MILESTONES
The Cebu waterfront was heavily influenced and dominated by the infamous cabo system. The “cabo” was a bogus labor leader who recruited, managed, and supplied workers to cargo handling service providers for a fee without contributing his own labor. They collected wages and often paid workers less than what was received, making unions and labor leaders, then, synonymous to labor exploitation and racketeering. The “cabo” loomed huge in the waterfront, and all attempts to change or destroy the system failed miserably.
In reaction to this injustice, five men openly advocated for the cause of workers: Atty. Januario T. Seno, Atty. Democrito T. Mendoza, Atty. Cecilio T. Seno, Candido Vasquez, and Arsenio Villanueva. Imbued with the missionary zeal and devotion to champion the cause of the workers, they put their idealism to the realities at hand, making the decision to go into unionism and laying out the sound foundation for the establishment of the Associated Labor Unions.
L-R: Atty. Cecilio T. Seno, Atty. Democrito T. Mendoza, Atty. Januario T. Seno
ALU Building, 1957
ALU Building, 1961
On 17 April 1954, with 32 founding members, the Associated Labor Unions or ALU was established in Cebu City. It was registered as a labor organization through the Department of Labor Certificate of Registration No. 783-IP dated 2 July 1954.
As history has it, ALU was founded by practicing lawyers Januario T. Seno, Democrito T. Mendoza, and Cecilio T. Seno. Atty. Democrito T. Mendoza and Atty. Cecilio T. Seno were elected President and Executive Vice President, respectively, of ALU in June 1956.
In 1967, the ALU extended its services by setting up a regional office in Luzon. The following years saw continued expansion, with new regional offices established in Northern Mindanao in 1968 and Southern Mindanao in 1969.
Today, ALU stands strong with membership across the nation, gaining victories by giving workers dignity, securing a place at the table with employers and the government, and providing them hope for the future.
The Associated Labor Unions is at the forefront of empowering workers and their families in their struggle for just and humane conditions of work to improve the quality of their lives along with contributing to the attainment of social justice and sustainable development in an atmosphere of democracy, solidarity, and faith in God.
CORE VALUES
We take to heart our organizational vision, mission, and objectives as well as our individual duties and responsibilities. We put them at the service of our members and their families, workers in general, and our country.
We accept different but related areas of responsibilities and competencies. We demonstrate individual initiative, professionalism, and activism. On the other hand, we provide mutual support for development and productivity. We are in pursuit of complete, timely, quality, relevant, and honest work.
We exist as a sovereign entity. In freedom, we critically work and negotiate with social partners to protect the rights of workers and unions.
We uphold the highest standard of conduct. We adhere to truth, value life, practice non-violence, and keep moral uprightness in our relationships, responsibilities and organizational structures, policies, processes, decisions, and practices.
We recognize equality in human dignity and rights. We respect people regardless of their race, nationality, color, ethnicity, sex and orientation, civil status, religion or belief, age, disability, or political persuasion. We are committed to eliminating discrimination.
We respect the integrity of the earth. We live our lives and conduct our union operations, mindful of protecting the environment, maintaining harmonious relations of people and nature, and promoting inter-generational equity.
The general membership is our supreme body. We see to it that our members participate in decision-making processes, including selection of leaders by genuine election. We accept diversity and tolerate differences of opinions and health dissent.
We are united in serving workers and their families, our unions, the country, and God. We work as a team, with each member having a role to play, duty to share talents, and contribute outputs. We fairly share the burdens and gains in union struggle. We work to strengthen internal, national, and international solidarity.
Almighty Father,
Always guide and give us all
The strength and courage
To accept and perform
Our duties and responsibilities
In accordance with Thy holy will.
Lord God,
Let us face its hardships
With courage and dignity
To endure the life
We are fighting for
And love the fruit of our labor
That is success.
Unify us
In all our dreams and actions
Until all our aspirations
And ambitions will unfold
Right in our eyes.
This we ask
In the name of your Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
