The story of Goldilocks workers is far from the usual “they lived happily ever after”-plot of fairy tales from which the company got its name.
The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and the NGO-PO Network for ESC Rights strongly condemn the series of rights abuses perpetrated against the workers belonging to Bukluran ng Independenteng Samahan na Itinatag sa Goldilocks (BISIG) who went on strike last March 11th, 2010 to protest the company’s labor rights violations such as union busting, harassment, and illegal dismissal.
Latest of these atrocities was the violent attempt of Goldilocks security guards and plainclothes men last March 19 to disperse the picket line in front of the company’s headquarters in Mandaluyong City which resulted to the injuring of at least seven (7) workers.
This recent labor dispute in Goldilocks has been brewing since 2005 primarily because of the company’s refusal to recognize and bargain with the union but the tipping point was the February 8 illegal dismissal of 127 workers accused of mounting an illegal strike when in fact they were just holding a picket after office hours.
The human rights community also believes that the government, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) is equally culpable because these agencies have condoned the company’s actions and seemed to be biased in their decisions.
In May 2009, NLRC dismissed the four (4) cases filed by the workers which were based on the following; a) refusal to bargain, b) unfair labor practices, c) illegal suspension; and d) discrimination. Furthermore, both offices did nothing when the company sacked the 127 workers without waiting for the grace period of ten (10) days to expire after the questionable NLRC dismissal order came out.
After almost two weeks of unrelenting harassment, tempting separation pay offers, and looming hunger for themselves and their families, the workers chose to continue to make their stand at the picket line not only for their reinstatement and welfare but for workers’ rights to work and to development.
Workers should proportionately share and benefit from the success and growth of the company for which they work. Any scheme to relegate the right to work to “contractualization” erodes the dignity of workers and perpetuates a discriminatory nature in management.
Let us support the workers and join them, together let us fight for human rights and dignity.
Boycott All Goldilocks products!
Defend workers’ rights! Defend dignity!
March 25, 2010
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
Philippine NGO-PO Network for ESC Rights
