Dear all,

We are publishing the translated version of our leaflet below February 2, 2007, about the demotion of LITO ALIGADA.
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LITO ALIGADA’S DEMOTION: Requiem for the management’s loyal servant

What happened to Lito Aligada is a clear case of demotion, and not a simple change of work. From being the First Vice President for Human Relation of Toyota Philippines, he is now a Department Production Manager.

But considering Aligada’s track record in tarnishing the company’s image as a whole and in particular in the Philippines, a demotion is nothing but a slap in his wrist. The company official should have been sacked. His shameless treatment of Toyota Philippines rank and file, and to its union, TMPCWA, is more than enough to warrant his outright removal from the company.

Majority of Toyota’s employees do not know this development. Whether Aligada’s demotion is unimportant or the management simply chose to keep mum on the issue is unclear. But when one considers that even before the signing of the bogus and much compromised CBA between TMPCLO and the Toyota management; Aligada’s removal from his former position had been effected, then it becomes obvious that Aligada’s performance is far from being satisfactory. The top management, it looks like, is wary with their former favorite toy puppet. The puppet is no longer effective in giving entertainment to its master so it must go.

Sooner or later, the demotion would catch fire, and to prevent the employees from reading the signs, Aligada was given a managerial position, only this time, he shares the position with Mr. Marcelino. Two claimants of one office; only time can tell who will survive.

Amateur union buster

Courtesy of some HR managers from several Suppliers of Toyota who clearly understand the legitimate struggle of TMPCWA, the union was able to learn of Aligada’s assault on the personal level, against TMPCWA’s president, Ed Cubelo. From the meetings attended by these managers, it was Aligada who personally facilitated Man-Com Meetings, Coordination Meetings, and even meetings with Toyota suppliers to discredit TMPCWA and its officers.

Aligada’s anti-workers and anti-union stance is astounding. Whenever the topic of unionism in Toyota floats, Aligada would automatically reply, like a battery operated toy puppet, that TMPCWA only creates trouble. Just like any other puppet, part of his memorized mantra includes the now meaningless claim that TMPCWA is a communist organization, and that its president is a communist. But unlike any other operated toy, Aligada claims threat to his life or personal safety.

But the puppet’s fear of his life had been heard many other of his kind. The hysteria created is such that the gate of Toyota now resembles a battle zone, well fortified with unidentifiable guards and police, accompanied by assorted people. According to an HR Manager from a wiring harness company, he’s somewhat scared in entering the vicinity of the company in Sta. Rosa. According to this company official, the guards are not ordinary guards, but mercenaries dressed to look like guards.

For those who still believe Aligada’s claims, it is high time to asses their continued belief with this disgraced and proven second rate union buster. Aligada’s obsession in destroying the legitimate efforts of TMPCWA created an unwarranted fear from the Top Management of Toyota in the Philippines. Unwarranted because unionism is a tradition in Toyota, particularly in Japan.

Aligada’s inhumane treatment against the officers of TMPCWA during the bogus Certification Election of February 2006 was witnessed by no other than the Top Level Representative of Toyota. Aligada’s almost fanatic hatred against TMPCWA was instrumental in prolonging the labor dispute in Toyota.

From the TMPCWA’s perspective, demotion is not enough. It will serve the interest of Toyota better if this amateur union buster is entirely removed from Toyota. Thanks to this amateurish union destroyer, Toyota is now known as a world class union buster.

TMPCWA has always been right in its assessment on Aligada’s role in the sub-human situation of Toyota workers in the Philippines. From the last negotiation of TMPCWA with the top brass of Toyota Philippines, attended by the International Metal Federation (IMF) in February 2006, the president of TMPCWA minced no word in saying that had Toyota removed Aligada right from the start of the dispute, the problem had not reached this level.

Dismiss Aligada! This is the united call of Toyota workers.

Just like what the term Human Relations suggests, the TMPCWA is hoping for a more humane treatment from the new HR Manager, Ms. Tini Arevalo. TMPCWA is hoping that finally, a genuine attempt in resolbing the labor dispuite in Toyota Philippines is in its way.

Dismiss Aligada!

Toyota Management, resolve the the labor dispute!

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation Workers Association (TMPCWA)

We are now publishing here our leaflet that we distributed today inside Toyota, about the demotion of the former First Vice President of H.R. Department Lito Aligada due to his extreme anti-union activities against TMPCWA .

The workers are shouting the ouster of Aligada.

