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Disgruntled workers to show dismay at Mendiola on Labor Day
May 1, 2013

Unable to hear what they wanted the President to say, labor groups from the largest alliance of workers in the Philippines, Nagkaisa! will troop to Mendiola to demand for higher wages, security of tenure and an end to harassment of union leaders on Labor Day.

Barely a week before Labor Day, police forces arrest a trade union leader of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) in Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation in Batangas City. It was late in the afternoon of Friday, April 26 when the courts were already closed for posting a bail.

Labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) welcomes President Benigno Aquino III's "resolve to move the peace process forward" with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Message of the FFW President in 2013

Our warmest greetings to all FFW members and friends:

With more vigor, passion and enthusiasm, FFW welcomes the challenging year of 2013! This year, we will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio (born in 1863), the great organizer of the Katipunan whose membership came mostly from the ranks of workers.

Kasama ang Kasambahay sa Byahe ni Noel

Just like the struggle to enact that elusive law that would establish better standards for them, kasambahays barely caught the last trip of Noel Cabangon's Byahe.

Labor groups, domestic workers and civil society groups hailed the decision of the leadership of the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives to approve a Consolidated version of the Domestic Workers Act of 2012, more popularly known as the Batas Kasambahay last November 19. The Consolidated version is expected to be approved by both Houses on Monday, November 26.

Labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) declared its support for the Government of the Philippines - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Framework that was signed today, which hopes to put an end to the decades-old war in Muslim Mindanao.

"Unemployment may have decreased minimally (7.1%), but underemployment has increased significantly (22.7%). Put together, they account for 29.8 per cent of the labor force, who do not earn enough or do not earn at all," said Atty. Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW).

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) welcomes with enthusiasm the passage of the Kasambahay Bill after more than 15 years of lobbying in Congress.

The House of Representatives of the Philippines has just passed the Domestic Workers Bill! It took 15 years before Congress finally did so, but it would be worth the wait once the Bill is enacted into law.

The "Free Workers" as part of our effort to reach out to more Filipino workers, now comes in all-Filipino. Hurry! Grab your copy now.

Click here to download >>>

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is saddened by the loss of a good man in government. It seems the few good men are getting fewer. We pray that his legacy will inspire us to continue the struggle for reforms as the status quo does not serve the common good.

A family lost a father. The government lost a servant. Our nation lost a leader.

Ninoy Aquino, the inspiration behind people power, whose passing we commemorate today, is now united with a servant he inspired, who practiced the empowerment he preached.

-- The leaders and members of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW)

Philippines ratifies Domestic Work Convention; C. 189 to be in force soon
August 6, 2012

After much anticipation, the Philippines has finally ratified the Domestic Workers Convention on Monday. Voting unanimously, the Philippine Senate approved on third reading, Resolution No. 816 concurring to the ratification of ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers by President Benigno S. Aquino III on May 18.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is alarmed by the increase in child labor incidence in the Philippines.

Ratify and Implement ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers Now!

Click here to download the statement >>>

Mornings@ANC DOLE's Child Labor Knowledge Sharing System

Mornings@ANC Guests: Joselito Manabat - Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns-DOLE / Chairman, Child Labor Knowledge Sharing Sub-Committee Julius Cainglet - Federation of Free Workers / Vice-Chairman, Child Labor Knowledge Sharing Sub-Committee

Click here to view the video clip >>>

STATEMENT OF FILIPINO WORKERS:
BETTER TIMES ARE YET TO COME FOR WORKERS
By: Atty. Jose Sonny G. Matula
National President, Federation of Free Workers (FFW), an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation and ITUC-Asia Pacific
Workers’ Delegate of the Philippines to the 101st Session of the International Labour Conference Geneva, Switzerland, 11 June 2012

Unions the world over condemned employers’ groups, who yesterday blocked discussion of the worst cases of worker rights violations at the annual International Labor Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.

MESSAGE
Ceremonial Launching of the Guidelines on the Conduct
of the DOLE,DILG,DND,DOJ, AFP & PNP Relative to the Exercise
of the Workers' Rights & Activities
Ni Atty. Sonny G. Matula, President of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW)

Isang karangalan na makasama kayo ngayong umaga sa paglagda ng Mga Panuntunan sa mga karapatan at kilos patungkol sa Freedom of Association, lalo sa patakaran at alituntunin para sa Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilinas sa pagkakataong di nagkakasundo ang kapitalista at mga manggagawa o may nangyayaring labor disputes. Ang layunin ng Panuntunang ito ay para patibayin ang pagkilala sa Kalayaan na mag-organisa ng unyon at sa karapatang kolektibong makipagtawaran o collective bargaining negotiation ang mga manggagawa sa mga may-ari ng mga paggawaan o tanggapan.

Workers lambasted labor contractualization anew on Labor Day as it had brunch with President Noynoy Aquino at Malacañang.

Workers in Agusan mine go on strike
April 27, 2012

Just a few days before Labor day, more than 300 workers of SR Metals in Tubay, Agusan Del Norte, have gone on strike because management has been ignoring the collective bargaining agreement proposal it submitted several months ago.

ffw Workers to press for wage hike, labor reforms
By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) Updated
April 24, 2012 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - At least 20,000 workers belonging to 40 labor groups will march to Malacañang to commemorate Labor Day on May 1 and demand a wage increase and other labor reforms.

Labor groups unite to boost collective bargaining capacity

April 24, 2012

SOME 40 labor groups announced yesterday the founding of a national workers’ coalition in a bid to bolster its collective bargaining capacity with the government ahead of Labor Day on May 1.

The formation of NAGKAISA (United), an issue-based umbrella labor rights group, also comes ahead of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines’ two-day conference that starts today.

A new alliance of some 40 major trade unions and labor federations have united to advance trade union and workers’ rights in the Philippines.

Labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) joins the Filipino people in celebration of the People Power Revolution 26 years ago, but wishes that the legacy of the peaceful revolution extend to economic empowerment and a stronger voice for workers.

Following its call to develop “green transportation alternatives” to abet oil price hikes, labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) has called on government to facilitate the production of electric vehicles in order to create green jobs.