“Our collective strength will be more effective in pushing legislators and government agencies to take action,” opened Bro. Gerard Seno, National Vice President of the BWI affiliate Associated labor Unions (ALU).

Some 30 trade unionists representing 18 national centers/unions, federations, Global Union Federation (GUF) affiliates and local unions convened on 5 March 2009 in Quezon City, Manila, discussed the formation of a Philippine trade union network and developed a trade union advocacy agenda on asbestos ban.

To advance the ban asbestos campaign, the trade unions adopted the following pillars:

Passage of a Law - Push for the bills pending in Congress and ensure that provisions based on international standards and instruments are integrated

Formation of a Trade Union Network - Harness the individual and collective strengths of the unions to broaden support to the campaign and bring pressure from inside and outside the Philippines with the help of GUF affiliates

Engagement with Government Agencies – Work with government agencies to expand their asbestos policy protection mandates, improve compliance with their mandates and adopt a national program on the elimination of asbestos-related diseases

Monitoring Workers Exposed to Asbestos – Urge the creation of a central registry and medical surveillance of workers with exposures to asbestos

Public/Information Campaign - Educate legislators, government agencies, workers and unions, and the public and push them to take action on the issue

The network’s advocacy agenda were formulated based on these pillars. The trade unionists put their commitments in a Joint Communiqué signed by most participants. They agreed to participate in the activities and monitor developments of the campaign through a Technical Working Group (TWG) and periodic strategy meetings.

BWI, ALU and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) gathered different trade unions regardless of their affiliation for this forum. The forum started an intensified ban asbestos campaign in the Philippines.