Red-Tagging Puts Labor Leaders at Risk

Hello friends, it’s Kevin “The Defender” De Guzman, here to unpack a serious threat affecting our labor leaders: red-tagging. This alarming practice labels union organizers as communist insurgents, risking their lives and undermining workers’ rights to organize. It’s more than just rhetoric; it’s a form of harassment that stifles those advocating for fair wages and safe working conditions.

Understanding Red-Tagging and Its Impact on Labor

Red-tagging involves accusing individuals of being affiliated with the New People’s Army (NPA) or communist groups, often by police, military, or local officials. In Southern Tagalog’s industrial areas, leaders like Mario Fernandez of the Technol Eight Philippines Workers’ Union experienced armed visits during collective bargaining in 2022. Soldiers appeared at homes, intimidating families and urging them to abandon unions such as Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). The result? Leaders are forced into hiding, unions lose members, and morale plummets.

Human Rights Watch has documented over a dozen cases, with KMU reporting 72 unionists killed since 2016. Despite a 2024 Supreme Court ruling declaring it a threat to life and liberty, red-tagging continues, chilling freedom of association for labor activists and beyond, as highlighted in the World Report 2026.

Know Your Rights: Countering Red-Tagging

Document Everything: Record visits, names, and threats. File complaints with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), following the example of Oliver Muya after armed men visited his home.
Seek Solidarity: Connect with groups like the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights. International allies, including the CWA, condemn this as a “death sentence” under previous regimes.
Demand Accountability: Call for the dissolution of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the key player in red-tagging since Duterte’s presidency. President Marcos Jr. must enforce ILO standards and put an end to this practice.

Red-tagging is not just anti-labor; it’s anti-justice. It violates constitutional rights to organize under Article XIII and international agreements like ILO Convention 87. Workers in call centers with BIEN also face raids and surveillance. Companies, it’s time to speak out! Workers, stay strong, and report incidents to DOLE or CHR hotlines. Together, we can reclaim our power. Know your rights, stand firm, and let’s pursue this critical fight for justice.

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