Friends of Free Workers

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Friends of Free Workers The Friends of Free Workers is a group of individuals committed to support the cause of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and the workers! Fr.

History

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) was founded on 19 June 1950 by a group of young, idealistic, sincere and dedicated labor leaders led by Juan C. Tan, who were inspired by the Christian teachings of Rev. Walter B Hogan, S.J. (†), thus becoming the first labor federation which appeals to and draws its inspirations from the social doctrines and principles of Christianity. Leading to the emergence of FFW, two types of unionism dominated the Philippine labor movement. These were the corporate type and transmission-belt type of unionism. Unionism was then in bondage. Furthermore, labor relations then was characterized by compulsory arbitration rather than by free collective bargaining. Under these circumstances, an alternative labor organization was born: the Federation of Free Workers. It was founded in response to the growing oppression and marginalization of labor and exploitative social structures and arrangements. It counteracted pseudo-labor leaders and opportunists, racketeers, communists, oppressive employers and even by the government.

•Federation of Free Workers was founded in response to the growing oppression and marginalization of labor and exploitative social structures and arrangements. It counteracted pseudo-labor leaders and opportunists, racketeers, communists, oppressive employers and even by the government.
•FFW is to help workers form trade unions in their respective companies to be able to fight for the rights and privileges of the workers in the workplace.

BALIK-TANAW: HINDI PA ABOGADO, MAY MGA KASAMA NANG MAGALING SA BATAS! Noong unang taon ko sa MSU-College of Law sa Maraw...
14/10/2026

BALIK-TANAW: HINDI PA ABOGADO, MAY MGA KASAMA NANG MAGALING SA BATAS!

Noong unang taon ko sa MSU-College of Law sa Marawi, hindi lang mga propesor ang pinagkukunan ko ng aral. May mga “lektura” rin sa piling ng mga manggagawa sa Iligan at magsasaka sa Lala at Kapatagan!

Mahusay sa batas ang mga nakasama ko sa Federation of Free Workers (FFW) at Federation of Free Farmers (FFF). Kaya lalo akong nagsipag—mahirap namang ako ang law student, tapos ako ang hindi makasagot!

Sa silid-aralan, binabasa namin ang batas. Sa pabrika at bukid, nakikilala ko ang mga taong dapat nitong paglingkuran.

Hindi pa abogado, kasama na sa pakikibaka!
— Atty. Sonny Matula

The FFW Constitutional Convention kicks off today in Baguio City—where the air is cool, the debates are warm, and worker...
09/10/2026

The FFW Constitutional Convention kicks off today in Baguio City—where the air is cool, the debates are warm, and workers’ rights remain a burning priority!

Buong pagmamahal at pasasalamat nating ginugunita si Fr. Romeo “Archie” Intengan, SJ, na isinilang noong Oktubre 18, 194...
09/10/2026

Buong pagmamahal at pasasalamat nating ginugunita si Fr. Romeo “Archie” Intengan, SJ, na isinilang noong Oktubre 18, 1942, at pumanaw noong Oktubre 10, 2017.

Isa siyang minamahal na pari, pangalawang ama, kasama, kaibigan, doktor, at makabayan—isang taong isinabuhay ang pananampalataya sa pamamagitan ng paglilingkod, pakikiisa, at habambuhay na malasakit sa kapwa.

Para sa mga Sosyal Demokrata, si Fr. Archie ay isa sa mga tagapagtatag ng Partido Demokratiko-Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP), isang teorista ng ideolohiya nito, at pinagkakatiwalaang g**o at gabay. Nagsilbi rin siyang kapelyan ng Federation of Free Workers (FFW) noong una at ikalawang termino ko bilang pangulo.

Matagal nang nakaugat sa kilusang paggawa ang kanyang paglilingkod. Bilang batang aktibista sa UP College of Medicine at kalaunan bilang seminarista sa Ateneo, nagsilbi siyang opisyal sa edukasyon at organisador ng FFW. Tinulungan niya ang mga manggagawang maunawaan ang kanilang mga karapatan at palakasin ang kanilang sama-samang pagkilos.

Naaalala ko noong Oktubre 2017, ilang araw bago ang kaarawan ni Johnny Tan, inimbitahan ko si Fr. Archie na mamuno sa pagdiriwang ng Misa sa punong tanggapan ng FFW. Tumanggi siya at sinabing mayroon siyang appointment sa Oktubre 10.

