free our unionists

ICE-detained Pinoy union leader should be freed, not deported

June 24, 2025

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) expresses its solidarity with Maximo “Kuya Max” Londonio, a Filipino union leader in the US, and his family, friends and comrades in the labor and migrant movement in calling for his immediate release from detention by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a stop […]

UN SR Khan’s report deserves govt implementation

June 18, 2025

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights welcomes the report to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council that was submitted by Special Rapporteur Irene Khan about her visit to the Philippines from January 23 to February 2, 2024. The report, released this month, rightly captures the Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration’s hypocrisy and inaction […]

Global labor rights report shows Marcos Jr govt’s hypocrisy – Labor NGO

June 4, 2025

The Global Rights Index 2025 of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) highlights the hypocrisy of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr government on workers’ rights. It affirms the continuing dire situation of workers’ rights in the country, contrary to the government’s promises and claims. For the ninth year in a row, the global labor federation’s workers’ […]

Govt assistance for labor rights defenders, bare minimum

May 2, 2025

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights welcomes the Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration’s financial and economic assistance program for labor rights defenders, but emphasizes that this is the bare minimum in upholding workers’ labor and human rights. Yesterday, Labor Day, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) […]

Workers’ rights show no progress under Marcos Jr

May 1, 2025

Today, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) joins Filipino workers and the workers of the world in marking International Labor Day by supporting them in demanding the advancement of workers’ labor and human rights. This year is the third Labor Day under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and workers’ rights […]

Bloody Sunday Calabarzon raids: 4 years, no justice

March 7, 2025

Today, we in the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), mark the fourth year of the notorious Bloody Sunday joint police-military raids in the Calabarzon region in 2021 that resulted in the killing of nine activists and the arrest of six others. We consider the Bloody Sunday raids a grave human rights violation […]

Labor political prisoners should be freed, Marcos Jr told

February 20, 2025

Today, we mark the seventh anniversary of labor activist and political detainee Maoj Maga’s imprisonment with a protest in front of the Justice Department calling for immediate freedom for him, for all the 25 political prisoners from the labor movement, and all political prisoners in the country. Among the political prisoners from the labor movement, […]

Free our Unionists!

December 10, 2024

There are currently 25 activists of the country’s labor movement – unionists, labor leaders, labor organizers – who are in prison.  Almost all of them share the same story: certain alleged witnesses file trumped-up charges against them. On that basis, courts release warrants for their arrest or for a search of their residences. Upon serving […]

Free Romblon 4!

December 9, 2024

On June 2, 2021, Torres and Dioquino, both organizers of KMU, together with Hilamon and  Ramos, local labor organizers, survived the turbulent seas as Typhoon Dante ravaged South Luzon. They found  calm waters in a cove near the island of Sibale, Romblon. In observance of pandemic health protocols, they maintained a 200-meter distance from the […]

Free Bienvenido Ducay!

December 9, 2024

On 18 September 2019, Rolly Hernando, Joel Guillero, Leon Charito, Buenvinido Ducay, Kenneth  Serondo, Carlo Apurado, Reynaldo Saura and Aiza Gamao (members and leaders of NFSW-Teatro  Obrero and of the urban organization Kadamay) were arrested in Barangay Jonob-Jonob, Escalante  City, Negros Occidental. They were part of the public information team going around various cities in  […]