Filipino workers: Racism and resistance!

by Levy Abad

	Raul Bautista

In the September 14, 1986, issue of the Winnipeg Sun, it was reported that a group of about 35 Filipino workers gathered in front of the Winnipeg Free Press to protest an alleged racist slur. The group was led by its spokesman Raul Bautista, a union agent of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union Local 459. This story was told to me by Danny Ferrer, a CAW member who was present at the protest. He added that it was probably the first of the organized protests against racism at a time when the Filipinos numbered only 20,000 in Winnipeg compared to today when the community is a hundred thousand strong.

While racism can be encountered daily on an individual basis and can be addressed immediately due to individual awareness, from time to time, it rears its ugly head. Fortunately, those who protested were some members of unions like CAW and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union Local 459 who were aware of their rights and understood the power of organized protest. In the same article by Rene Mauthe, a Sun staff writer, it states, and I quote, “Filipinos, Chinese and Vietnamese community officials want to meet with Attorney General Roland Penner to discuss a joint response to a report linking those groups to organized crime.” (Winnipeg Sun, September 14, 1986)

1993 – Spring of resistance

The Winnipeg Free Press’ May 9, 1993, issue had its headline “Angry Filipinos rally,” which turned out to be the biggest anti-racism mobilization led by the Filipino community where around 1500 gathered at the Superstore. Winnipeg was surprised by the magnitude of the mobilization. Most of the leading personalities at the rally were workers and members of unions like Garment Workers, and Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), to name a few. In my blog titled “1993, Spring of Resistance – The Struggle Against Racism,” published by Ang Peryodiko(February 1, 2016), it was mentioned that “a big campaign against racism and discrimination happened, which was spearheaded by the Filipino community” (Carol Sanders, “Rallying Cry: Shoplifting accusation galvanized Winnipeg’s Filipino community to rise against racism,” Winnipeg Free Press, March 3, 2012). In the same article, Pilipino Express editor Emmie Joaquin explained that the rally stemmed from a statement made by a grocery store clerk accusing Filipinos of being thieves.

It is interesting to note that back in the early 90s, most of the community leaders and participants who were involved in the campaign were Filipino workers and activists. In the 90s, there was an organization called the Philippine Solidarity Group (PSG) coordinated by Neri Dimacali with council members Conrado “Popoy” Gomez – Chair of Filipino Coalition for Human Rights (FILCOHR), Danny Gomez, and Felino De Jesus who were present in the campaign. Other organizations like the Pilipino Association of Manitoba (PAM) and the Council of Filipino Organizations of Manitoba headed by Fred De Villa were also involved.

Stopping racism in the workplace

On March 21, 2000, to commemorate International Anti-racism Day, an urgent demonstration was launched with a campaign slogan, “Stop Racism at Seven Oaks Hospital!” It was sponsored by the Workers of Caucus (Manitoba Federation of Labour) led by its pioneer coordinator Louis Ifill.

This event was fully endorsed by the Kilusan ng Manggagawang Pilipino or KAMPI (Filipino Workers Movement). KAMPI was an organization that evolved from the Philippine Support Group or PSG that was formed in response to the Marcos dictatorship between 1972 and 1986. KAMPI came into being when the Marcos regime was overthrown at the EDSA uprising. One of the programs of KAMPI was to help unions organize workers. It was also involved in campaigns focused on the rights and welfare of workers from 1996 up until 2004. Some of the members of KAMPI were members of mainstream unions like the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), CAW, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Garment Workers, and many more.

Hence, since its beginning in 1986, the struggle against racism and discrimination continues. However, it is important to recognize that the years 1986, 1993, and 2001 were periods when the community composed mainly of workers in industries got involved in major organized pushbacks against racism and discrimination. Such actions kept democracy alive in a city that is home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and where the spirit of the 1919 General Strike is still burning. The Filipino community, which the city has blessed with opportunities, also gave back by asserting human rights through the years.

Levy Abad authored a book titled Rhythms and Resistance: Narrative of Filipino Musicians and Activists (1972-1994). Levy is also a singer-songwriter, poet, and migrant rights activist who has released four albums centred on the life and struggles of migrants.