“Defend Human Rights in the Philippines: A Worker-to-Worker Solidarity Exchange”

A10-person CUPE delegation will be visiting the Philippines as part of a CUPE Global Justice Fund project entitled, “Defend Human Rights in the Philippines: A Worker-to-Worker Solidarity Exchange”, from January 2-17, 2010. Members of CUPE Local 2079, 3393, 4600 and their community partner the Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (OCHRP) will be hosted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE).

The purpose of this tour is to build relationships of solidarity between workers in Canada and the Philippines. This is the second phase of a 2 phase project. During the first phase in May 2009, CUPE and community partners across the country hosted a visit by two members from the Philippine labour movement. During this second phase, the Canadian delegation will travel to the Philippines to be exposed directly to the struggle of public sector workers and their families against privatization, political repression, killings and abductions in the Philippines. They will share the current conditions of Canadian public sector workers and their current campaigns against P3’s and the privatization of our vital services.

This blog is an account of our experience.