Philippine Labor News & Analysis

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International Labor Rights Forum

DOLE: respect union rights and free and fair elections

Dole workers have the hope of regaining their voice on the job, but for the union elections of February 22nd to be free and fair, we need to show that the union has a wide range of supporters who will not stand for the ongoing labor and human rights violations.

Join the Call for Free and Fair Union Elections at Dole Philippines

The trade union, AK-NAFLU-KMU, is under attack by the Philippine military and Dole management. The military is engaged in a union vilification campaign accusing the union of “infiltrating” Dole, even though it was elected democratically. Workers are facing anti-union seminars and a door-to-door campaign by the military, always with the looming threat of military violence in the Philippines where more than 90 trade union leaders have been assassinated in recent years.

For five years Dole has been engaged in a concerted effort to undermine and unilaterally displace the democratically-elected union of its pineapple workers in the Philippines.

Now workers have the hope of regaining their voice on the job, but for the union elections of February 22nd to be free and fair, we need to show that the union has a wide range of supporters.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Stand against labor and human rights violations perpetuated by Dole and the Philippine military -- add your voice for free and fair union elections.

For more information on the labor-management conflict at Dole, visit our website.

Union Supporters Face Uphill Struggle for Free and Fair Elections

Union supporters face an uphill struggle in getting the truth out. Despite reports by Dole’s own social responsibility auditors showing that management is discriminating against the union and its supporters, Dole continues to benefit from its SA8000 “labor-friendly” certification by Social Accountability International, which undermines the union’s voice.

Nonetheless, the workers and their union continue to speak out against all odds.

When Dole’s 4,500 rank and file workers take to the polls to elect their union on Tuesday, all workers must know that they have the right to support a union of their choice without interference or fear of retaliation. Only then can the elections be free and fair.

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