Violence erupts as distillery workers go on strike

SAN PEDRO CITY—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is studying a petition for regularization filed by hundreds of contractual employees of a plant distillery following an abrupt protest that resulted in a series of violent dispersal.

Marivic Martinez, labor supervisor of the DOLE-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), said on Tuesday that the labor agency would meet the two service providers or agencies that hired 397 workers for the beverage company, Tanduay Distillers Inc., in Cabuyao City, Laguna province.

The workers, represented by Tanggulang Ugnayan Daluyang Lakas ng Anakpawis sa Tanduay Distillers Inc. (Tudla), went on strike early Monday outside the compound of Asia Brewery in Barangay (village) Sala. Although a separate company, Tanduay operates a distillery plant inside the Asia Brewery compound.

Security personnel dispersed the protesters.

According to Supt. Joseph Bayan, Cabuyao police chief, 40 to 50 demonstrators forcibly entered the compound, prompting security forces to use water cannons against them.

A series of clashes, including rock pelting, ensued until Tuesday morning, resulting in injuries to a number of workers, Bayan said.

Roque Pulido Jr., president of militant Pagkakaisa ng Mga Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan, counted at least 10 injured, including Tudla president Anse Are.

Pulido said the workers decided to go on strike after receiving a memorandum from the Tanduay management on May 16, telling 96 workers to stop reporting for work starting May 18.

“That already meant dismissal (from the service),” he said, claiming that a seven-day notice of strike to the DOLE was “no longer necessary.”