Federation of Free Workers
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| Full name | Federation of Free Workers |
|---|---|
| Founded | 19 June 1950 |
| Members | 200,000 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Affiliation | ITUC |
| Key people | Atty. Jose Sonny Matula, National President |
| Office location | FFW Building, 1943 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila, Philippines |
| Website | www.ffw.org.ph |
The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is one of the major general trade union federations in the Philippines. It is also considered as a national trade union center in the country considering its size and membership of eight (8) trade federations (TFs) and two (2) special sector federations. It was founded 19 June 1950, and has 200,000 mass members in the formal and informal sectors. 50,000 members are dues-paying and covered with collective bargaining agreements.
Among its prominent affiliates are in education institutions,banks, pharmaceutical and electronics companies—Ateneo, UERM, UE, PSBA, NCBA, BPI Family Bank, the Temic Semiconductor,Pfizer, Boie Takeda, Johnson & Johnson, Interphil Laboratories, Globe Telecom, among others.
FFW Affiliated with ITUC
The FFW is affiliated with the former World Confederation of Labor (WCL), the new International Trade Union Confederation,Building Workers International (BWI), Education International (EI), ITUC-Asia Pacific and the ASEAN Trade Union Council.
Atty. Jose Sonny Matula is the 4th National President of the Federation. Juan C. Tan was the founding President from 1950 to 2001. Tan was succeeded by Ramon J. Jabar who headed FFW from 2001 to 2006. Jabar was succeeded by Atty. Allan S. Montano who was president from 2006 to 2011.
FFW was founded by Juan C. Tan and Fr. Walter Hogan, S.J. with the support of young activists from the Ateneo de Manila University in the 1950s. It is inspired by Catholic Social Teachings and christian social democratic principles since its foundation.
23rd National Convention
Last 19 to 23 June 2011, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) successfully held its 23rd National Convention in Baguio City with a strong resolve to "scale up social movement unionism through green jobs and decent work."
The FFW National Convention, held once every five years, gathered in the city of flowers some 200 delegates from FFW member trade unions and sectoral organizations across the country.
The highest policy making body of the labor federation also affirmed its critical support for the "Labor and Employment Plan" (LEP), which is anchored on decent work. The LEP, crafted by the Department of Labor and Employment with the help of the FFW and other social partners, is a supplement to the "Philippine Development Plan," the blueprint for inclusive growth in the country for the next five years.
New leaders elected
Meanwhile, the FFW National Convention also elected and formed its new set of officers.
Elected National President was Atty. Jose Sonny Matula, chief of the FFW Legal Center who served as National Vice President. Matula was an organizer and education officer of FFW and the "Institute of Social Order (ISO" before he became a lawyer. He is also a law lecturer at the Manuel L. Quezon University - School of Law, University of Manila - College of Law and University of Perpetual Help - College of Law. He once served as commissioner of the Social Security System of the Philippines.
Erstwhile National President Atty. Allan S. Montaño, decided not to pursue his candidacy paving the way for the assumption of Matula.
The National Convention conferred to Montaño the title "President Emeritus" and named him "International Secretary" of the Federation of Free Workers.
Elected President of the FFW Women's Network was Sonia Balgos, head of the Temic Semiconductors Phil. Inc. Corporation Employees Union-FFW (TSPICEU-FFW).
Elected FFW National Vice President was Rodrigo Catindig, trade union leader, educator and organizer for more than two decades. Together with the newly-elected Board Members-at-Large and Trade Federation Presidents, the new set of FFW officers will serve a term of five years.
Focus on organizing
"We will make organizing one of our primary programs; 90% of the workforce is not unionized so we consider that 90% an opportunity to organize," Matula said in a speech following his proclamation.
"We will lead trade union alliances and deepen our solidarity with other workers' groups," he added.
Matula is also bent on active tripartism.
"We will not shy away from engaging government and the business sector. FFW will remain active in participating in tripartite discussions and in making tripartite policies," he said.
FFW Supports ILO Convention for Domestic Workers
FFW actively lobbying the adoption of the ILO Convention on decent work for domestic workers. Atty Matula, who was a Philippine workers' representative to the ILC in 2010, believed that the adoption of said convention in 2011 is a historic development.
“For me, it is historic that the committee on domestic workers has decided for these standards to be adopted as a convention rather than a recommendation. A convention is legally binding while a recommendation is not obligatory, it’s just mere guidelines,” Matula said.
International Labour Standards are legal instruments drawn up by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) constituents (governments, employers and workers) setting out basic principles and rights at work. The instruments are either conventions that are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states, or recommendations that serve as non-binding guidelines.
The instruments go through a “double discussion” or must be tackled at 2 succeeding conferences to give conference participants time to examine the instrument and make comments on it.
The proposal for a convention supplemented by a recommendation concerning decent work for domestic workers, having made it through the first round of discussions, has been included in the agenda of the 100th ILC in 2011 for second discussion and adoption. A two-thirds majority vote of the ILO’s constituents is required for a standard to be adopted.
If the convention is adopted, ILO member-states will have to present this to their national competent authority for the enactment of relevant legislation or other action, including ratification.
After ratifying the convention, a country will be legally obliged to ensure compliance. The new convention would set out employment rights of domestic workers. It would recognize that domestic work is "work," not informal labor, and that domestic workers deserve the same employment rights as any other worker.
FFW lauds Aquino Admin for urgent repatriation of OFW
The Aquino administration was lauded by FFW for the urgent repatriation of hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) confronting a brewing civil war in Libya.
