URGENT APPEAL CALLING TO STOP THE RECENT THREAT AND HARASSMENT TO THE TRIUMPH INTERNATIONAL WORKERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

We staged our picket line since May 2009 when we experienced demolition of our picket by “goons” and security forces of the Food Terminal Incorporated-owned and controlled by the government. Since then, we experience constant threat, harassment and surveillance of our collective action in the picket line.

We are upset to the declaration of the global management of Triumph International through Mr. Kenneth Marshall on January 19, 2009 that Food Terminal Incorporated has taken control of Triumph International Philippine Incorporated factory. Triumph International Philippine Incorporated has relinquished tenancy to FTI.

We are saddened by the issuance of Temporary Restraining Order of the Regional Trail Court last April 23 filed by Food Terminal Incorporated ordering us to leave and vacate our picket line and demanding millions of pesos for payment of exemplary and deliberately saying that our picket and collective action is unlawful, illegal and embarrassing. We are bothered that the TRO will be used to forcedly evict us in the picketline and will put our just demands and life in danger.

We have exerted all our efforts and continue to find ways for a peaceful and non violent means with Triumph International, Department of Labor and Employment, Food Terminal Incorporated and the local government of Taguig City.

Once again, we appeal to all our fellow workers-unions, works council and international labor organizations, solidarity groups, worker’s rights advocates, human rights defenders, non government organizations, fellow citizens and concerned people to support our demands:

1. Call to the Philippine Government to stop the harassment and threat against the striking workers of Triumph International, lift and stop the implementation of the Temporary Restraining Order and pursue with peaceful dialogue with us.

We STRONGLY call to the FTI and the Philippine Government to fully support our concrete proposal to let us (Triumph workers) operate the closed Triumph International factory. This will surely give employment to many retrenched workers.

2. Call to Triumph International to start a constructive and productive negotiation with our union, Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Triumph International and give the just demands of the workers for just and higher compensation and benefits.

3. Support our complaint filed at the Swiss OECD National Contact Point regarding the “Unjust Lay-off in the Philippines and Thailand” committed by Triumph International.

PLEASE JOIN AND SUPPORT US:

1. Send protest and appeal letters to Triumph International global Management, to the Philippine Government: Food Terminal Incorporated, Department of Labor and Employment in the Philippines and to the Swiss and German Embassies.

2. Hold integration/exposure program at Triumph Workers’ picket line at FTI Complex, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

3. Help us pool funds and resources for the basic needs of our picket, alternative livelihood “Maria’s Solidarity Collection”, for the educational pledge of the children of displaced workers and for our campaigns.

4. Support and join our continues campaign to defend job and advocacy for alternative solution for workers affected by the global crisis.

Please send your appeal letters to:

Triumph International global headquarters:

TRIUMPHWEG 6, BAD ZURZACH, CH-5330, SWITZERLAND

FAX: 41 056 269 93 30

TELEPHONE: 41 056 269 91 91

WEBSITE: www.triumph.com

TRIUMPH INTERNATIONAL HEAD OFFICE PHILIPPINES:

Telephone: +63-8983211

Address: 3/F ALCO Building, 391 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Manila

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT-PHILIPPINES

Muralla St. cor. Gen. Luna St., Intramuros
1002 Manila
Philippines

Secretary Marianito Roque: 527-3000 Loc. 701 up to 707, 527-2121, 301-0182, 527-5523
Email: roquemd@dole.gov.ph

Food Terminal Incorporated
Maria Theresa A. Pinto
Vice-Chairman/President
Direct Line: 828-2122
Fax Number: 828-2123
E-mail Address: taspinto33@yahoo.com
New Administration Bldg. FTI Complex, East Service Road, South S[i]uperhighway, Taguig City, Philippines

Mayor Freddie Tinga

TAGUIG CITY HALL
General Luna Street, Tuktukan, Taguig City

+63 2) 628-1999 local 300 - 305

Email: FT@taguig.gov.ph

Swiss Embassy-Philippines:

Email: vertretung@eda.admin.ch

Telephone: 757-9000

Fax: 757-3718

Address: 24th Floor, Equitable Bank Tower, 8751 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City

Contact us at defendjobphilippines@yahoo.com and bpmti_workers@yahoo.com or at +639236884792.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

[i] Defend Job Philippines is a campaign and network asserting the right of everyone to have real, decent and secured jobs especially in the midst of the global crisis. It is initiated by the workers of Triumph International united to defend job and fight against unjust lay-off and different forms of passing the brunt of the global economic crisis to the workers. Defend Job is also a movement for social justice seeking and promoting genuine short, medium and long term solutions on the basic problems of the Filipino workers.