Subject: [cwj 146] Appeal re: Mass Dismissals at Philippine Toyota
From: Corporate Watch in Japanese <cwj@corpwatch.org>
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 14:25:15 -0700
Seq: 146

The following is an appeal to the president of Toyota Corp 
regarding mass dismisals in the Philippines Toyota.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Cho Fujio
President
Toyota Motor Corp.


March 29,2001
Japan All Shipbuilding and Engineering Union
Kanto regional Council

We received an appeal from TMPCWA (Toyota Motor Philippines Workers
Association) through YCW (Young Christian Workers) of Philippines.

According to the appeal,

- TMPCWA had the certification election for the union last March 8,   
2000 with majority of the workers voted yes for the union.

- In spite of the fact that the union was certified as the sole and   
exclusive bargaining representative by the Labor Department, the      
Toyota management still refuses to recognize the union and even       
strengthen their harassment to destroy the union up to the present    
time.

-(The company) filed again another labor case ... just to delay the   
negotiation and to demoralize the union members.

-(Due to these extraordinary situation at Toyota Motor Philippines),  
the union had no choice but to start the call for a strike.

-The union have already conducted strike vote with more than majority 
of the members agreed and voted yes and showed readiness to go on     
strike.

-In light of the above, the union is appealing for our support and    
assistance, financial, material, and moral to sustain this struggle.



The 8th IMF Toyota World Council, which was held in July 1999,        
declared in its resolution that "We base ourselves on democracy and   
support the right of workers at all the operation units of Toyota     
Company and its suppliers in the whole world to organize strong trade 
unions without interference by the management or the government."  Mr.
Cho Fujio, President, attended the council and gave a speech          
emphasizing that "Customer First", "To be a good corporate citizen"   
and "Mutual confidence and responsibility" are the basic policy of the
company in managing the operation in the country and in abroad.

The basic policy of Toyota Motor Corp. includes its willingness to "  
respect the national and international laws and the spirit behind     
these laws" and "become a respectable corporate citizen of the        
international society through open and fair business operation" as its
first commitment.

The hostility shown by the employers of Toyota Motor Philippines      
against the union activities of TMPCWA cannot be accepted in the light
of the basic policy of Toyota Motor Corp.



To make matters worse, Toyota Motor Philippines abruptly dismissed 291
workers on the 16th of March and suspended 30 workers.  TMPCWA was    
forced to start strike actions at Bictan factory and Santa Losa       
factory with dismissed workers picketing in front of the gates.

A hearing was taken place at the office of Department of Labor and    
Employment on the 20th of this month, but the company only sent their 
lawyer as their representative.  DoLE ordered the management should   
attend the next hearing to be held on the 27th.

It is clear that the dismissal is aimed at destroying the union.

We cannot accept the attack by the management of Toyota Motor Philippines
against TMPCWA.  We want you to:

1) withdraw the dismissal of members of TMPCWA and immediately let    
them return to their place.

2) withdraw the suspension of members of TMPCWA and immediately let   
them return to their place.

3) make the management of Toyota Motor Philippines abandon the hostile
attitude against TMPCWA, withdraw lawsuits against the union, and take
to the negotiation table on the collective bargaining contract in a   
normalized employee-employer relation.

4) make the management of Toyota Motor Philippines extend its apology 
to TMPCWA on its hostile and unfair behaviors.


Japan All Shipbuilding and Engineering Union 
Kanto regional Council
505 SAN-KOHPO 20-9 Toyookacyo Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-City,  230-0062  JAPAN  
Phone & Fax ; 81-45-575-1948



-------------------------------------
Corporate Watch in Japanese
Transnational Resource and Action Center (TRAC)
P.O. Box 29344
San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
Tel: 1-415-561-6472
Fax: 1-415-561-6493
Email: cwj@corpwatch.org
URL:  http://www.corpwatch-jp.org
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