Workers across the country united to demand higher wages, proper benefits, and protection of labor rights as Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s fifth state of the nation address (SONA) approaches on July 27. Unions and federations under Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) launched protests in recent weeks.
Samahan ng Manggagawang Nagkakaisa sa Umicore (SAMANA, or Association of United Workers at Umicore, USCS-ANGLO-KMU) led two shifts of workers’ protests at Umicore Specialty Chemicals Subic Inc in Central Luzon. They demanded substantial wage increases and additional benefits amid rising costs of living. The protests were launched amid ongoing negotiations between the union and management.
In the town of Urbiztondo, Surigao del Norte, workers denounced a series of military harassment reportedly targeting union leaders at Adnama Mining Resources Inc. The National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU-KMU) reported that soldiers “visited” the homes of leaders of the Adnama Mining Resources Inc. Labor Union (AMRILU) on July 13 and 14 to put into question their union activities.
The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) linked the incident to an ongoing labor dispute between the union and company management. Reports say that the company sought assistance from the barangay to force workers to pay unspecified fees. This was followed by soldiers descending on the community and making repeated visits to workers’ homes.
This is not the first time workers in the area were harassed, according to NAFLU-KMU. Soldiers from the 30th IB reportedly also went to worker-leaders in 2020 to pressure them to dissociate from the federation. Former AMRILU-NAFLU-KMU president Anecito Patac was arrested in 2021.
Meanwhile, workers launched a series of protests ahead of the SONA to deliver their “verdict” on the inutile Marcos regime and demand a living wage, jobs, and welfare. Actions are set at DOLE offices and other sites in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.
