Agilada Julia Erin

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Regent Foods Corporation and their Out-Crowning of Rights from their Workers
Dethroning of Human rights and workers' rights

November 9, 2019 - Regent Food Corp workers protested in front of the company’s
main facility in Pasig. The protest escalated when the workers got into a fight with
security personnel and law enforcement officials. This resulted in 23 of their members
being arrested.

According to the Eastern Police District, Regent Foods Workers Union has been
voicing out their worries about unfair labor practices and Union busting. Over 50
members have been on strike for two weeks. They demand the regularization of
contractual workers and pay raises.

Col. Moises Villaceran Jr., the head of the Pasig City Police Station, spoke with the
union officials to make possible amends with the protesters but still ended up in violent
dispersal as soon as they claim the strikers threw stones and other items at security
personnel. Members of the City Disturbance Management weren’t also safe from the
protester’s wrath.

A statement from Regent Foods Corporation claims that the strikers blatantly attacked
the security enforcers for using sharp weapons and other tools. They claim that one of
the security agents was injured and one of them in critical condition as of the last update
on November 19, 2019.

Police officers successfully dispersed the group and arrested 23 strikers. They were
then detained at the Pasig City Police Station.
Rep. Ferdinand Gaite of Bayan Muna spoke up against the violent dispersal, there were
reports of injured Regent food workers. In a separate statement, Gaite added in Filipino,
that They vehemently condemn the violent dispersal against the workers who did
nothing but wish for regularization, respectable pay, and benefits.

Mayor Vico Sotto also spoke up against the violent dispersal, on the 17th of November
2019. He pleads to Regent Food Corporation to rethink their charges against the
workers. He believes they are the workers are not criminals, they do not have any goals
of hurting people, and they are only fighting for what they believe is just.

Sotto said he will do everything in his power to free the protesters from jail. He believes
Regent Food Corp has sued the people who lost their main source of income and were
torn away from their families. He also believes that the said dispersal was illegal,
violent, and overkill for he saw videos of security forces kicking protesters on the
ground.

Sotto adds that there would not have been a strike if there were proper negotiations
between the corp and its workers. He firmly comments to follow the law and respect the
rights of your workers towards Regent Food Corp.

With that in mind I personally second. Workers only desire to have decent working
conditions and privileges. Workers are the reason why the company stands and
functions well. They are the backbone of the company, not just the Heads, the Boards,
and company officials. Employees are the reason why a company stands. All
companies must remember to respect the rights and welfare of their workers and not
just how they could expand their business and earn more.

Joseph Stiglitz, a New Keynesian economist, a public policy analyst, and a professor at
Columbia University once said that worker's rights should be a central focus of
development Interview in the Progressive Magazine.
I suggest a yearly assembly of all food corporations to have an orientation to worker’s
rights and human rights is one of the best solutions I could think of. After all, workers
have their orientations of what it means to be their “ant workers” then I only think it is
also as fair to have these massive corporations to what it means to be in their positions
and what it means to be a human as well. After all, workers' rights and Human rights are
one of the most basic rules any company could follow yet one of the most overlooked
just because it doesn't give them enough profit.

Failure to comply with such assemblies and in accordance with the worker's rights must
face massive consequences by the law and from the community by boycotting the
companies who do not respect their workers.

The matter of give and take of respect must happen between parties of workers and
corporations.

JuliaJournalism.com | FB: エリン アギラダ

 References

Marquez, C. (2019a, November 10). 23 strikers arrested after dispersal at food

plant in Pasig | Inquirer News. INQUIRER.net.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1187926/23-strikers-arrested-after-dispersal-a
t-food-plant-in-pasig

ABS-CBN News. (2019b, November 19). Mga nagprotestang empleyado

magkakaso rin vs Regent | TV Patrol [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ9fghU0V5Q

Luna, F. (2019b, November 17). Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto urges food company to
drop charges vs striking workers. Philstar.com.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/11/17/1969519/pasig-mayor-vico-sott
o-urges-food-company-drop-charges-vs-striking-workers

Rappler. (2019b, November 19). Regent Foods: We won’t be cowed by Vico’s

‘threats’ RAPPLER.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/245274-regent-foods-corporation-statemen
t-vico-sotto-appeal/

Komisar, L. (2014, July 11). Interview with Joseph Stiglitz. Progressive.org.

https://progressive.org/magazine/interview-joseph-stiglitz/