Neri Dimacali: Union and community activism (1984-2004)

by Levy Abad

Neri according to friends

According to Phoebe de Leon, CAW Chair of Local 3000, “Neri Dimacali is a two-term Vice Chair of CAW Local 2169-Boeing.” Phoebe added that Neri is a trade union leader and a community activist who influenced her to become a labour leader. In the mid-90s when Neri led KAMPI or the Filipino Workers Movement-Winnipeg, Phoebe received training in the rights and welfare of Migrants, labour rights, community organizing, and solidarity. (Levy Abad, “Reflecting on Migration and Labour Activism,” Ethnorama News, July 2020).

From Westin Hotel to Boeing

Romeo Tabanera arrived in 1982 and within two months of arrival he was working at the Westin Hotel (now the Fairmont) with Neri Dimacali as his co-worker. Neri was assigned to the banquet hall while working initially in the laundry department before moving to housekeeping. Romy added that Neri would eventually move to Boeing where he would become the Vice-Chair of the union.

Neri and community leadership

The earliest detail of Neri’s community leadership was in 1984 as chairperson of the Philippine Solidarity Group (PSG). The PSG was an organization that helped with solidarity campaigns for the national democratic struggles in the Philippines during the death knell of the Marcos dictatorship, which was overthrown in the 1986 EDSA Revolution. The PSG transformed into KAMPI in 1996 with programs promoting the rights and welfare of migrants, labour solidarity, and supporting the democratic and nationalist struggles in the old country.

Combating racism and discrimination

Under Neri’s leadership, the PSG and KAMPI would involve with numerous programs that combat racism and discrimination. Neri was active with the Workers of Colour Support Network together with Louis Ifill (Coordinator). Neri was also active in the formation of Grassroots Women of Manitoba whose leading organizer was Elisa Buenaventura, a PSG Women’s desk member and program coordinator in 1992. Not many people in Winnipeg know that in 1993 when the PSG was under the leadership of Neri, it assisted in organizing a big Anti-racism Rally in Winnipeg (Levy Abad, Rhythms and Resistance, p. 125).

Countless educational initiatives

Under Neri’s leadership and beyond, countless educational initiatives were launched that covered varied worker and community issues between 1997-2001, including: employment insurance, workers’ compensation, health and safety, occupational health, unions’ role in advocating for workers’ rights, maternity and paternity leaves, injury in the workplace and more. Most of these initiatives were on Neri’s watch (Levy Abad, KAMPI timeline manuscript). This demonstrates Neri’s profound insight on the importance of promoting democracy in the workplace. His education and training prepared him for his community work. According to Susan Rodriguez also, a pioneer community activist, Neri finished his social work course at the University of Manitoba, which she only discovered by accident. Neri is a great listener and only uses his theoretical knowledge to understand and address the community issues that came to the PSG or KAMPI’s desk in 1996.

Always helping people

When I was writing my first book, Rhythms and Resistance, Narrative of Filipino Musicians and Activist of Winnipeg 1972 to 1994, Neri was one of the people who provided substantial information. He pointed me to an activist in the community whom he worked with and also to some trade unionists like Butch Mendiola (USW Local 4297), Leo Alonzo (CAW), Evelyn Sy-Elago (CAW Boeing), Bob Luna (CAW), Mario Tamayo (CAW Local 2005), Phoebe De Leon (CAW Local 3000), Amado Rosales (CAW), and many more who became involved in the labour movement here in Winnipeg and who were once beneficiaries of the PSG and KAMPI’s education programs. On the solidarity front, Neri referred me to Peace Alliance Winnipeg activist Glen Michalchuk and Karen Hamilton of the Manitoba Federation of Labour-Occupational Health Centre.

Compassion for homeland and diaspora

In retrospect, Neri told me that he became an activist in the Philippines during the heat of the dictatorship. He arrived in Winnipeg in the early 80s and continued his activism. He was prompted by his compassion for the motherland and the diaspora, attributed to the semi-feudal and semi-colonial roots of the labour-export policies perpetuated by the dictatorship.

Nowadays, although Neri is retired from Boeing, he often calls his friends to check on them, and true to himself, he always asks how he can be of help in making the world a better place both here and on the home front.

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.