Assassination of Nestle Philippines strike leader - audio interview
Mike Brady | 12.11.2005 08:56 | Analysis | Globalisation | Social Struggles
New in Baby Milk Action's broadcast section: campaigners speak of Nestlé's abuse of workers' rights, the assassination of trade union leader Diosdado Fortuna, baby food marketing and what they think of Nestlé's new Fairtrade product. Listen at 
http://www.babymilkaction.org/ram/broadcasts.html#philippines1005
http://www.babymilkaction.org/ram/broadcasts.html#philippines1005
Baby Milk Action was able to interview Swiss-based campaigners from the Philippines on 30 October 2005. They were attending the Nestlé Tribunal in Bern in solidarity with trade unionists from Colombia and to raise awareness of Nestlé abuses in the Philippines.
Listen on-line at:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/ram/broadcasts.html#philippines1005
The campaigners speak of:
* Nestlé's refusal to negotiate with the trade union at the Nestlé factory in Cabuyao, Laguna, over their pension rights, despite rulings in the union's favour from the National Labor Relations Commission, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The union called a strike in 2002, which is still on-going. Nestlé has employed a replacement workforce.
* The murder of strike leader Diosdado Fortuna on 22 Septmber 2005 after he spoke on the picket line (see the broadcasts section for a link to the International Federation of Food Workers' website which has more details and includes an email campaign calling for an investigation by the government in the Philippines).
* The Nestlé boycott in Switzerland and the Philippines over Nestlé
aggressive marketing of baby foods and how Nestlé pushes these in the
Philippines.
* The workers' call for a boycott over the abuses of their rights.
* Nestlé new Fairtrade product, Partners' Blend, and Nestlé's failure to
trade fairly in the Philippines.
* The need for international solidarity to expose Nestlé malpractice.
Baby Milk Action works to ensure the voices of people in other countries, particularly developing countries, are heard. Usually we are working on behalf of those who suffer as a result of Nestlé's baby food marketing practices, but as we inevitably come across other examples of Nestlé malpractice we attempt to assist campaigners in presenting their grievances to a wider audience.
In every country Nestlé claims those who campaign against its malpractice are the exception and that in other countries it is seen as ethical and there are no complaints. By sharing experiences we better demonstrate that Nestlé malpractice is a pattern of behaviour coming from its Swiss headquarters and its Chief Executive, Peter Brabeck-Letmathé, and that effective action must be taken to hold the company and Mr. Brabeck to account.
Listen on-line at:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/ram/broadcasts.html#philippines1005 The campaigners speak of:
* Nestlé's refusal to negotiate with the trade union at the Nestlé factory in Cabuyao, Laguna, over their pension rights, despite rulings in the union's favour from the National Labor Relations Commission, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The union called a strike in 2002, which is still on-going. Nestlé has employed a replacement workforce.
* The murder of strike leader Diosdado Fortuna on 22 Septmber 2005 after he spoke on the picket line (see the broadcasts section for a link to the International Federation of Food Workers' website which has more details and includes an email campaign calling for an investigation by the government in the Philippines).
* The Nestlé boycott in Switzerland and the Philippines over Nestlé
aggressive marketing of baby foods and how Nestlé pushes these in the
Philippines.
* The workers' call for a boycott over the abuses of their rights.
* Nestlé new Fairtrade product, Partners' Blend, and Nestlé's failure to
trade fairly in the Philippines.
* The need for international solidarity to expose Nestlé malpractice.
Baby Milk Action works to ensure the voices of people in other countries, particularly developing countries, are heard. Usually we are working on behalf of those who suffer as a result of Nestlé's baby food marketing practices, but as we inevitably come across other examples of Nestlé malpractice we attempt to assist campaigners in presenting their grievances to a wider audience.
In every country Nestlé claims those who campaign against its malpractice are the exception and that in other countries it is seen as ethical and there are no complaints. By sharing experiences we better demonstrate that Nestlé malpractice is a pattern of behaviour coming from its Swiss headquarters and its Chief Executive, Peter Brabeck-Letmathé, and that effective action must be taken to hold the company and Mr. Brabeck to account.
Mike Brady
e-mail:
mikebrady@babymilkaction.org
Homepage:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/