Union Obrera Democratica Filipina
Encyclopedia
Union Obrera Democratica (Spanish language
, but without Spanish diacritics, meaning 'Democratic Workers Union') was a trade union
centre in the Philippines
. The organization was the first modern trade union federation in the country, earlier labour groups had been more of mutual aid
societies and guilds. The organization had thirty-three affiliated trade unions as of 1902. In 1903 the organization counted with 150 affiliated unions, and around 20,000 members in the Manila
area. At its peak, the Union Obrera Democratica had around 150,000 members in eight provinces of Luzon
.
, Manila. Isabelo de los Reyes
, or Don Belong, was elected president of the organization, whilst Hermenegildo Cruz was elected secretary. Except for Cruz, all the elected founding officers were "rich manufacturers and employers in Manila." The founding congress adopted the principles of two books, Vida e Obras de Carlos Marx by Friedrich Engels
and Los Campesinos by Errico Malatesta
, as the political foundation of the movement.
According to historian Melinda Tria Kerkvliet, the main goals of the organization were: "to improve working conditions through protective labor legislation; locate work for the unemployed and assist their families; provide free education for workers' children; assist sick members and those in distress; and emancipate workers through saving and related projects."
on August 2, 1902, in protest of the refusal of the government to comply with the demands for increased wages for the workers. The first strike action occurred on August 9, 1902, as workers at the Malabon Commercial Tobacco Factory staged a went on strike. The Union Obrera Democratica organized various walk-outs in factories in Manila
and adjescent cities in support of the strike. The state authorities responded by arresting Don Belong and three other union leaders. Don Belong was sentenced to four months in jail. As a result of the strike, wages were increased in some factories. Working hours were, however, unaffected.
between the Union Obrera Democratica Filipina leaders (including Gomez) and governor William H. Taft, in which the trade unionists demanded that May 1 be celebrated as 'Labor Day
'. No agreement was reached, as Taft and Gomez clashed verbally. Following this meeting, Gomez was labelled as a 'subversive' element. Requests from the Union Obrera Democratica Filipina to organize a rally on May 1 was denied by the authorities.
In the end, UODF organized a massive anti-imperialist rally with around 100,000 participants outside the Malacañang Palace. This was the first May Day celebration in the Philippines.
organizers to the country, trying to promote a less confronational type of unionism (leading to the foundation of the Union del Trabajo de Filipinas
).
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, but without Spanish diacritics, meaning 'Democratic Workers Union') was a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
centre in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The organization was the first modern trade union federation in the country, earlier labour groups had been more of mutual aid
Mutual aid
Mutual aid may refer to:*Mutual aid , a tenet of organization theories.*Mutual aid , an agreement between emergency responders.*Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution, a biology book by anarchist Peter Kropotkin...
societies and guilds. The organization had thirty-three affiliated trade unions as of 1902. In 1903 the organization counted with 150 affiliated unions, and around 20,000 members in the Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
area. At its peak, the Union Obrera Democratica had around 150,000 members in eight provinces of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
.
Founding
The organization was established on February 2, 1902 at a congress of "approximately 140 printers and lithographers" gathered at Variedades Theater in SampalocSampaloc
Sampaloc is the Filipino term for tamarind and the name of certain locations in the Philippines.*Sampaloc, Manila*Sampaloc, Quezon...
, Manila. Isabelo de los Reyes
Isabelo de los Reyes
Isabelo Florentino De Los Reyes, Sr., also known as Don Belong , was a prominent Filipino politician, writer and labor activist in the 19th and 20th centuries. He was the founder of the Aglipayan Church, an independent Philippine national church...
, or Don Belong, was elected president of the organization, whilst Hermenegildo Cruz was elected secretary. Except for Cruz, all the elected founding officers were "rich manufacturers and employers in Manila." The founding congress adopted the principles of two books, Vida e Obras de Carlos Marx by Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels was a German industrialist, social scientist, author, political theorist, philosopher, and father of Marxist theory, alongside Karl Marx. In 1845 he published The Condition of the Working Class in England, based on personal observations and research...
and Los Campesinos by Errico Malatesta
Errico Malatesta
Errico Malatesta was an Italian anarcho-communist. He was an insurrectionary anarchist early in his life. He spent much of his life exiled from his homeland of Italy and in total spent more than ten years in prison. He wrote and edited a number of radical newspapers and was also a friend of...
, as the political foundation of the movement.
According to historian Melinda Tria Kerkvliet, the main goals of the organization were: "to improve working conditions through protective labor legislation; locate work for the unemployed and assist their families; provide free education for workers' children; assist sick members and those in distress; and emancipate workers through saving and related projects."
July 4, 1902
UOD organized a mass rally on July 4 (the Independence Day of the United States), 1902, with around 50,000 participants. The rally demanded independence for the Philippines.August 1902 strike
The organization called for a national general strikeGeneral strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
on August 2, 1902, in protest of the refusal of the government to comply with the demands for increased wages for the workers. The first strike action occurred on August 9, 1902, as workers at the Malabon Commercial Tobacco Factory staged a went on strike. The Union Obrera Democratica organized various walk-outs in factories in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and adjescent cities in support of the strike. The state authorities responded by arresting Don Belong and three other union leaders. Don Belong was sentenced to four months in jail. As a result of the strike, wages were increased in some factories. Working hours were, however, unaffected.
Gomez at the helm
Don Belong was pardoned soon after being jailed, on condition that he would not continue as a labour organizer. Cruz assembled a meeting to elected a new president of the organization. The Spanish physician Dr. Dominador Gomez as elected as the new president of Union Obrera Democratica. After the election of Gomez, the name of the organization was changed to Union Obrera Democratica Filipina ('Filipino Democratic Workers Union').May Day 1903
In April 1903 a meeting was held in the Malacañang PalaceMalacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
between the Union Obrera Democratica Filipina leaders (including Gomez) and governor William H. Taft, in which the trade unionists demanded that May 1 be celebrated as 'Labor Day
International Workers' Day
International Workers' Day is a celebration of the international labour movement and left-wing movements. It commonly sees organized street demonstrations and marches by working people and their labour unions throughout most of the world. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries...
'. No agreement was reached, as Taft and Gomez clashed verbally. Following this meeting, Gomez was labelled as a 'subversive' element. Requests from the Union Obrera Democratica Filipina to organize a rally on May 1 was denied by the authorities.
In the end, UODF organized a massive anti-imperialist rally with around 100,000 participants outside the Malacañang Palace. This was the first May Day celebration in the Philippines.
Disintegration
Gomez was subsequently arrested and condemned to forced labour. Like Don Belong, he was acquitted on the condition that he left UODF. Following Gomez's defection, unions began disaffiliating from UODF. After only two years of existence, the organization collapsed. Moreover, the U.S. administration began bringing American Federation of LaborAmerican Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
organizers to the country, trying to promote a less confronational type of unionism (leading to the foundation of the Union del Trabajo de Filipinas
Union del Trabajo de Filipinas
Union del Trabajo de Filipinas was a trade union confederation in the Philippines. It was formed, with support of the U.S. administration of William H. Taft, as a substitute for the defunct Union Obrera Democratica Filipina. UTF was modelled after the American Federation of Labor, and represented a...
).