The Solidarity Center condemns the brutal murder of well-known land and human rights defender Juan Ló Pesca in Honduras, and calls for a transparent investigation into the crime and punishment of those who played any role in his untimely death.
López, a member of the Honduran Network Against Anti-Union Violence (RedContraVA) Aguan sub-network, was shot September 14, 2024, after leaving Mass by several gunmen. Prior to his murder, he had received numerous threats and was under protective measures ordered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. At the time of his death, he was working to prevent destructive mining projects in the Montaña Botaderos National Park. And his assassination came one day after calling for the resignation of the mayor of Tocoa, where López served as a city councilor, to resign.
Honduras is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for rights activists.
“Juan López paid a terrible price for his dedication to standing with unionists and environmental, land rights and other human rights defenders facing threats for their activism. His murder cannot go unpunished,” said Shawna Bader-Blau, Solidarity Center executive director. “As we honor his legacy, we stand in solidarity with RedContraVa , the Committee of Popular Organizations of Aguan and other groups from around the world calling for justice for Juan and an end to threats to land and rights defenders in Honduras.”
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DECLARACIÓN: Los asesinos del activista Hondureño de derechos territoriales y humanos, Juan López, deben ser llevados ante la justicia
El Centro de Solidaridad condena el brutal asesinato del conocido defensor de los derechos ambientales y humanos Juan López en Honduras, y urge una investigación transparente sobre el crimen y la judicializacion de quienes desempeñaron algún papel en su prematura muerte.
López, miembro de la Red Contra la Violencia Antisindical de Honduras (RedContraVA), subred Aguán, fue baleado el 14 de septiembre de 2024, después de salir de la misa, por hombres armados. Antes de su asesinato, había recibido numerosas amenazas y se encontraba bajo medidas de protección ordenadas por la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. En el momento de su muerte, luchaba para prevenir megaproyectos mineros destructivos en el Parque Nacional Montaña Botaderos. Juan López era regidor municipal de Tocoa y fue asesinado un día después de haber pedido que el alcalde actual de Tocoa renunciara.
Honduras es uno de los países más peligrosos del mundo para los activistas de derechos humanos.
“Juan López pagó un precio terrible por su dedicación a apoyar a los sindicalistas y defensores del medio ambiente, de los derechos a la tierra y otros derechos humanos que enfrentan amenazas por su activismo. Su asesinato no puede quedar impune”, dijo Shawna Bader-Blau, directora ejecutiva del Centro de Solidaridad. “Al honrar su legado, nos solidarizamos con la RedContraVA, el Comité de Organizaciones Populares del Aguán y movimientos sociales de todo el mundo que piden justicia para Juan y el fin de las amenazas a los defensores de la tierra y los derechos humanos en Honduras”.
South Luzon workers from TF Logistics Philippines, Inc., and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. rose victorious after their certification elections, with both unions committed to collective bargaining and continuous worker rights education.
The Philippine Metalworkers Alliance (PMA) started organizing the two unions last year, aiming to grow its industry affiliates in the region. It also secured a union of drivers and mechanics from RVL Movers Corp. last March.
TF Logistics Philippines Supervisory Union (TFLPSU-PMA) successfully conducted its union elections on August 20. This followed the unionization of the company’s rank-and-file workers way back in 2016, with supervisors actively working toward their own collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Mary Grace, PMA union organizer, noted a provision in the existing CBA that grants yearly salary increases to rank-and-file workers in TF Logistics, almost closing the income gap with supervisors.
John Edward Nilooban, TFLPSU-PMA president, explained, “Our benefits as supervisors were closely tied to the rank-and-file workers’ CBA, but we recognized the need for our own voice. We aim to secure a CBA on our own prerogative.”
Jonathan Punjong, TFLPSU-PMA secretary, added, “We want to be a part of the solution and a bridge for proper communication between our rank-and-file workers and management.”
Combined, the supervisory and rank-and-file unions at TF Logistics represent about 200 workers.
Auto Workers Choose New Leaders
Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi Motors Workers Union-Philippines (MMWU-P-PMA) held elections for its new leadership on July 30. Established in 1965, the union is a founding member of PMA and represents workers involved in manufacturing cars for the company.
The new union officers emphasized the need to fortify awareness and education on worker rights with its roughly 800 members.
Sergio Ward, Jr., MMWU-P-PMA president, said, “Unionization is not a simple matter. Our members need to be re-educated on the importance of our union and their role in it—that the union is more than just the benefits we enjoy.”
