This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 12, May 1-7, 2005
LABOR WATCH
On KMU's 25th
Anniversary All political forces,
including pro-Estrada and pro-FPJ groups have been invited. "Practically
everyone who has issues against the Arroyo government is welcome to join the
rallies. Arroyo will be the target of nationwide mobilizations on May 1," Labog
said. "DoLE's freebies and
trivial activities are not helping the workers in any way. We need actual and
concrete solutions to the widespread problem of wage scarcity, unemployment and
poor working conditions," he said. The KMU has been pressing
for a national legislated increase in minimum wages for all workers in the
private sector. "Our demand for a P125 across-the-board, across-the-country is
non-negotiable," Labog said. He also shunned the measly increases through the
regional tripartite wages and productivity boards. "Workers are always made to
choose between hellish wages and unemployment when in fact we both need decent
wages and job security," Maglunsod said. © 2004 Bulatlat
■
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Workers, Allies to
Push for GMA's Ouster
Armed with the experience of ousting two presidents, Filipino workers are
ready to continue and advance the oust Macapagal-Arroyo movement.
BY RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat
On May 1, Labor Day and 25th anniversary of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or
May First Movement), militant workers will reiterate their call for Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's ouster.
In a press conference April 27, KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog said that the
labor day protests will highlight the formation of a broad anti-Arroyo
united front.
Pro-Estrada groups led the May 1, 2001 siege of Malacañang. Meanwhile, pro-FPJ
forces believe Macapagal-Arroyo only won the last presidential elections because
of massive fraud.
KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod said, "We may carry different names and
banners but we carry common demands and causes – such as immediate economic
relief for all workers. It is at the height of injustice that the producers of
social wealth are the ones suffering the worst living conditions."
Aside from the Manila protest, similar actions will take place in Baguio,
Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Bicol region, Cebu, Eastern Visayas, Panay,
Negros, Davao provinces, Southern Mindanao and other major provinces and regions
nationwide.
Speaking before “A Gathering of Friends of Filipino Workers,” held April 27,
Amado Gat Inciong said the Filipino people's poverty has reached its maximum
level. "Lagpas na sa huling butas ng sinturon" (It is already beyond what
could be endured).
Inciong served shortly as undersecretary of Ministry of Labor and Employment
during Marcos reign. He said that the Left, the poor and the workers could form
a critical mass against Macapagal-Arroyo. "Kung di ka pa bababa diyan,
diretso na kaming aakyat. " (literally: If you still do not step down, we
will go up straight up.)
Malacañang's labor day package
Labog said the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) must forgo its usual
labor day activities including job fairs, free basketball games, free movies,
free train rides and let workers express themselves and their issues in the
streets.
Labog said further that they are not satisfied with Malacanang's supposed
labor-day package granting an Emergency Cost of Living Allowance (ECOLA) for
workers. "Instead of hearing out our demands for a substantial wage increase,
Malacanang is giving us series of oil price hikes and power rate increase," he
said.
The KMU leader said that whatever amount in ECOLA that the government will grant
will be quickly overwhelmed by the upcoming effects of the impending VAT
increase and Napocor and Meralco power rate hikes.
Joel Maglunsod, KMU secretary general, said that wage hikes through wage boards
or ECOLA are nothing but trivial offerings to appease workers who have been
outraged by the absence of wage hikes. "With the great disparity between wages
and cost of living, how can the government expect workers to cope with the
increasing cost of public utilities, basic goods and services?" he said.
Maglunsod also slammed Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas for undermining the
urgent need for wage hikes. In an interview with radio station DZRH, Sto. Tomas
said DoLE and the regional wage boards are still studying the need to grant wage
hikes since oil price hikes have yet to impact the prices of basic goods.
Maglunsod said Sto. Tomas and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP)
and other business groups have the same line of thinking when it comes to wage
hike demands.
Early Labor Day gift
In a separate statement, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan - New Patriotic
Alliance) scored what they called an early Labor Day gift from the Macapagal-Arroyo
administration. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) granted the National
Power Corporation (Napocor) with a total P1.04/kwh rate increase on top of
adjustments in generation rates and foreign currency adjustments.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said, "As if the previous provisional
authority for a rate hike was not enough, the ERC and the Arroyo government want
the people to shoulder more of Napocor's onerous debts."
Reyes said that the ERC seems to tell the consumers that it is okay to shoulder
some P112 billion in Napocor debts, including onerous contractual obligations to
profiteers independent power producers.
Bayan expects power rates to hit the roof in the coming months. The ERC estimate
of a P180 increase in monthly bills for customers consuming 200 kwh a month is
fairly conservative since it does not yet include the proposed VAT on
generation, distribution and transmission charges. This may result in another
P100/month increase according to the group's estimates.
History
Labog said Filipino workers from various factories, economic zones, industrial
zones and work places nationwide are armed with the experience of the Marcos and
Estrada ouster campaigns and are ready to continue and advance the oust
Macapagal-Arroyo movement.
In February 1986, thousands of workers marched to Malacanañg to oust the
dictator. Labog said in the past years before Marcos' downfall, the workers
defied martial law by launching a widespread strike movement.
The KMU was also among the first national organizations that called for
Estrada's ouster. Again, the KMU joined the Bayan contingent in the march to
Mendiola on January 20, 2001.
Labog said, "We will celebrate KMU's 25 years of service to the Filipino
workers. At the same time, we are tasked this year to direct our actions against
the number enemy of workers and Filipino people – the US-Arroyo regime. No one
and nothing can stop us from holding protests against Arroyo's corrupt and
burdensome leadership." Bulatlat