workers-mandaue-furniture-factory-end-strike
the reason for strike is to depend workers' jobs
this is only very brief reply...
the main reason for the Giardini workers why they launched the strike is to be back to work... resisting against the plan of the management to lay-oof them. yet they ended up accepting retrenchment package based on the "capacity" of the capitalist.
the separation pay 13 days per year of service is the minimumj pay based on capitalist law. even if the workers did strike, the capitalist is "oblige" to pay them that amount...
the so-called grant (bailout) from the government to make them "small capitalists" is a very long process and more a promise than a reality. even if it will be granted, there is no assurance that the laid-off workers as new "small capitalists" survive in today's crisis. they only exploit themselves so that their "company" (cooperative) could survive.
the only victory for the workers is the struggle itself by showing that by defying capitalist laws they can show their power eventhough its not enough.
the article is very clear on this why they are defeated.
what is a lie is to make it appear as "victory" and "model" for workers' reistance...
even the ABS-CBN report quoted by Pinoyworker is a confirmation what the article said...
typo error, sorry
its not "depend" but DEFEND. my error. sorry...
A reply to Pinoyworker On Giardini workers
The criticism of Pinoyworker is valid because the article did not have any details on the account of the strike. But this does not mean that the lessons it raised had no material basis or not in line with the Marxist analysis of class struggle in our epoch and the current situation of more intense capitalist crisis. The comrades in the Philippines are glad with your constructive criticism.
Let me site some details based mainly on the press statements of Partido ng Manggagawa that “leads” the Giardini workers:
1. On the day of strike (Feb 3), PM quoted the union (Nagkahiusang Pwersa sa Mamumuo sa Giardini) president Primitivo Ginoo Jr.said:
“After exhausting all avenues for conflict resolution for almost a whole month, we are obliged to hold the strike in order to win our demand that workers be able to work and earn a living,”
“This is a strike to preserve jobs. This is a struggle for our families’ right to live. This is a fight for the rights of all workers,” explained Eulito Fin Jr., vice president of NPMG.
Ginoo added that “We are more than willing to lift the strike but only if as many workers as possible are allowed to return to work. We would like to work again at Giardini del Sole but only with our heads held up not bowed down.”
This is the sentiment and reason of the workers why they went on strike: “to preserve jobs”; “to take as many workers as possible to return to work” so that they could walk “heads held up not bowed down.”
2. However, it seems that the leftist party (Partido ng Manggagawa or PM) that “lead” them has different objective in “supporting” the strike. In the same PM statement it said through its national chair: “The strike at Giardini del Sole is the first but will not be the last. We call on government to heed the workers demand for a bailout and subsidy. We warn capitalists against exploiting the crisis to undercut workers rights and labor standards.”
How we understand this statement? PM is not really interested in helping workers to return to work and preserve their jobs but open the door of being laid-off as long as there is “bailout” and “subsidy”. This is further confirmed in the same statement elaborating the main line of its campaign:
“PM is pushing for a bailout and stimulus package for workers and the poor that includes the following: subsidy from the SSS, GSIS and OWWA for workers WHO WILL BE LAID OFF due to the crisis; tax refund for all workers equivalent to two months wage; and reform and expansion of the public employment program for the unemployed.” (my emphasis)
3. On PM statement after the strike (dated February 17, 2009) titled ‘CEBU WORKERS LIFTSTRIKE, DECLARE VICTORY’, the tone and the aim of strike was suddenly changed:
“If we had not launched a strike that paralyzed the company, then we would have been without jobs and would have been lucky to receive a separation pay after six months. But because we fought for our rights, we got from management and the government a ‘bailout package’ that is more than what they were initially willing to give,” explained Primitivo Ginoo, Jr., president of the Nagkahiusang Puwersa nga Mamumuo sa Giardini (NPMG), the union at the Giardini del Sole.” Same person who was quoted in February 3 PM statement that we “are obliged to hold the strike in order to win our demand that WORKERS BE ABLE TO WORK and earn a living.” (my emphasis)
What really happened? Did the workers really return to work or at least significant number of the strikers? NO. What happened was the workers through the union’s advice and PM heeded to lay-off package offered by the capitalist and the state. Here is the “victorious” agreement:
a) Immediate payment of separation pay of 13 days per year of service
b) P5,000 assistance previously released by management will not be charged to the separation pay
c) Refund by management to workers of unremitted SSS payments since July 2008 and other similar benefits
d) Grant of P360,000 in employment assistance from the city government of Mandaue to workers who are residents of the town
e) Capitalization for a worker-owned and managed furniture-making cooperative from the Department of Labor
ALL the striking workers accepted lay-off and become jobless.
