Philippines and Papua New Guinea tuna workers unite to tackle rights abuses

Tuna workers in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea are organizing joint campaigns to tackle systematic human rights abuses by the world’s largest manufacturers of canned tuna.

Meeting with tuna cannery workers in Madang, Wewak and Lae, the union delegation from General Santos, the tuna capital of the Philippines, shared experiences from their four-year struggle at Citra Mina and building Tuna Workers Solidarity (TWS).

In PNG workers employed at tuna giants such as RD Tuna and South Seas are still struggling to secure their basic right to collective bargaining, while facing systematic human rights abuses, including harassment and discrimination. RD Tuna is owned by the Mayor of General Santos City in the Philippines.

The solidarity visit follows a similar visit to the Philippines in 2016 by members of the IUF-affiliated PNG Maritime & Transport Workers’ Union. TWS and the Citra Mina Workers’ Union are members of the SENTRO Food & Beverage Workers’ Council, an IUF affiliate.