LITO ALIGADA: Sagad-sagaring tuta ng kapitalista

SINIBAK SA PWESTO

Isang “demotion” at hindi isang paglilipat lamang ang iginawad na parusa kay Lito Aligada. Mula sa dating pusisyon na First Vice President ng H.R. Department, na-demote si Aligada sa pagiging bagong Department Production Manager lamang.

Kung tutuusin, hindi sapat ang ginawang simpleng demosyon kay Aligada. Sa halip, dapat pinatalsik na ito sa kumpanya dahil sa todong pagkawasak ng imahe ng Toyota. Higit ang kanyang imoral na pinag-gagawa sa mga manggagawang rank and file, lalo pa sa kanyang pambababoy sa unyon nating TMPCWA.

Marami ang hindi nakakaalam nito o marahil ay sadyang itinago sa mga manggagawa ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit biglaang inilipat sa bagong pusisyon si Lito Aligada. Hindi pa man nilalagdaan ang bogus na kompromisadong CBA ng TMPCLO at ng Toyota management, kagyat na ipinatupad na ang paglilipat kay Aligada. Nangangamba ang Top Management sa maaaring idulot na mga karagdagang problema kung pananatilihin pa ang hindi na epektibong si Aligada.

Para hindi mahalata ang ginawang pagde-demote kay Aligada, inilagay pa rin siya sa isang mataas na pusisyon. Iyun nga lang, dalawa sila ni G. Marcelino na nag-aagawan sa isang pusisyon.

Ayon sa ulat ng ilang HR managers ng mga Suppliers at managers ng Toyota na nakakaintindi at nakakaunawa sa makatuwiran at lehitimong laban ng unyong TMPCWA, sagad ang pambababoy na ginawa nitong si Aligada laban sa unyon at sa pangulo na si Ed Cubelo. Ayon sa kanila, sa mga meetings na dinaluhan nila, si Aligada ang nagpa-facilitate ng mga Man-Com Meetings, Coordination Meetings, gayundin ang pakikipag-usap nito sa mga suppliers ng Toyota.

Sagad ang anti-manggagawa at anti-unyong tindig ni Aligada. Kapag binubuksan ang paksa sa usapin ng pag-uunyon sa Toyota, maagap na sasagot itong si Aligada na nanggugulo lamang diumano ang TMPCWA. Mabilis din maglubid ng walang batayang kwento at itahi ni Aligada ang unyong TMPCWA bilang komunistang organisasyon, gayundin ang pangulo nito. Kakatwang ibino-broadcast nito na pinagbabantaan daw ang buhay niya.

Ang ganitong paglikha ng kanyang sariling multo ang lumikha ng hysteria at dahilan kung bakit sa bungad pa lang ng gate, itinambak ang kung sinu-sinong gwardya, pulis, at kung anu-ano pa. Nasabi ng isang HR Manager, mula sa isang pagawaan ng wiring harness, ang kanyang pagkabahalang tumuloy sa pagawaan ng Toyota sa Santa Rosa. Ayon sa kanya, hindi simpleng gwardya ang mga bantay ng Toyota kundi mga mersernaryong mamamatay-taong binihisang gwardya.

Sino kaya ang papatol kay Aligada sa isang palasak na operador na anti-manggagawa? Kung hindi lang “graceful exit” na demosyon ang ipinataw sa kanya ng Toyota Management, marahil sa kangkungan na siya pulutin.

Sa sobrang desperasyon ni Aligada na supilin at durugin ang makatarungang pakikibaka ng TMPCWA, lumilikha ito ng mga senaryong nakapagbigay ng takot sa Top Management ng Toyota.

Waring nahimasmasan na ang Toyota Management kung kaya demosyon ang ipinataw nito kay Aligada. Saksi mismo ang Top Level Representative kung paano balasubas na humarap at nakitungo si Aligada sa mga lider ng TMPCWA noong bago maganap ang bogus na Certification Election ng Pebrero 2006.

Sa labis na pagkatuta sa kapitalista, instrumental si Aligada sa pagsupil ng kapitalistang Toyota sa pagbibinbin ng matagal at pagpapalala ng labor dispute sa Toyota.

Para sa TMPCWA, hindi sapat na i-demote o ilipat lamang sa ibang pwesto si Lito Aligada sa problemang inihasik nito. Isa si Aligada sa mga masugid na naghatid sa Toyota bilang numero unong Union Buster.

