BAYAN berates union busting by Superstar Coco firm

Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today staged a protest demonstration at the plant of Superstar Coconut Products Incorporated in Maa, Davao City to castigate the firm for its recent actions to maliciously cripple the Kahugpungan sa mga Trabahante sa Superstar (KTS) Union.

KTS, a union duly recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment, is said to be preparing a strike to demand from the management to implement labor standards and to stop union busting.

“The workers are the life and limb of the company. Without them, the entire production will come to a halt and then the company will be nothing but a dead facility,” said Franchie Buhayan, BAYAN-Southern Mindanao regional spokesperson. “That is the very reason why the company should treat the workers well, give them decent wage and benefits and respect their democratic rights particularly the right to protest and organize a genuine union,” added Buhayan.

One of the top 1000 corporations in the country and considered as the largest coconut products manufacturer in Mindanao, Superstar Coconut Products Incorporated is said to be producing and shipping ton loads of desiccated coconut worth P7.5 million per day. The company is also manufacturing other coconut-based products like coco powder and coco oil.

“Superstar is earning millions from the labor of the workers but ironically the management rewards them with unimaginable exploitation and repression. For years, the workers suffer from poor working conditions with excessive workload and received wages that are far below from the minimum wage mandated by the government. It is only logical for the workers to struggle against the company’s modus operandi,” Buhayan said.

BAYAN explained that recently, leaders and members of the KTS Union experienced different forms of harassments from the management including demotion of 26 union leaders and members, threats of dismissal, intimidation and the use of hush money.

“This is unacceptable! It is an indication that the management is not interested in resolving the problem rightfully under due process. Instead, they use cowardly dirty tactics to get rid of the union and disenfranchise the legitimate demands of the workers. This leaves the workers no option but to intensify the struggle and raise it to a higher level,” said Buhayan.

In a solidarity lunch today with the workers outside the plant of Superstar Coconut Products Inc, BAYAN expressed its total support for the workers and their families.

“If the KTS union will go on with the plan to lead a strike, we, along with our allied organizations will support it through and through,” Buhayan said.

“The city government and DOLE should not slow-foot in addressing this issue. Union busting is a critical offense against the working class and must be dealt with seriousness. And allowing these profit-hungry capitalists to continue making us their modern-day slaves and starve our families to death is a greater offense. These are important points that the government, both local and national, must consider,” added Buhayan.