Dear friends

Following the Protest Toyota Campaign Newsletter No.3, we would like to send you he Newsletter No 4, carrying the latest information from Ed Cubelo,the president of TMPCWA and the solidarity message in commemoration of May Day.

On 17 April, as a part of the initiatives of "No to the Koizumi's Reform Program ! No to War ! The Joint Action for Spring 2002", concerted action consisted of part time workers, workers employed by subcontractors, and foreign migrant workers, we organized a porest rally against the Tokyo Headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation. About 200 people participted in the acition.

During this rally, "Joint Action" also made a protest against Isuzu Motor Corporation, a subsidiary of GM, that has been implementing their restructure program. On the same night, "The Joint Action" organized a protest march up to the Diet Building. About 800 people joined the march.

We have been encouraging with each other between Japanese and Filipino workers, such as by exchanging solidarity messages.

We would appreciate you if you could forward the newsletter to other people concerned.

Protest Toyota Campaign :
Support Groups for TMPCWA
Address : 3-6-901 Oppama Higashimachi, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa, Japan E mail : Protest-Toyota@jca.apc.org

Protest Toyota Campaign

Newsletter No.4

April 30, 2002

MAY 1 CELEBRATION MESSAGE of Toyota-Philippines workers

1 May 2002

As the Philippines celebrates centenary of May 1 celebration, the workers of Toyota joins workers worldwide in celebrating this special day for the working class.

Today, we are commemorating the numerous struggles and sacrifices that the working class had unselfishly paid for the emancipation of his brethren. Sacrifices that brought countless victories, that are worth reflecting and renewing our firm resolve for militant class struggle against exploitation of huge capitalists.

Driven by high-end of technology and unbridled finance, the system is destroying the forces of production in all countries. In the industrial capitalist countries, profits are maximized thru continued attack on the workers' rights, wages and social benefits. This is further compounded by mass unemployment. As a result, workers and other exploited classes are launching militant protest actions even in highly industrialized countries such as Japan. Particularly in the case of Japan, its economy is currently experiencing turmoil since Koizumi assumed to power. Even his new multi-million dollar residence is not an assurance to drive away bad spirits$ besetting his administration.

In the Philippines however, together with other backward economies that depends on loaned money and export of raw materials, manufacture of consumer goods for export, compounded by trade deficits and foreign debt, the picture is worst. Centuries of this economic system had brought complete destruction to national industries and unsurpassed profit taking from big-compradors. While it crushes people's lives in unprecedented manner, it is producing violent contradictions among the exploiting class. Predators are now attacking their own kind.

The need for all the workers in the world to unite is urgent more than ever. But this unity must take concrete actions and activities. Cohesive and dynamic relations among workers, be in formal alliances or networks, will be necessary. Militancy among workers in the trade union movement, joined with other militant and progressive organizations and mass movements against the exploiting capitalist is an integral part.

Under proletarian internationalism, we need to continuously fight our common enemy. The Filipino workers particularly the Toyota workers, are one with the Japanese workers in faithfully adhering to this cause.

We support even as we struggle, all the trade unions and workers and organizations in the world, in the historic struggle against all forms of exploitation to all the peoples of the world. Let us continuously strive to travel the road to final victory.

TMPCWA-Update as of April 26, 2002

Legal and Criminal Case

In relation with the criminal cases filed by Toyota management against 25 union members and officers of TMPCWA last September 2001, our struggle continues. By the help of the support group in Japan in raising money for the bail, accused were temporarily release by the Municipal Trial Court. Last April 12, 2002, twenty persons voluntarily appeared in the court with the assistance of one of the associate of Atty. Sarmiento and filed in the court our petition for review to defer arraignment but the management lawyer also filed their opposition to defer arraignment. After the said hearing, we asked the bonding agency about our bail. They assisted us by following it up with the MTC, for the release schedule of 20 persons accused. We received release order for temporary liberty of 20 persons last April 19, 2002. Next hearing will be on June 26, 2002.

