MANILA — In September last year, 253 unions, covering between 150 and 170,000 workers, broke away from the May First Movement (KMU) federation, to establish a new trade union centre called the Workers for Change (BMP). The formation of BMP reflected the split within the Communist Party of the Philippines, led by the Manila Rizal Regional Committee of the CPP, which raised strong criticisms of the orthodox Maoist strategy of the CPP and undemocratic organisational methods imposed by the party leadership. JON LAMB from Green Left Weekly spoke to BMP chairperson ROMY CASTILLO about developments in the Philippines labour movement.
"There are several issues BMP is campaigning on at the national level. One of them is GATT [General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]. BMP sees GATT as part of the capitalist scheme. We are asked what are our alternatives to GATT. We have no alternative except of course a worldwide workers socialist movement, against the capitalist intrusion", Castillo said.
"Then there is the new value added tax or VAT that the government wants to impose. We are still struggling against its implementation.
"On specific trade union tasks, most of the big companies here have applied to the Department of Labour for exemption from providing the minimum wage, which on the whole the department has granted. So we are fighting against the granting of these petitions of exemption.
"Another big area of campaigning is against company closures. Between June and October, there has been the closure of three big shoe factories — Rubberworld (Adidas), Radico (Puma and Nike) and Grosby. Some 6000 workers, all members of militant unions part of BMP, lost their jobs. Another closure has been the La Tondena distillery, one of the oldest in the Philippines. Around 1600 workers lost their jobs when the main factory relocated to new high-tech factories with cheaper sources of labour."
Castillo pointed out that these closures are occurring irrespective of whether the company is winning or losing financially. "It is part of the inherent crisis of capitalism", he told Green Left. "BMP is handling over 140 labour disputes — union busting, unfair dismissal, non-implementation of minimum labour standards. These have been filed with the Department of Labour, and usually we win."
There is an increasing opposition from the left and progressive forces to the ratification of GATT. Ramos and other supporters of GATT claim that it will generate export-oriented growth and hence an increase in employment and living standards.
Those against the ratification have argued that the Philippines will lose out to its more competitive trading partners. They forecast the displacement of millions of workers and farmers.
"The TUCP [the Trade Union Confederation of the Philippines is the peak union body] is pro-GATT. They will not join in any action against the ratification. The KMU is totally opposed to GATT. In BMP we are against GATT because the government has not considered any adequate safety nets to counter the ill effects. If GATT would bring social justice and development, why not? But it cannot be at the expense of the rights of the workers.
"We are urging the government not to rush into the ratification, and to use the two-year period [before GATT comes into full effect] to renegotiate terms and conditions of our international trading.
"BMP wants to see the development of the Philippines economy. Because it is only in the fullest development of capital that socialist revolution is possible. BMP is for socialism. How can we socialise the Philippines if the country is not economically developed? With that in mind, we want to see the development of capitalism, but without compromising the rights of the workers."
BMP is projecting stronger links with other regional trade union federations which have also broken with KMU. While BMP has obstacles to overcome, Castillo is optimistic about prospects for BMP and the labour movement as a whole. The key task now is to unionise the vast parts of the work force which are not covered by any union.
"Our main goal is labour unity. Of the 27 million wage earners, only 11 million are considered full-time wage earners. Of this 11 million, only 7% are organised into unions. And this 7% of the organised work force is divided amongst the different trade union centres and federations. This is a perennial problem — that the trade unions are divided and fragmented.
"We need to unite this 7% of workers into a conscious, organised movement. And this 7% will focus on organising the non-unionised."
Castillo has had discussions with union leaders in Mindanao and Negros, and is confident of BMP becoming a national trade union centre within two years. Union leaders in the KMU in Mindanao are waiting for BMP's lead. In Negros, BMP is collaborating closely with DALO (the Democratic Alliance of Labour Organisations), a large bloc which has also disaffiliated from the KMU. Castillo explains why the workers in these unions are orienting to BMP.
"It has been the rank and file, in their general assemblies, that have put forward the resolutions for disaffiliation from the KMU because it was no longer serving them — the KMU is seen as a dictatorial and undemocratic organisation.
"BMP is a political centre for the workers where the main strategic objective is socialism, unlike the KMU, which is only for national democracy. That is not the agenda of the worker. That is mass line, not class line. Our immediate task is to finish the national democratic revolution so we can proceed to socialism", Castillo added.
"The revolutionary forces are at present very weak. We do not have the capability of overthrowing the government at the moment. We need to expand our forces, and we need to understand that our country is very backward economically. So while we are gaining our strength, we are going to avoid unnecessary confrontations with capital."
Castillo stressed that this was not a blanket rejection of militant struggle. "As our forces grow, becoming better organised, confident and with a socialist orientation, then the level of struggle against capital will of course increase."
Castillo sees internationalism as an important aspect of renewal. BMP is endeavouring to strengthen links it has had with unions in the past and to build new ones.
"BMP will never forget that internationalism is basic to the workers' struggle. When I was still with the KMU, and representing KMU internationally, the leadership very much monopolised the international work. So many of our trade union officers have had little experience in international work.
"We want to maintain our old contacts and establish organisational links as our international work improves.
"I have heard of reports given by one KMU representative in Australia to the unions there, that the only remaining, intact, militant and highly organised national democratic and socialist trade union centre is the KMU. If the Australian workers believe that, then I want to disappoint them! So I ask the Australian workers to invite BMP personnel to explain our position and have a chance to listen to both sides."