Oo nga, may appointment pala siya—ang umuwi sa piling ng Panginoon. Hindi ko akalaing ang paanyayang iyon ay magiging pamamaalam, at ang kanyang simpleng mga salita ay magiging alaalang mananatili sa aking puso.

Pinararangalan natin ang kanyang alaala sa pagpapatuloy ng gawaing pinag-alayan niya ng buhay: pananampalatayang naglilingkod, pagkakaisang kumikilos, at paninindigan para sa katarungang hindi nagmamaliw.

— Atty. Sonny Matula

Workers’ Party in 2028!Manggagawa, huwag matakot sa kapangyarihan—humawak ng kapangyarihan!— Atty. Sonny Matula, FFW Pre...
06/10/2026

Workers’ Party in 2028!

Manggagawa, huwag matakot sa kapangyarihan—humawak ng kapangyarihan!
— Atty. Sonny Matula, FFW President and WPP General counsel.

Kung manggagawa ang nagpapatakbo ng ekonomiya, kaya rin niyang makibahagi sa pagpapatakbo ng bansa! Hindi puwedeng tayo lagi ang tagaayos ng mga upuan, pero walang sariling upuan sa mesa ng pagpapasya.

Kasama ni Atty. Matula sa WPP NCR Meeting sa Gerry’s Grill, Quezon City sina Dr. Oscar Morado, WPP President; Atty. Allan Montaño, WPP Secretary General and FFW International Secretary; Atty. General Du, WPP Senior Vice President and NFL President ; Sis Angel Dio Bonuel, WPP-NCR Vice President; at Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando.

WPP, maglulunsad hindi lamang ng mga kandidato sa pagka-senador at lokal na posisyon, kundi pati ng kandidato sa pagka-bise presidente sa 2028.

Sa Gerry’s, hindi lang sisig ang dapat uminit—pati ang pagkakaisa at pagkilos ng manggagawa!

“Kailangang linangin ang pusong nakikinig, matang nagbibigay ng lakas ng loob, at isip na marunong kumilatis.”
05/10/2026

“Kailangang linangin ang pusong nakikinig, matang nagbibigay ng lakas ng loob, at isip na marunong kumilatis.”

05/10/2026
Sahod itaas, singil sa kuryente ibaba, at boses ng manggagawa palakasin!Nagtipon ang mga kinatawan ng mga unyon mula Ceb...
03/10/2026

Sahod itaas, singil sa kuryente ibaba, at boses ng manggagawa palakasin!

Nagtipon ang mga kinatawan ng mga unyon mula Cebu at Bacolod sa Cebu City para sa Taunang Summit Pampolitika ng NAGKAISA. Tinalakay ni FFW President Sonny Matula ang usapin ng sahod at ang petisyon ng NAGKAISA sa Korte Suprema; ni SENTRO Secretary General Josua Mata ang kalayaang mag-organisa at ang inisyatiba para sa kapayapaan sa BARMM; at ni PM Deputy Secretary General Wilson Fortaleza ang sektor ng enerhiya at mga paraan upang mapababa ang singil sa kuryente sa bansa.

Simple ang hangad ng manggagawa: sahod na sapat, karapatang iginagalang, kapayapaang pangmatagalan, at bill sa kuryenteng hindi mas nakakakuryente kaysa sa mismong kawad!

Labor Economics 101
29/09/2026

Labor Economics 101

Workers, too, are under the care of guardian angels. Catholic teaching says human life is surrounded by angels’ care and...
29/09/2026

Workers, too, are under the care of guardian angels. Catholic teaching says human life is surrounded by angels’ care and intercession (Catechism, paragraph 336). That includes our daily working lives.

Labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said the adjustment highlighted what it called persistent regional and prov...
28/09/2026

Labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said the adjustment highlighted what it called persistent regional and provincial wage disparities, calling for a uniform P200 wage increase nationwide.

“Workers from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi sweat just the same. Why, then, is their work not valued equally?” FFW President Jose Sonny G. Matula said in a statement in Filipino on Sunday.

The group said regional wage-setting should not become a permanent reason for keeping wages low in poorer regions, while acknowledging the need to consider regional economic conditions, productivity and businesses’ capacity. https://bworldonline.com/the-nation/2026/09/27/782222/central-visayas-workers-to-get-p42-wage-increase-in-oct/

Address

3rd Floor, FFW Bldg, 1943 Taft Avenue, Malate
Manila
1004

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+63 2 521 9435

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