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Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno this month renewed its call for an end to trade-union repression in Dole Philippines amid preparations for certification elections (CE) in the multinational company’s plantation in Polomolok, South Cotabato. Since 2006, the company has been trying to weaken, if not eliminate the democratically elected union, the Amado Kadena–National Federation of Labor Unions–Kilusang Mayo Uno (AK-NAFLU-KMU).

Since 2006, the company has conducted a campaign against the union to quash the legitimate workers’ demands for higher wages, job security and trade union rights. With support from the company, the Philippine military has been conducting anti-union seminars, accusing AK-NAFLU-KMU of being a communist front and urging the union members to withdraw support from KMU.

Several workers have also been fired, suspended, demoted or transferred as a result of their support for AK-NAFLU-KMU. Union president Jose Teruel and other officials have received death threats. Active union members are slapped with fabricated charges or subjected to overly-strict discipline; are threatened with non-renewal of their relatives’ contracts in the labor cooperative; and are being offered early retirement packages in another bid to cut back the union membership.
 

To read more and to show your support for the Dole Workers online campaign, click here.

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