Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05MANILA410, THE EVOLVING ROLE OF LABOR UNIONS AND THEIR

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05MANILA410.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05MANILA410 2005-01-26 08:08 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Manila
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 000410 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL/IL, EAP/PMBS, DRL/CRA, INR/EAP 
LABOR FOR ILAB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2015 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM SOCI PINS ECON RP
SUBJECT: THE EVOLVING ROLE OF LABOR UNIONS AND THEIR 
INFLUENCE ON CURRENT POLITICS 
 
REF: 04 MANILA 5552 
 
Classified By: Joseph L. Novak, Deputy Political Counselor and Labor At 
tache, 
for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  While the Philippines has a good record of 
promoting and protecting worker rights, the labor movement is 
no longer a potent political force.  Union membership is in 
sharp decline, with labor market penetration falling from 
roughly 25 percent of salaried workers in 1986 to 9.7 percent 
in 2004.  The reasons cited for the decline include 
international investment patterns that favor other countries, 
the creation of "special economic zones," and the large 
number of Filipinos employed abroad.  Labor has had little 
success in transforming its membership into voting blocks 
despite endorsement of candidates (notably President Arroyo 
in 2004) or in gaining "party list" seats for labor 
representatives.  One of the most high profile labor groups 
in recent years has been the relatively small but activist 
"KMU," whose strong-arm tactics and defiance of legal orders 
have been controversial (and not particularly effective). 
Mainstream labor leaders are nonetheless optimistic about 
continuing progress in combating child labor, enforcing the 
minimum wage, and promoting observance of occupational safety 
and health regulations.  Mission, working closely with the 
AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center, will continue to deploy labor 
diplomacy tools in order to strengthen the role of the 
mainstream labor movement.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Long Tradition of Labor Activism 
-------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) The Philippines has a long tradition of labor 
activism.  Trade unions came to the fore during the US period 
(1898-1946), with the assistance of the American labor 
movement.  After independence, the passage of the Industrial 
Peace Act in 1953 (which recognized the right to organize, to 
bargain collectively, and to strike) marked the beginning of 
the modern era of Filipino labor unions, which flourished 
until the declaration of martial law in 1972, when the Marcos 
regime banned independent labor activism and strikes.  Unions 
later re-gained the right to operate under then-President 
Marcos' "New Society Movement," but had no genuine 
independence or right to bargain collectively.  Organized 
labor subsequently flourished after the "People Power" events 
of 1986 and elevation of Cory Aquino to the presidency. 
 
3.  (SBU) The Philippines in general has a positive record on 
labor issues.  Since independence, the GRP has passed 
numerous laws and regulations to protect workers' rights and 
conditions.  In the 1970's, the GRP took steps to ensure sick 
leave, overtime pay, and to provide social security benefits. 
 Congress also promulgated a minimum wage law, and there are 
restrictions on working hours.  Labor unions often complain 
that enforcement of these laws and regulations is spotty, 
however.  More recently, the GRP, acting with the support of 
the labor movement, has succeeded in strengthening laws 
against child labor, passing a law in 2003 against 
trafficking in persons, and stepping up TIP-related 
prosecutions in 2004. 
 
----------------- 
A Declining Force 
----------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Currently, however, the labor movement is a 
declining force in the Philippines.  Throughout the country, 
labor federations face declining labor market penetration. 
Members of labor unions now comprise only 9.7 percent of all 
wage and salary workers (i.e., non-agricultural workers, 
etc.), down from a peak of 25 percent of all wage and salary 
workers in 1986.  (Union members currently represent 4.7 
percent of the total labor force of 35.6 million.)  The 
decline in union membership was particularly sharp from 2002 
to 2004, when total membership fell from 3.9 million to 1.7 
million (although at least some of this decline was due to 
new methodology for counting union members, according to 
labor officials).  The labor movement is extremely 
fragmented, with 17,935 registered unions as of 2004 
(slightly down from mid-2003 heights of over 19,000).  In 
addition, the bargaining power of unions has decreased. 
Among registered unions, only about 17 percent have actually 
entered into collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with 
their employers.  This percentage of CBAs has been generally 
diminishing since a peak in the early 1990s. 
 
5.  (SBU) The reasons for the decline are many and complex. 
Most labor leaders blame trade liberalization, noting plant 
closures and layoffs as many companies move production 
elsewhere, especially to China.  They claim that the GRP,s 
efforts to project a more investor-friendly image in response 
to this trend have led to a more restrictive, anti-union 
interpretation of laws and regulations related to organizing. 
 Increasingly serious problems faced by organizers, labor 
leaders charge, include employers who fight the labor union 
recognition process by questioning the validity of supporting 
documents, as well as harassment and dismissal of employees 
who instigate union activities.  Organizers assert that 
employers are able to get away with such tactics for long 
periods because the GRP does not actively work to prevent 
their use. 
 
