LABOR center Kilusang Mayo Uno slammed the Philippine National Police for “conniving” with the Pentagon Steel Corporation Management as violence escalates at its workers’ picket protest.
“The Pentagon management, in connivance with the PNP, is brutally attacking its workers with a daily dose of beating and illegal arrests” KMU chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog said.
“Almost a hundred Police forces from various units, including a squad of the PNP-SRU in full battle gear are stationed inside the factory premises vulgarly violating the conduct of state security forces during labor disputes” he added.
The guidelines on the conduct of state security forces during workers’ strikes states that Police forces must stay outside of a 50-meter radius from the workers’ picket line and are must not carry firearms.
“We also condemn the PNP especially the QCPD Station 1 for making a racket out of brutality against workers. Instead of manning their posts and keeping the public safe from criminal elements, the whole Station 1, including their Station commander Major De Vera spends the whole day inside the factory premises while enjoying free meals and other benefits from the Pentagon management” Labog said.
Violence in the picket line escalated after the National Labor Relations Commission issued a 60-day Temporary Injunction order which allowed the company to continue its operations, through the assistance of the PNP, amidst workers’ protest.
“The injunction order is being used by the PNP and the management as an excuse to violently disperse the workers’ peaceful protest on a daily basis. This is a gross violation of workers’ rights to peacefully assemble and to protests” Labog said.
“There are skirmishes every morning as the management, with the help of the PNP, illegally attempts to let their scabs inside the factory to replace the protesting workers in a desperate attempt to resume its operations without answering its workers’ demands” he added.
Four workers have already been arrested and were filed with trumped-up charges but were later released by the court due to lack of evidence.
“The presence of these Police forces is illegal and is a gross violation of workers’ rights. We demand that these Police forces be immediately removed from the factory premises and be held accountable for numerous human and labor rights violations” Labog said.
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