KMU hits ‘citation’ of Dole Phils for corporate excellence

MANILA, Philippines - Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) scored the choice of Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil) as a finalist for the United States Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE). KMU said Dolefil has shown little respect for human rights of workers and thus does not deserve an award for corporate excellence. "To deserve a corporate excellence award Dole Food Company and its subsidiaries, Dole Philippines and Dole Costa Rica, must first be subjected to reforms towards improving labor conditions. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) must not be limited to recycled wooden pallets and community dole-outs, but more importantly, it must be directed towards justice and dignity for their thousands of regular and contractual workers. Genuine respect for union and human rights is a good start for CSR and coveted corporate excellence awards," Tony Pascual, secretary general of the National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU-KMU), said in an article on the KMU website. Chris Agosto, executive director of Mindanao Workers Resource Center, added the National Concilitation and Mediation Board in a July 26 report admitted that labor relations at Dolefil had "deteriorated." He added a labor department report showed the middle management of Dolefil use the military and the divide-and-rule tactic among union members. "There are no positive changes or 'innovations' in Dole Philippines policy towards workers rights, unless one considers the donation of recycled classroom chairs and the annual town fiesta jogging with Manager Mr. Kevin Davis as the epitome of glorified Corporate Social Responsibility. Where is their 'public diplomacy and community long-term investment' when they could not even find an innovative ecological way to neutralize the daily stench of their far-reaching foul-smelling waste catch basin," added Agosto. Big Boy Beghanilum, a former union official, said that during negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement for 2006 to 2010 reached in October 2007, "thousands of regular hourly workers were harassed and suspended, with scores terminated including union officials." He added union records show that for 2007 alone there were 161 regular workers erased from payroll for "early retirement, termination, and voluntary resignation." "Is that the company's adherence to democratic principles that qualifies it for the Award for Corporate Excellence?" he asked. - GMANews.TV