6.  (SBU) Labor leaders have claimed also that the creation 
of "special economic zones" (SEZ's) have hurt the labor 
movement.  Although labor laws are the same within and 
outside SEZ's, labor officials consider enforcement of these 
laws especially poor within the zones.  Union membership 
within the SEZ's is less than three percent.  Furthermore, 
some local government officials have unilaterally declared 
areas within their jurisdiction as "strike-free" zones or 
"non-union" zones in order to attract investors. 
 
7.  (U) "Contractualization" of work, subcontracting, the 
growth of the informal sector, and the high unemployment rate 
also hamper the organizing of labor unions, according to 
labor leaders.  Worker concerns relate primarily to gaining 
or keeping employment, not on the rights that labor unions 
offer, so much so that at least eight million Filipinos have 
become Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs), usually laboring 
without the benefits of union membership at home or abroad. 
In addition, when they return home, they often are unfamiliar 
with unions and even suspicious of them due to their 
non-union work experiences abroad, according to some 
observers. 
-------------------------------------- 
Not Much Current Influence In Politics 
-------------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C) The 1987 Constitution mandated that 20 percent of 
seats in the House of Representatives would be for 
representatives from "multi-sectoral" organizations (rather 
than representatives from legislative districts), with 
one-half of these seats initially reserved specifically for 
labor, peasants, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, 
women, and youth.  Nowadays, such organizations must garner 
at least 2 percent of the votes cast in the party list 
category to qualify.  In recent elections, the Trade Union 
Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the largest mainstream 
labor umbrella group, attempted to win seats under this 
system, but even it was unsuccessful. 
 
9.  (C) The personality-driven nature of Filipino politics 
limits the political influence of organized labor.  Rather 
than choosing candidates based on their platforms regarding 
labor issues (or other substantive matters), workers tend to 
support candidates on the basis of personal, familial, or 
geographic ties.  Because successful candidates frequently 
reward voters with patronage in the form of contributions for 
weddings, baptisms, and burials, workers often support the 
candidate judged most likely to come out on top and not the 
candidate their union might have endorsed.  Increasingly, 
candidates do not even see labor unions as reliable "vote 
banks," due to the decline in the number of union members and 
the general fragmentation of the movement.  Even though the 
TUCP and the Associated Labor Union (another large mainstream 
umbrella grouping) supported President Arroyo in the 2004 
election, few commentators viewed this endorsement as 
especially important, and it is unclear how many additional 
votes she reaped as a result.  One of President Arroyo's ten 
point agenda, however, was specifically aimed at creation of 
six to ten million jobs by 2010. 
 
------------------- 
A leftist influence 
------------------- 
 
10.  (C) One of the few media stars among Filipino unions is 
the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), or "May First Movement," formed 
in 1980 when nine small unions merged.  No statistics on 
current membership are available.  The KMU presents itself as 
a proponent of &genuine, militant, and nationalist 
unionism,8 while attacking mainstream unions for "selling 
out" to the rich.  According to mainstream labor activists, 
the KMU is closely linked with the Communist Party of the 
Philippines (CPP) and the FTO-listed New People's Army (NPA). 
 Often standing alongside the KMU in its picket lines are 
other CPP/NPA front organizations, including Bayan Muna (a 
left-wing party), Gabriela (a women's group), Migrante (a 
radical NGO), and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas ("Peasant 
Movement of the Philippines").  Leftist groups succeeded in 
expanding their number of party list seats from three to six 
in the May 2004 elections. 
 
11.  (C) The KMU's tactic of choice these days is "the 
people's strike,8 in which it works with other 
CPP/NPA-affiliated groups to maximize political pressure on 
employers to force concessions (often unsuccessfully, 
though).  In pursuing such methods, the KMU has sometimes 
defied legal "return to work" orders; courts have ruled such 
actions illegal.  In recent months, the KMU helped spark the 
confrontation at Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac Province (reftel) 
and to organize a large-scale strike by public transport 
drivers in Manila that stranded hundreds of thousands of 
commuters for part of a day.  Mainstream labor critics of the 
KMU note that its efforts do not result in higher wages or 
better conditions for workers.  Many observers claim instead 
that the KMU's major focus is to extort money from employers, 
funds that it then passes to the CPP/NPA. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
12.  (C) Having achieved most of its basic goals in building 
a legal framework for worker rights in the 20th century, the 
labor movement now faces tough times in remaining politically 
relevant and in attracting (or even retaining) members. 
Mainstream labor leaders nonetheless are optimistic that they 
can continue to make progress in such areas as combating 
child labor, enforcing minimum wage laws, and ensuring 
observation of occupational safety and health regulations. 
Mission, working closely with the AFL-CIO's Solidarity 
Center, will continue to deploy labor diplomacy tools -- 
political and public outreach, involvement in USG-funded 
projects and visitor programs, etc. -- in order to strengthen 
the role of the mainstream labor movement. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
Ricciardone