We are the displaced workers of Triumph International Philippines Incorporated who were unjustly laid off by the company last June 27, 2009. Many of us have served the underwear company for more than 30 years before the lay-off.

For almost 10 months, series of meetings transpired in the National Mediation Conciliatory Board-Department of Labor and Employment. Yet, Triumph International has been blind and deaf to our just demands for higher severance pay and other benefits. Many of our colleagues were forced to accept the offered severance package because of hunger and poverty. 

We staged our picket line since May 2009 when we experienced demolition of our picket by “goons” and security forces of the Food Terminal Incorporated-owned and controlled by the government.  Since then, we experience constant threat, harassment and surveillance of our collective action in the picket line.

We are upset to the declaration of the global management of Triumph International through Mr. Kenneth Marshall on January 19, 2009 that Food Terminal Incorporated has taken control of Triumph International Philippine Incorporated factory. Triumph International Philippine Incorporated has relinquished tenancy to FTI.

We are saddened by the issuance of Temporary Restraining Order of the Regional Trail Court last April 23 filed by Food Terminal Incorporated ordering us to leave and vacate our picket line and demanding millions of pesos for payment of exemplary and deliberately saying that our picket and collective action is unlawful, illegal and embarrassing. We are bothered that the TRO will be used to forcedly evict us in the picketline and will put our just demands and life in danger.

We have exerted all our efforts and continue to find ways for a peaceful and non violent means with Triumph International, Department of Labor and Employment, Food Terminal Incorporated and the local government of Taguig City.

Once again, we appeal to all our fellow workers-unions, works council and international labor organizations, solidarity groups, worker’s rights advocates, human rights defenders, non government organizations, fellow citizens and concerned people to support our demands:

1. Call to the Philippine Government to stop the harassment and threat against the striking workers of Triumph International, lift and stop the implementation of the Temporary Restraining Order and pursue with peaceful dialogue with us.

We STRONGLY call to the FTI and the Philippine Government to fully support our concrete proposal to let us (Triumph workers) operate the closed Triumph International factory. This will surely give employment to many retrenched workers.

2. Call to Triumph International to start a constructive and productive negotiation with our union, Bagong Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Triumph International and give the just demands of the workers for just and higher compensation and benefits.

3. Support our complaint filed at the Swiss OECD National Contact Point regarding the “Unjust Lay-off in the Philippines and Thailand” committed by Triumph International.

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