Phillipines Violence erupts in a pharmaceutical company

World Report

Some 20 workers were hurt when the picketline of Swiss Pharma was dismantled this morning. The dismantling team, composed of more than 60 military forces coming from the Regional Special Action Force (RSAF) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Laguna, was headed by Col. Benjamin
Aguilar and a certain Sgt. Magpantay.

The melee occurred at around 6:30 this morning. Two 6x6 military vehicle tried to ram through a peaceful moving picket being conducted by the striking workers. The company was trying to bring out their products, and apparently, it got irked with the protest. The military also hurled teargas and fired several gunshots to the workers.

Workers in Swiss Pharma, under the Samahan ng mga Mangggagawa sa Swiss Pharma (Organisation of Workers in Swiss Pharma) have been on strike since 13 April 1999 due to illegal dismissal and union busting.

A temporary restraining order was issued last 15 June 1999 by a certain Vives of the National Labour Relations Commission (NLRC) of Region 4, having jurisdiction of Laguna. The order, valid for 25 days, expires today.

The workers are questioning the legality of the restraining order. However, though under question, the workers have complied with it, specifically with regards to the provision of free ingress and egress in
the company. This means that the gates are opened and vehicles and personnel can enter and exit from the compound. Under the Philippine Labour laws, protest action can still be done as long as there are no blocking of the entrance of the company.

Yesterday, the military also attacked the striking workers. Scores were hurt and a female worker, Marjorie Luterte, was arrested. She was kept incommunicado and was surfaced only today. She is presently detained, along with the 20 other workers arrested this morning, in the Laguna provincial jail.

The company produces veterinary medicines and pharmaceutical products, like Lactaryl and Amoxycillin. There are 140 workers in the company with an average daily wage of more or less P 200 (US$ 5). Average length of service in the company is 5 years.

Swiss Pharma is located in Canlubang Industrial Park, Laguna. It is part of the CALABARZON project, touted to be the centrepiece of the Medium Term Development Program of the Philippines (MTPDP). CALABARZON stands for Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

The union in Swiss Pharma is affiliated with the Trade Union Centre of the Philippines, a yellow conservative trade union centre established by the Marcos government. The workers sought the help of PAMANTIK in April due to lack of attention and support from TUCP. PAMANTIK is the regional alliance
of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in Region 4.