The 13 days per year of service is the minimum separation pay based on the capitalist “Labor Code”. This is only 50% to the workers’ demand (at the time of negotiation) of 26 days per year of service. The P5,000 “assistance” that was not “deducted” from their separation pay is only like a 30-day payment upon notice of separation one month before of the date of lay-off based on the Philippine Labor Code. So it’s not really a “concession” from the management. The “refund” of SSS payments, etc should not be part of the demand in the first place because it was a clear violation of the capitalist owner based on the state’s law on social benefits.
What is “new” to the agreement is the “assistance” and “grant” from the capitalist state to make the workers accept the redundancy attacks of the capitalists. This is the “real victory” of Leftism in the Philippines: to make the workers depend on the state that they must overthrow to emancipate themselves from exploitation. This is the trap of the Leftists to derail and divert the combativity and unity of the proletariat away from its own terrain of struggle. The essence of the “bailout” campaign of PM is to make the workers accept redundancy. Anyway, the state will “save” us!
But not only that. Aside from the long process before the workers receive the money, the purpose of the grant is to make the workers become “small capitalists” exploiting themselves to make their “own” enterprise (‘cooperative’) survive the bloody competition among capitalists at this time of deep world crisis. This is to sow illusion among workers that within capitalism in intense crisis, they can survive as long as they have “capital” for business from the capitalist government!
In the first day of the strike, workers truly articulated why they went on strike: TO DEFEND THEIR JOBS. This is the main and central reason. But after the “agreement”, this main and central reason became only “other demand” as what Denis Derige, spokesperson of PM-Cebu quoted by the reporter Dale Israel of Cebu Daily News (dated February 17) in his article titled ‘Giardini labor dispute resolved’:
“OTHER DEMANDS such as GETTING BACK THEIR JOBS (at Giardini) was not achieve but we are glad that the benefits will be given.” (my emphasis)
These are the reasons why the Internasyonalismo article stresses the defeat of the strike because of union and Leftist sabotage.
In my opinion, the correct way to make a balance-sheet of the said strike is to honestly said that it was a defeat and why. It was a defeat not because the workers defy the capitalist laws to launched strike but because they were isolated. Something like this:
“We (Giardini workers) are obliged to accept the unfavourable agreement because we were not able to convince our brother/sister workers in other enterprises to launch struggles against capitalist attacks in their “own” enterprise and have solidarity actions with us to put pressure on the bosses and the state. We went on strike because we want to get our jobs back. But this agreement kicks us out from our jobs with a minimum separation pay. The grants/assistance from the government only makes us shoulder the burden of intense capitalist competition by making us small capitalists against the big capitalists in furniture industry. Competing the big capitalists is like fighting only by our bare hands against a battalion of fully-armed enemy in a conventional warfare. We will only exploit ourselves to make “our own” small enterprise survive in a bloody competition between crocodiles and sharks.
I hope this make all matters clear.
sana..huwag na nating
sana..huwag na nating paasahin ang manggagawa na may napala sila kahit na wala...isolated ang pakikibaka ng mga manggagawa sa Giardini!...
To discuss in Tagalog, better to go to the Tagalog site
Can I suggest that if edgar wants to continue this discussion in Tagalog rather than English, then it should be on the Tagalog forum? Since otherwise the great majority of readers on this site cannot understand what you have written or respond to it.
Greetings!