The GRP has stated, in no uncertain terms, that it believes that the KMU is a “front” organization for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), and that the KMU is “an arm of an insurgent movement.” [1] The GRP states that “the KMU has Marxist-Leninist-Maoist orientation similar to those of the CPP/NPA . . . and the NPA counts in its fold members of the KMU.” [2] The GRP goes on to explain that there is a “thin red line” between the KMU and the NPA, calling the KMU and all of its affiliated organizations “fronts” for the NPA.[3]

The GRP, though, does not bother to distinguish legal KMU federations and local unions from individual members of the KMU it alleges are also members of NPA. The NPA has been fighting a protracted insurgency for more than 39 years. Philippine military officials estimate that the NPA has around 7,500 members, and that they have broad support in many communities with many sympathizers.[4] The CPP-NPA is a designated terrorist organization under U.S. law pursuant to the Patriot Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182 et. seq. The sanctions under U.S. law for being designated a terrorist organization are severe.[5]

The KMU, on the other hand, is an unregistered national labor center. It is a recognized, legal entity in the Philippine judicial system with standing to bring claims on behalf of its members.[6] The GRP has recognized the KMU as a trade union center for the past 27 years.[7] The KMU is comprised of eleven legally registered and recognized labor federations, and their affiliated, legally registered local enterprise unions.[8] In total, the KMU represents an estimated 300,000 workers in the Philippines.[9]

When the KMU is named a “front” organization, each of those 300,000 workers become subject to violence, threats and discrimination based on their affiliation with the KMU. They live in a climate of fear. KMU members are at risk of becoming targets for counter-insurgency operations. The AFP are conducting education campaigns labeling the KMU as a “front” organization, and the AFP is pressuring workers not to affiliate with the KMU.[10] Philippine security forces are stationed in several companies where there are labor disputes.

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[1] The New People’s Army is a designated terrorist organization pursuant to the U.S.A. Patriot Act, 8 U.S.C. §1182 et. seq.

[2] See ILO. Committee on the Freedom of Association, Interim Report Case No. 2528: Complaint against the Government of the Philippines presented by the Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center. GB.299/4/1 at ¶1401, June 2007.

[3] Id. at ¶1427

[4] See Human Rights Watch. Scared Silent: Impunity for Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines. June 2007.

[5] See United States Department of State, Fact Sheet. Foreign Terrorist Organizations. October 11, 2005. http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm

[6] See Prof. Randolf David, et. al. vs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, G.R. No. 171396, May 3, 2006 (Supreme Court of the Philippines)(granting the KMU and one of its federations, NAFLU, standing to assert the rights of its members.)

[7] See ILO. Committee on the Freedom of Association, Interim Report Case No. 2528: Complaint against the Government of the Philippines presented by the Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center. GB.299/4/1 at ¶1401, June 2007.

[8] See ILO Digest ¶58.

[9] The Philippine military claims that there are only 7,500 NPA members, not 300,000.

[10] See CTUHR Update