8 August, 2024On 3 August over fifty trade union leaders from the Council of Global Union Philippines including IndustriALL affiliates, the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) and the Philippine Metal Workers Alliance (PMA), gathered in Manila to show their solidarity with Myanmar's unions in their fight for democracy.
The public forum, held at the University of the Philippines School of Labour and Industrial Relations (UP-SOLAIR), featured participants holding signs that read, “Free Burma now!” “Release political prisoners!” and “ASEAN must act now!” They demanded an end to the ethnic violence and oppression in Myanmar.
Two key Myanmar union leaders, Khaing Zar, president of the Industrial Workers' Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), and Phyo Sandar Soe, assistant general secretary of the Building and Wood Workers' Federation of Myanmar (BWFM), were present. Both leaders are also prominent figures in the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM).
Khaing Zar highlighted the findings of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Commission of Inquiry which in its 4 August 2023 report detailed the severe impact of the military coup on basic freedoms and workers' rights in Myanmar. The report pointed out that the military's crackdown on trade unions—including killings, torture, and arrests—has severely weakened unions' ability to defend their members.
“The grave violations of human and workers' rights in Myanmar are proven by the ILO Commission of Inquiry. Myanmar trade unions call on the ILO to invoke article 33 of the ILO Constitution to act against the military junta, which failed to implement the commission's recommendations such as immediately ending the violence and releasing all trade unionists detained by the junta,”
said Khaing Zar.
Since the military coup in February 2021, IndustriALL's Philippine affiliates have consistently supported Myanmar's pro-democracy campaign. ALU’s national executive vice president, Gerard R. Seno, stated,
“The Associated Labor Unions stand with our fellow workers in Myanmar, whose basic rights have been brutally suppressed by the military junta. We urge the regime to end the violence and repression that prevents workers from achieving decent work and participating in a democratic government.”
Ramon Certeza, IndustriALL’s regional secretary for Southeast Asia region, echoed this support, declaring,
“IndustriALL stands in unwavering solidarity with our Burmese trade union brothers and sisters. Their fight for democracy is a fight for justice, freedom, and workers' rights. Together, we demand an end to violence and the restoration of democratic rights in Myanmar.”
The situation in Myanmar remains dire, with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reporting that, since February 2021, 5,480 people have been killed by the military junta, with 20,715 still detained and 167 sentenced to death. The Philippine unions' support underscores the urgent need for global action to restore democracy and protect human rights in Myanmar.
The Council of Global Unions-Philippines is a coalition of unions in the Philippines and belong to different global union federations, including IndustriALL Global Union.
Photo: Patuan, ITUC-AP