A spirited demonstration outside Toyota's Melbourne headquarters on August 28 highlighted the company's abuse of workers' rights in the Philippines.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) member Graham Williams, who co-chaired the rally, told protesters that in 2000 workers at the Toyota plant in the Philippines won the right to have the Toyota Philippines Workers Association as their sole bargaining agent.
However, management refused to deal with the union, later sacking 233 workers. Toyota has ignored the Philippines Supreme Court's ruling in favour of the workers.
Williams explained that, after Colombia, the Philippines has the highest murder rate of unionists in the world.
The protest was also addressed by Gary Robb, AMWU Victorian assistant secretary, who drew the link between Toyota's anti-worker actions in the Philippines and its recent unfair dismissal of two union members in Melbourne, dismissals made possible through the Howard government's Work Choices laws.
Dave Kerin, a Union Solidarity organiser, told the crowd that Japanese Toyota workers at a Hong Kong conference had signed a letter of support for sacked AMWU shop steward Tony Carvalho.
Kerin also warned of the consequence of a first reading of an amendment to the Trade Practices Act that was passed unanimously in the House of Representatives August 15. The amendment extends the criminalisation of secondary boycotts to the wider community, specifically targeting Union Solidarity-style groups.
Visiting Philippines trade union federation Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson Elmar Labog addressed the rally, highlighting the need for international solidarity. He urged people to attend the anti-APEC protests in Sydney in early September.