This was according to the Alliance of Yokohama Employees (AYE) and the Alliance of Yokohama Supervisors (AYS) who also said they are now worried on the “threats and intimidation” they are receiving from the Yokohama management led by Filipinos.
Over-the-weekend, AYE president Roel Padilla and AYS president Nelson Torres identified the Yokohama Pinoy managers as Juanito Arona, vice president for plant operations; Angelina Casasola, vice president for administration division; Egelberto Dolo, human resources manager; Marilou Peniano, corporate planning and development manager; and Cynthia Valencia, production planning and control department manager.
Padilla and Torres likened the Filipino Yokohama managers as modern day “makapilis” or Japanese spies during the Japanese occupation in 1944 who gave military aid to the Imperial Japanese Army by engaging in counter guerilla activities and committing atrocities against the Filipino guerillas.
As described in Philippine history, the makapili, with his head and face hidden inside a bayong (a native bag) with two holes cut out for his eyes, was feared by Filipinos who dreaded being picked out as guerillas fighting the Japanese.
According to the two labor unions, the company is selectively issuing memos and job transfers to known union members that raised anxiety and tension.
Padilla said despite the aggressive action by management, the AYE and AYS always sought legal remedies to resolve their conflicts. One of which is setting a dialogue between management and union officers, and filing cases in the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, a division of the Department of Labor and Employment.
Torres said union officers and members now feel the intense pressure by the management as security policies were intensified and additional CCTV cameras were also installed in the workplace.
The union officers complained that even their personal computers are bugged.
The union officers said Japanese executives of the company seemed not aware of their plight because the said Filipino managers blocked their attempt to communicate with them.
YTPI president and CEO Yasuhiro Kurokawa was upbeat when asked about the plight of Yokohama workers and their unions during the Christmas party the company hosted for the local media on December 6.
Meanwhile, Noel G. Tulabut, Clark Development Corp. communications department manager said, “we hope it will be settled soon where parties concerned keep lines open and come up with win-win solution.”
