The KMU is tagged as a “rebel group” in a high school textbook; one of its lawyers is slapped with criminal charges in connection with the burning of a cellsite; there was an attempt to break into their national office. All these, says one of the KMU’s leaders, have the objective of destroying the workers’…
Category: Labor & Employment
Union Emerges Victorious through Unity, Determination, Steadfastness of Women Workers
For ten years they labored without a union suffering from low wages, being cheated in the computation of their overtime and holiday pay, and night differentials, and being sexually harassed by the owner of the company; for more than two months they steadfastly held on with their strike. All of these bore fruit on Sept.…
How Can One Eat Siomai and Siopao When the Cooks Go Hungry?
Grabbing a hot steaming siopao and siomai at Kowloon for a quick take home meal has become a habit for hungry souls who are still awake during the wee hours of the morning. But those preparing our favorite siopao or siomai are not inside the all-too-familiar kiosk along West Avenue. They are outside waging a…
A Day in the Life of a Jeepney Driver
Jeepney drivers work long days and endure a lot of difficulties in their struggle to eke out a daily living. At the end of the day, however, their earnings are far from enough to afford basic necessities. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat Sa maghapon Ang buhay ay pamamasada Tinitiis Usok at init ng makina At…
Groups Stage Protest vs Global Forum on Migration
he Philippines will host the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GMFD) this October. Filipino migrant workers, however, deem that the forum will only aggravate their conditions. BY ANGIE DE LARA MIGRANT WATCH Bulatlat Various groups led by Migrante International staged a protest action in Manila, Sept. 19 to oppose the 2nd Global Forum…
Union, Women’s Group Storm DoLE, Seek Probe of Sexual Harassment Cases
BY BULATLAT Members of the union of the Bleustar Marketing and Manufacturing Corporation (BMMC) and GABRIELA staged a picket in front of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to demand for an investigation of sexual harassment cases allegedly committed by the company’s owner Jimmy Ong against women workers. Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA secretary general…
Gov’t Workers Push for P3,000 Salary Hike Anew
BY NOEL BARCELONA Bulatlat.com September 5, 2008 –5:24 p.m. Members of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage), staged a picket-protest in front of the Quezon City Hall at 12 noon today to press for a P3,000 salary increase for government employees. Ferdinand Gaite, Courage national president, said that it is…
Workers Crowd Hearing on P125-Wage Hike Bill
BY Bulatlat.com September 3, 2008 – 4:31 p.m. Workers led by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May First Movement), and various sectors led by the Unity for P125 alliance, attended en masse the first hearing of the P125 wage hike bill in the House of Representatives. KMU Chair Elmer Labog said, “This hearing was the result…
The Philippine Labor Situation
As the global economic crisis reaches new lows this first half and with worse to follow in the coming months or even years, the Philippine labor force is being battered by one gut-level whammy after another. While the effects of the surge in prices of petroleum products, rice and electricity are indeed being borne by…
Women Workers Unite, Form Alliance for Justice, Union Rights
Women workers, widows and relatives of labor leaders killed under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government stood together to demand justice and an end to trade union repression. BY RONALYN V. OLEA LABOR WATCH Bulatlat.com Volume VIII, Number 28, August 17-23, 2008 Women workers, widows and relatives of labor leaders killed under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government stood…
Gov’t Employees’ Group Calls for Congress Probe into DepEd Officials’ ‘Perks’
BY NOEL SALES BARCELONA Bulatlat.com Posted 6:20 p.m., Aug. 12, 2008 The Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees or Courage has called on Congress to conduct a thorough investigation on the P150-million extra duty allowances or EDA being received by Department of Education (DepEd) executives, saying that their being given these…