By Emmy Buccat
The Canadian Union Public Employees (CUPE) National recently invited Filipino labour activist Rosalinda (Rose) Nartates to speak at the recent CUPE Conventions happening across the country. Nartates, Secretary-General of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) spoke about the struggles and challenges faced by the labour movement in the Philippines.
COURAGE is the biggest union in the Philippines with around 300,000 members and 254 affiliated local unions comprising of workers from government agencies, judiciary, legislature and state-owned corporations.
“We are thankful of the support they are giving us. With the international solidarity, we gain strength as we continue to defend the rights and welfare of our union members especially those who are politically detained and killed during the present Philippine administrator.” Nartates shared.
In her keynote speech at Migrante B.C.’s ecumenical service in memory of Flor Contemplacion’s 20th death anniversary, Nartates is appreciative of the support that they received from the Canadian organization.
CUPE has been building worker-to-worker solidarity projects with other union groups around the world through their Global Justice Fund.
Two COURAGE organizers, Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano were abducted in December 2012 and currently detained in Bicol for alleged trumped-up criminal charges after organizing the mass protest of the street sweeper group against the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
“We intend to attain justice for all the political prisoners, for all those abducted organized workers, for all who were killed. With the international support, we have a louder voice to be heard so that the Philippine justice system act and move in a faster pace.” Nartates said.
Nartates spoke to the members of CUPE 4600 in Ottawa and at the recent division conventions of CUPE Saskatchewan and CUPE Alberta as well as reach out to the migrant workers in British Columbia through Migrante B.C., a Filipino migrant worker advocacy group in Vancouver.