Sa una pa man, hindi nagkamali sa pagsusuri ang TMPCWA sa mahalagang papel at pagkakasangkot ni Aligada sa ibayong pagpapahirap sa mga manggagawa sa Toyota. Sa huling pakikipag-negosasyon sa International Metal Federation (IMF), kaharap si Aligada at ang Toyota Top Brass Management noong Pebrero 2006, sinabi ng pangulo ng unyong TMPCWA, Kung noong una pa man ay tinanggal na itong is Aligada, hindi sana magiging ganito kalala ang problema.

Patalsikin si Aligada! Ito ang nagkakaisang sigaw ng mga manggagawa sa Toyota.

Gaya ng titulong Human Relations, umaasa ang unyong TMPCWA sa makataong pakikipagharap at pakikitungo ng bagong upo na HR Manager na si Bb. Tini Arevalo, at maisagawa nito ang paghaharap at tuwirang pagsasaayos ng labor dispute sa Toyota.

Aligada, patalsikin!

Toyota Management, tapusin na ang labor dispute!

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation Workers Association (TMPCWA)
Ika-2 ng Pebreroo 2007

Struggle will continue...

Toyota and its sweetheart company union TMPCLO already finished the bogus CBA, there is no other issues inside the factory for them, aside from the continuous activities of TMPCWA members inside the factory. The harrassment, intimidation and discrimination to the members of TMPCWA still there.

TMPCWA continuously organizing the rank and file workers. Even though TMPCLO was recognized by the company and claiming they got the majority of the rank and files workers that signed the ratification in the bogus CBA, but still we gain more stronger support from the workers.

TMPCLO got some 573 signatures in the ratification of CBA by the help of another yellow union of supervisory and by the management. More than 300 rank and file workers who did not sign the ratification and still believing to TMPCWA in exposing the real motives of the company to recognized the yellow union TMPCLO.

Many of the workers who signed the ratification do not like the leadership of TMPCLO. The workers said they signed the ratification because they loved to get the beneits that is long overdue but they do not love the leadership of the yellow union. Many of these workers wanted to withdraw their membership to TMPCLO before the signing of the CBA but the bogus leaders of TMPCLO are threathening them if they will resign to the union they cannot recieve signing bonus amounting to P25,000.00.


The members of TMPCWA strong position not to sign the ratification and strongly shouting that it's just a small amount of money. TMPCWA members inside cannot betray the genuine fight of the workers specially the fight of the illegally dismissed members of TMPCWA.

To the workers surprise, the members of TMPCWA also recieves signing bonus. The company claims that they give signing bonus to other rank and file workers even not the members of TMPCLO because of the request of the leaders of TMPCLO. Many of the members of TMPCWA are laughing on this announcement made by the company. Some members of TMPCLO are very angry to the leaders of TMPCLO because the leaders of TMPCLO promised to them that the TMPCWA members will surely could not get signing bonus.

Another thing is the First Vice President for the H.R. Department Lito Aligada was axed to his post and was demoted to Production Department Manager. There are two of them who handle one position. Mr. Marcelino and Aligada.

Maybe the company realized that Aligada is no longer effective to handle his former position. But for TMPCWA the best thing for the company to do is to kick-out Aligada outside Toyota, as he is one of those Management people who put the image of Toyota as number one union buster. Aligada is also one of those who cause big problem between the workers and the management. We believe that sooner or later, the company will surely kick Aligada out of the company.###

To all supporters, friends and comrades,

Due to some technical problem in uploading to our website in http://www.tmpcwa.org. We are sorry for not posting new updates for a long time now. We temporarily put up this blog to give to you the latest development on our struggle, while in the process of fixing the our website. We will try to publish our updates in our limited access.

Thank you very much!

TMPCWA

ANNOUNCEMENT!

Sa mga kaibigan, taga-suporta at mga kasama,

Makabuluhang bati!

Dahil sa nakararanas ng suliraning teknikal ang ating website na www.tmpcwa.org ay medyo tumatagal ang ating pag-upload ng mga bagong balita o "updates" mula sa ating pakikibaka. Nais kong humingi ng paumanhin sa matagal na hindi pag-post ng mga update hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Minabuti ko na gawan ng paraan upang kahit paano habang nasa proseso pa rin ng pag-aayos ng problema sa ating website ay matugunan na ang pangangailangang ilabas ang mga kagyat na kaganapan sa ating laban. Sisikapin natin na kahit dito sa limitadong pagkakataon ay maipaabot ang mga "new updates at mga development ng ating kaso".

Nagpapasalamat,

Ed Cubelo