FFW disclosed “despite the short preparation and limited resources, the action of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to rescue thousands of Filipino workers in the nick of time is laudable.”
FFW said it appreciated the government regardless that the latter had received criticism from several sectors which include legislators for its apparent slow reaction and insufficient coordination when the Libyan crisis erupted.
But that image has changed over the past week, with the DFA and the DOLE taking the lead.
“Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz deserve commendation,” FFW said.
Flag carrier’s support
The Federation also expressed its gratitude towards the assistance extended by the Philippine Airlines (PAL) to take part in the rescue mission for OFWs who are even now in Libya.
Reports said PAL has spent man-hours and resources in preparing aircraft, pilots and crew as well as securing necessary over-fly and landing permits from the target pickup points identified by the DFA, so it can fly OFWs out of danger and bring them home to the Philippines.
Adopt Unemployment Insurance in SSS
FFW, likewise, urged the Aquino administration to initiate the adoption of an unemployment insurance program as part of the country’s Social Security System (SSS), amidst of the emergency repatriation of OFWs as a result of the heightened civil strife in Libya.
“The displacement of workers in Libya is a clarion call for the government to build-up funding for unemployment insurance and be more prepared for contingency of massive unavoidable workers’ displacement due to economic crises, calamities, war or other emergencies—like what is now happening in Libya.”
Unemployment insurance is not yet instituted in the nine pillars of the SSS.
Based on the joint reports of DFA and DOLE, approximately 13,000Ws are still staying in the North African country.
According to DOLE secretary Baldoz, there are 2,523 of more 12,000 returning OFWs from Libya have been evacuated from this strife-torn African nation and obtained their assistance amounting to Php10,000 each.
Baldoz said more OFWs applying for the one-time assistance being processed by the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) are anticipated received the given one-time financial assistance for these Filipino workers over the next few days.
“Had there been a viable unemployment insurance program already in place, our returning OFWs from Libya would have gotten more assistance, over a longer period of time,” FFW added.
FFW concluded. “It would have provided more security and given them better preparation for their next job or an alternative career as entrepreneurs.”
Workers support fellow workers in flood devasted CDO, Iligan
Labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) also led relief operations on December 27 to 30, 2011 for workers and their families in typhoon and flood-ravaged Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City.
“This is our way of expressing solidarity with our fellow workers who are dealing with the loss of family members, homes, property and work,” said Atty. Sonny Matula, President of the FFW, a national trade union with more than 200,000 members across the country.
Around 350 workers’ families in CDO benefited from the trade union initiative: 86 from Macajalar Labor Union-FFW; 45 from Rose Pharmacy Employees Union-FFW; 41 from Philippine Sinter Employees Union-FFW; 15 from Coca-Cola Employees Union-; FFW; 13 from Macajalar Port Workers Association-FFW; 10 from the BPI Family Savings Bank Employees Union-FFW.
In Iligan City, 100 families from National Steel Labor Union-FFW and Maranao Telephone Co. Employees Union-FFW received relief goods.
“We had help coming in from fellow trade unionists and friends of the FFW from nearby Davao City, Iloilo City, Roxas City, Sagay City, Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Pampanga, Bulacan and Metro Manila who were more than eager to lend a helping hand to their fellow workers,” reported Matula.
Families received packages containing food, water, clothing and other important household items.
Matula and FFW Vice President for Mindanao Aida Brillante, headed the relief operations.
Well appreciated
Felix Lopez, board member of the National Steel Labor Union-FFW could not thank the FFW enough for the timely assistance.
“Amidst the misfortune which hit us by way of flash floods that claimed all our belongings, the spirit of joy touches my heart upon receiving the relief goods given by FFW in Manila,” Lopez said. “This was unexpected. Truly I am proud to be a part of the FFW.”
Jun Villar, a trade union leader from CDO did not hide his appreciation. “Salamat sa FFW at mga partners. Tinulungan kami. Di kami kinalimutan.” (“Thanks to the FFW and its partners. They came to our aide. They remembered us.”)
Local Union Presidents of the FFW in CDO jointly expressed their gratitude for the support. They hope that the support will be sustained. “We are hoping for the extension of housing support for members whose homes were damaged and totally destroyed as a result of Sendong.”
The FFW, an exponent of Catholic social teachings established in 1950, is partnering with other labor groups, employer groups and government, through the Department of Labor and Employment to establish sustainable support for the affected workers, which would include the rebuilding of homes. The FFW is also in contact with the International Labour Organization.
Brillante, a health worker from San Pedro Hospital in Davao City will organize a medical mission in the coming days especially since it is important to prevent outbreaks in the affected areas.
“FFW will also generate support for rebuilding efforts in CDO and Iligan City—rebuilding of homes, workplaces and livelihoods, with a view of promoting green jobs as a part of a bigger climate change adaptation strategy,” added Matula.
[edit] References
- ICTUR et al.,, ed. (2005). Trade Unions of the World (6th ed.). London, UK: John Harper Publishing. ISBN 0-9543811-5-7.
- Federation of Free Workers, June 1950-June 2010, 60 Years of Empowering Workers, 60th Anniversary FFW Souveiner Magazine.
- Nina Copuz, ABS-CBN News, July 7, 2010.
- Bulletin Today, April 11, 2009
- www.ffw.org.ph
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/116435/rich-urged-to-take-in-homeless-families
www.philgreenjobs.dole.gov.ph/nimda/upload/cv_matula.pdf
http://www.philgreenjobs.dole.gov.ph/news.php
[edit] External links
- FFW official site.