The separate cases of 7 person are still pending for resolution. The last hearing was on April 12, 2002. We submitted our counter-rejoinder affidavit for resolution. In several instances during the hearing of the 7 persons, the management lawyer attempted to talk to the union president regarding the union$B!G(Bs labor cases against the company. The management lawyer first attempted to convince us to withdrew our labor cases and in exchange, they will withdrew their criminal cases against us. As we are undaunted, the lawyer changed tactics by convincing us to accept the payment they are offering for the dismissed workers and let the case be resolve in court. Of course this is a way of the management to fool the workers.

The management lawyer also talk to our lawyer (Atty. Ruga) and admitted that the criminal cases against us is a way of the management to weaken our force, and to discourage the workers.

In a related development, television program "True Crime" of channel 2 afternoon edition, aired a video coverage on extortion involving fiscal Quetulio of Paranaque Municipal Trail Court. This is the very fiscal who charged criminal case against our members. After he was caught in the act of extorting money from his victim, using a hidden camera, he was immediately arrested by National Bureau of Investigation. We are planning to inform our membership regarding this matter.

Regarding our two major cases in the Supreme Court, the Assumption of Jurisdiction of the Labor Secretary and the Injunction of the Certification Election. We filed in the Supreme Court last April 22, 2002, a reply to the solicitor general$B!G(Bs comment in support to the Assumption of Jurisdiction by the DOLE. This is the last step before the Supreme Court hand its final decision regarding the 2 labor cases mentioned above.

Union Activities:

Last March 18, 2002, we had a picket-protest in Toyota Santa Rosa branch. Even with 30 policemen and 30 company guards, we continued our program. The program is a whole day activity. Some union members joined in the activity during their break time. After the production, additional members working inside joined the picket-protest. After the program we march and visited the nearby picket line of Nissan workers to support their struggle. Some motorist gave donations (P500.00), we were able to give contributions for transportation or some members.

March 22, 2002. We had a mass delegation to the Supreme Court by filing of our Petition letter to the Chief Justice to hasten the favor of the workers. The 2nd Division of the Supreme Court issued a resolution granting the petition for extension of Toyota management. The management have already filed their comment We are now waiting for the resolution.

On April 14, 2002 at around 12:00 a.m., we painted all the walls in many areas of Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog in Laguna, as part of our anniversary activities. Using pylox (spray paint) we painted different slogan: "Toyota are greedy", "Toyota Criminal" etc. Two days after, these was erased by Toyota management, using white paints. The management thought it was a preparation for another strike because a day after, numerous policemen are seen guarding Toyota plants. On April 15, 2002, during TMPCWA Anniversary ? the members inside the Plant are wearing Red ribbon with message: "Justice for TMPCWA" and asking the workers to support our struggle. There are many policemen outside the plant in Bicutan and Sta. Rosa they thought that we will have a protest action coinciding with our anniversary.

April 19, 2002. We conducted a picket-protest in Japanese Embassy to call their attention and to express the hardship of the workers dismissed by Toyota. About 42 union members attended the rally. Two of the members had their wives and children joined the activity. Police are asking if we have permit. We told them that we will not stay long and we are just asking the help of the embassy. We tried to give them our demand letter and the letter from Support Groups for TMPCWA but the embassy people refused to accept. We left the letters to the guards on duty and to the police. After the embassy, we march to Toyota Manila Bay one of the biggest dealer of Toyota. We made a picket action there and a short program.

April 25, 2002. Picket rally at the Department of Labor. 60 members attended. We also invited workers from one union and about 10 of them were present. We marched from Liwasang Bonifacio, about a kilometer from the Department of Labor building, on busy streets carrying our big banners. We distributed leaflets to motorists and other people on our way. Motorists blow their horns to show their sympathy to us. When we reached the Department of Labor, we bombarded them regarding our labor cases. Radio and T.V. reporters arrived and the T.V. crew interviewed one of us. The interview and part of the program of the rally was shown in the evening cable news (ANC channel of ABS-CBN). A Japanese journalist also went there to cover the rally.

Our May 1 rally will culminate these activities. We will send pictures after May 1. As of now, we are busy preparing for May Day celebration. After May 1, we will concentrate on a comprehensive evaluation, then afterwards planning for actions for the next remaining half year.

It will be a big help to our struggle if other worker's organization will continue sending their solidarity message for TMPCWA, and damning message for Toyota management.

We will let you know of our plan.

Thank you very much.

Ed G. Cubelo