Unions of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila say they will continue to fight for job security amid securing an agreement with management to reinstate workers once the hotel reopens, which only materialized after the closure.
The unions said about 70 percent of its members already accepted severance pay due to pressure from management and family financial needs.
Hotel grounds closed on June 30 for renovations, contrary to previous reports of a permanent closure, and 1,200 workers—500 regular staff and 700 contractual–lost their jobs.
However, the unions remain optimistic. Marco Jalandoni, National Union of Workers in Hotels, Restaurants and Allied Industries (NUWHRAIN) secretary general, said, “Our victory is in securing the future of the union. We were able to ensure the return of the remaining union members once the hotel reopens, and our negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement will continue.”
Workers added that amid their persistent demand for negotiations, the hotel held job fairs prior to closing, with the majority of offers contract positions with few regular managerial jobs. Benster Moleno, education and communications officer of the NUWHRAIN-Philippine Plaza Chapter (PPC), said, “Many workers are unqualified for these positions, and job opportunities outside Metro Manila are impractical.”
The unions organized a media campaign with picket actions in front of hotel grounds leading up to the closure, which were followed by local news outlets. Senator Risa Hontiveros called for an investigation after listening to the workers’ plight two days before operations ceased.
Nestor Cabada, NUWHRAIN-PPC president, said, “The hardest thing right now is how those employees without jobs—how the whole union will survive until the hotel reopens. But as we always say: even if there is only one of us standing, the union will remain and continue the fight. We will leave no one behind.”
Nearly a month into their strike for better pay and safer working conditions, workers at online gaming company Evolution Georgia say they face intimidation and physical violence as the company attempts to break their strike rather than continue contract negotiations. More than 4,000 of the company’s 8,000 workers have walked off the job since July 12, according to their union.
Workers presented 44 concerns to the company, which hosts live games from specially equipped studios in six buildings. Employees in the studios, including shufflers, dealers and game presenters, noted poor working conditions and safety and health problems, including ventilation issues, lack of temperature control and unsanitary toilets. Local media reports that workers suffer insect bites, and their chairs create spinal problems.
“I don’t want to suffer from diseases or bites while working at the company,” said striking worker Lana Dzagania. “I want to be compensated fairly for my work. We should feel comfortable and safe at work, which is why we are here to demand what belongs to us. We demand a decent salary.”
Workers Stage Sit-in, Company Threatens Mass Layoffs
Evolution Georgia threatened, via Facebook, “to make operational changes,” including layoffs, to reduce its presence in Georgia. The company is a subsidiary of the Sweden-based global gaming giant, Evolution, which reported operating earnings of $534.3 million in the first quarter of this year.
Discriminatory Practices and Insulting Comments
Internal leaked chat messages from Evolution Georgia managers revealed insulting attitudes toward employees and discriminatory practices, such as team managers mocking employees for their appearance, weight or skin color. The union says it will investigate and expose these statements by managers, demanding that all managers making such comments be properly disciplined, including termination.
Striking Workers Receive Support
The striking workers enjoy broad support as citizens, artists, musicians and union representatives visit their tents, pitched near one of the company’s branches.
“It is our duty to support these people so that this problem does not affect us tomorrow,” said musician Erekle Deisadze, one of many supporters outside the union. “Otherwise, the problem will persist, and people will remain cheap labor in their own country while the company’s profits continue to increase year after year. That’s why I am here.”
More than 500 Philippine workers and trade unionists joined a march on July 22nd in Quezon City, demanding that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. declare support in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) for legislation that would further raise the minimum wage.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board approved a 35 PHP (approximately 0.60 US dollar) daily minimum wage hike for workers in the capital region earlier this month. This falls far short of the 150 PHP (about 3 US dollars) wage hike the National Wage Coalition has persistently called for to support workers’ economic recovery amid high inflation, poor job quality and a lack of new and decent jobs.
The Coalition, representing local workers across various industries and sectors, has remained steadfast in demanding livable wages and are advocating for multiple bills that have been introduced but still await action from the government.
The president has yet to engage in dialogue with Philippine Labor representatives and did not mention wages in his SONA.
Coalition member, Center of United and Progressive Workers (SENTRO), noted in an online statement, “[t]he [national government’s] absence of genuine effort to attain long-term solutions against rising costs and the provision of measly increases that leave workers running in place against inflation…” SENTRO added, “We deserve higher wages not simply because of our labor, but because we are human beings who have every right to live peacefully and decently.”
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