Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06MANILA4558, LABOR UNION STRIKES AT CAVITE ECONOMIC ZONE FACTORY

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06MANILA4558.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06MANILA4558 2006-11-03 04:33 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Manila
VZCZCXRO8283
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #4558/01 3070433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 030433Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3741
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 004558 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, DRL FOR MARK MITTELHAUSER 
DEPT OF LABOR FOR ILAB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM RP
SUBJECT: LABOR UNION STRIKES AT CAVITE ECONOMIC ZONE FACTORY 
 
REF: A. MANILA 4464 
 
     B. 05 MANILA 4831 
     C. 05 MANILA 688 
     D. 04 MANILA 5552 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Union members at Chong Won Fashion, a 
clothing manufacturer at the government-owned Cavite Economic 
Zone, launched a strike September 25.  The management of the 
factory refuses to negotiate with union leaders and initiated 
legal action against the union.  The strike has garnered 
international attention due to an e-mail and letter-writing 
campaign by the Workers Assistance Center, a reportedly 
left-leaning non-governmental organization based in Cavite, 
as well as speculation that the murder of a Philippine 
Independent Church bishop may have been connected to the 
labor dispute.  Wal-Mart, the only buyer of Chong Won goods, 
is active in negotiations to reach resolution.  The labor 
dispute illustrates the challenges faced by labor unions in 
the Philippines, especially within the special economic 
zones.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
UNION SEEKS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING 
--------------------------------- 
 
2. (U) The Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ) is the largest 
government-owned and managed special economic zone in the 
Philippines.  The CEZ, located in Rosario, Cavite, about 20 
miles south of metro-Manila, currently houses 254 companies 
that employ more than 80,000 workers.  The majority of 
companies manufacture semiconductors and electronic 
equipment, but some companies also produce clothing, 
plastics, metal parts, and other items.  The Philippine 
Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the government agency that 
manages the CEZ, estimates that approximately 10 percent of 
the labor force within the zone belongs to organized labor 
groups. 
 
3. (U) On September 25, 2006, the United Workers of Chong Won 
Fashion, a Korean-owned garment factory at CEZ, launched a 
strike with the assistance and support of the Solidarity 
Workers of Cavite -- a labor union federation -- and the 
Workers Assistance Center because of the factory's refusal to 
negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.  More than 100 
workers joined the picket line during the first days of the 
strike.  Chong Won Fashion, according to union leaders, 
immediately terminated 116 striking employees, allegedly 
without cause.  Because of the terminations, the striking 
employees have not been able to access the CEZ to re-join the 
picket line. 
 
----------------------------------- 
ALLEGED VIOLENCE ON THE PICKET LINE 
----------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) A clash between the striking workers and CEZ 
security guards erupted shortly after the union organized a 
picket line.  PEZA representative Mary Jane Arada told poloff 
that violence broke out when the CEZ guards attempted to 
secure a path through the picket line to the entrance of the 
Chong Won factory.  According to Arada, the striking 
employees were blocking entrances and preventing non-union 
workers from entering.  Arada showed poloff photos of CEZ 
guards who had minor stab wounds from sharp objects, 
allegedly inflicted by striking workers during the September 
25 incident.  CEZ has filed charges of physical injuries 
against members of the union.  Conversely, union leaders at 
Chong Won contend that it was the CEZ guards who assaulted 
and harassed workers on the picket line.  However, the union 
has not filed a formal complaint with police authorities. 
 
5. (U) Following the September 25 incident, a small 
contingent of local police was deployed to the CEZ to 
supplement the limited number of PEZA guards.  On September 
27, the striking employees barricaded the gates of the CEZ to 
prevent a cargo truck carrying finished goods from exiting 
the premises.  The local police intervened to allow the cargo 
truck to exit.  Union leaders claim they were harassed and 
beaten by the police during this intervention.  PEZA and 
local police authorities vehemently deny these allegations. 
 
------------------------------ 
LEGAL ACTIONS DELAY RESOLUTION 
------------------------------ 
 
6. (U) The United Workers has struggled since its founding to 
enter into negotiations with management.  According to union 
leaders, the union's first attempts for certification in 2001 
 
MANILA 00004558  002 OF 002 
 
 
were allegedly countered by management threats of employee 
terminations or a factory shutdown.  The union filed a 
petition for certification in 2002, but the company responded 
by terminating more than half of the union members and the 
majority of the union's officers.  The union members filed 
complaints of unfair labor practices with the Philippine 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and initiated their 
first strike, which lasted six months. 
 
7. (U) The union won certification in July 2005, when DOLE 
issued a final judgment certifying the union as sole and 
exclusive bargaining representatives of the factory.  Chong 
Won then filed administrative appeals with DOLE and the 
National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) and judicial 
actions before the courts.  Despite the union's numerous 
letters of intent to management to start collective 
bargaining negotiation and NCMB's mediation, Chong Won 
continues to refuse to negotiate.  Chong Won's position has 
been to wait until the legal process is exhausted before it 
considers negotiation with the union. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
No Apparent Connection to Ramento's Murder 
------------------------------------------ 
 
8. (SBU) Several media and non-governmental organization 
reports have linked the killing of Philippine Independent 
Church Bishop Alberto Ramento (ref A) with the ongoing labor 
dispute in Cavite.  Ramento previously served as chairman of 
the Workers Assistance Center, which helped the union 
organize the current strike, and was generally involved in 
workers rights advocacy in Cavite, his hometown.  The 
speculation that Ramento's murder was connected to the Cavite 
strikes appears to have originated on the website of the 
Workers Assistance Center.  However, Arnel Salvador, Deputy 
Executive Director of the Workers Assistance Center, told 
poloff that Ramento had no direct contact with the union and 
doubted there was any connection.  Philippine National Police 
contacts reported that Ramento's murder was the result of a 
robbery by a criminal gang in the Tarlac area, where the 
murder took place.  The police have arrested four individuals 
and have recovered items stolen from Ramento. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
9. (SBU) Chong Won will likely exhaust all legal remedies 
before negotiating with the labor union and, given chronic 
delays in the Philippine judicial process, the dispute could 
drag on indefinitely.  Chong Won's legal maneuvering leaves 
it open to charges of infringement on the rights to freedom 
of association and collective bargaining and is illustrative 
of the challenges unions face in negotiating agreements. 
However, there are some positive signs.  Wal-Mart Country 
Representative Edwina Reunilla is actively engaging all 
parties in the dispute, and is setting up a meeting later 
this month involving management, the union, the Workers 
Assistance Center, and potential buyers.  So far, all parties 
have agreed to participate.  Post will continue to follow 
this case and report on further developments. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
 
KENNEY