[asia-apec 1402] KMU Chair mauled/arrested at Manila Hotel strike

[tpl at cheerful.com]

NEWS RELEASE
DATE:  February 15, 2000

KMU CONSIDERS FILING CHARGES AGAINST HOTEL MANAGEMENT, POLICE FOR
MANHANDLING BELTRAN AND OTHER WORKERS

The national leadership of the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said
that KMU is determined to intensify its demonstrations and worker-led
actions - primarily the strikes - because it was clear that there was no
other way for workers to be heard but through these militant actions. 

KMU is reacting to the violence that has marked the short continuing
history of the strike at the historic Manila Hotel. Yesterday, KMU
chairperson Crispin Beltran, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) secretary
general Teddy Casino were mauled and manhandled by police as they helped
lead the indignation rally in front of the said hotel.  Beltran, Casiño,
Peter Banatan of MHEA-GLOWHRAIN-KMU, and Arnulfo Seminiano of the Ilaw at
Buklod ng Manggagawa (IBM-KMU) were arrested and detained.  Scores of
workers and sympathizers were also hurt during the melee - head wounds and
arm bruises being the most prevalent as strikers of the Manila Hotel
Employees Association (MHEA) and their supporters were hit with
rubber-wrapped iron truncheons and thick wooden nightsticks. 

Beltran said that the Joseph Estrada administration should be held directly
accountable for every bruise, cut, head wound and broken bone sustained by
MHEA members and their strike supporters. "Instead of putting his foot down
against Emilio Yap and Gen. Arnulfo Acedera for their infamous attacks
against the strikers, Estrada maintains a silence that condones the
violence. The skirmish that exploded yesterday was a direct result of his
indifference to the plight of the workers, and his support for his good
buddy  Emilio Yap," he said. "For the nth time, Estrada exposes his
virulently anti-worker character. He has the power and the right to dismiss
the assumption of jurisdiction order (AJ) laid down by the labor department
against MHEA, and in the process help in the effort to resolve the strike
and get the CBA negotiations underway; but he did nothing. Estrada is a
coddler of despotic union busters the likes of Lucio Tan (PALEA), Danding
Cojuangco (San Miguel Corp.), and Emilio Yap." 

Beltran also waxed indignant at the hotel management's stubborn refusal to
negotiate with the union. "The workers only want to negotiate a CBA, it's a
simple economic issue; but because of the management's viciousness, the
fight has gained political color and it's now a national fight and we are
holding Estrada among those directly accountable," he said.  

Meanwhile KMU secretary general Elmer Labog said that KMU is also
considering filing charges against the chiefs of the Philippine National
Police (PNP), the Southern Police District (SPD) the Manila Hotel
management and other instigators of the violence yesterday. "Besides the
general anger we feel at the injustice being done against the Manila Hotel
workers, we at KMU and our national membership are outraged at what they
did to Beltran, Casiño, Banatan and Seminiano and every other worker who
was hurt in the rally. We were unarmed, but the police were ordered to
viciously attack us," he said. "

Labog also said that some KMU-affiliated unions in other five-star hotels
have also declared that they will launch sympathy strikes in the coming
days if the dispute in the Manila Hotel remains unresolved. Labog who is
also the the national president of the Genuine Labor Organization of
Hotels, Restaurants, and Allied Industries (GLOWHRAIN), said that the
Manila Hotel strike serves as a tremendous inspiration to workers in the
hotel industry. 

Finally, KMU chairman Beltran said that KMU, BAYAN, and MHEA will lead a
big indignation rally on February 17, 2000 to continue exposing the labor
dispute in the said hotel. Participants will assemble at 1:00 PM at the
corner of Taft and Kalaw Avenues. #