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KMU Cordi launches signature drive to oust DOLE secretary

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 3) — The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera (KMU-Cordillera) this week launched a campaign calling for the ouster of Labor Patricia Sto. Tomas. The “Patalsikin si Patricia Sto. Tomas signature campaign” was formally launched in the All Workers Forum held on November 30 by the same organization.

KMU-Cordillera Spokesperson James Tulipa said that this is a national campaign which aims to collect millions of signatures, especially workers’, who have suffered from Sto. Tomas’ anti-worker decisions since she became the Secretary of Labor.

Tulipa blamed Sto. Tomas for the injury and death of many workers “who were only fighting for their legitimate rights.” Tulipa said that because of the Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) issued by Sto. Tomas, workers were put in a more critical struggle against unfair labor practices and inhumane conditions in the workplace.

Tulipa cited the violent dispersal of striking employees of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) on February 2003 where many were hurt and two workers succumbed to heart attacks and died because of the dispersal.

“If Sto. Tomas looked at the labor dispute between the workers and the LCMCo fairly instead of issuing such AJ, no one could have been hurt,” he said.

Tulipa mentioned the bloody dispersal of striking workers in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, where Sto. Tomas again issued an AJ.”Sto. Tomas killed many workers without even pulling a trigger,” Tulipa added.

Tulipa finally called on Cordillera workers to support the signature campaign. # AldwinQuitasol for NORDIS

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