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AN AIR-CONDITIONED SWEATSHOP


The workers of Sanyo Capacitor Philippines Corporation  in Central Luzon felt they deserve a better life at work, so they formed a union in record time.  In 60 days, they have met in four focused group discussions, decided they will join with co-workers to gain a voice on the job, planned their organizing campaign, approved the union constitution and by-laws, and finally registered their union on January 3, 2002.  They filed a petition for certification election for recognition as the bargaining agent for the company's workers on January 20, 2002.

That was the easy part.

That was when the intimidation, threats, harassment, from the employer started. Management even suggested that they form a LMC (labor-management council) in place of the union.

The company was a  relatively reasonable company, until the union started. Except for the regular 12-hour days. Except for the orientations against joining unions and demonstrations for new workers. Except for the threats of the company closing if a union wins.  Except for threats of blacklisting for union sympathizers. Those were normal, par for the course, in organizing unions in the Philippines!

Our Sweatshops verifiers and organizers are trained to expect and cope with harsh and  illegal employer tactics, and more.  But this brazen violation of human rights was something else! --  The company hired a security officer to spy full-time on the union president!  He follows wherever the president goes, in the canteen, in smoking areas, even in the toilet!

Read about it, and other things, in the Sweatshop verifier's own letter to the company president calling attention to the company's violation of Philippine laws and the JOEA and the OECD Guidelines.