Kilusang Mayo Uno

pinilak ang pakikibaka ng mga manggagawa sa pangunguna ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)

BALITA

Hulyo 27, 2005

Sa pagsawsaw at pagsayaw sa Cha-Cha

KMU sa TUCP: Huwag ninyong lokohin ang mga obrero!

 
Minaliit lamang ngayong araw ng militanteng grupong Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) ang pagsuporta ng Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) sa panawagan ng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo para baguhin ang porma ng gobyerno mula presidential tungong parliamentary.

Ayon kay Presto Suyat, Spokesperson ng KMU, “Lalo lamang nalalantad ang TUCP sa hanay ng mga manggagawa at maski sa mga miyembro nito na hindi kailanman nito isusulong ang interes ng mga obrero. Hindi nakapagtataka ang pagkatuta ng TUCP sa gobyernong Arroyo kilalang sentro ito ng mga labor aristocrats na nakikipagsabwatan sa gobyerno at mga kapitalista.”

Sa isang pahayag, umaasa si Alex Aguilar, Spokersperson ng TUCP na sa diskusyon sa Charter change ay makakasama ang mga programang magpapaunlad  aniya sa kabuhayan ng mahihirap lalo na ng mga manggagawa.

Sinabi naman ni Suyat na dapat mahiya ang TUCP sa panlalansi nito sa taumbayan sa pagsasabing mapapaganda ng Charter Change ang kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino lalo na ng mga manggagawa, “Sa katotohanan, walang katiyakan na mapauunlad ng Cha cha ang kalagayan ng mga mamamayan. Mas nakababahala pa nga ito dahil tiyak na mamaniobrahin lamang ito sa interes ng mga korap na burukrata.”

Muling iginiit ni Suyat ang paninindigan ng KMU na isang diversionary tactic lamang ang Cha-Cha ni Gloria sa tunay na isyu ng electoral fraud, corruption at lumalalang kalagayan sa kabuhayan ng mamamayan.

Hindi pinaligtas ng KMU ang TUCP sa buong pagsuporta nito sa bulok at anti-manggagawang gobyernong Arroyo. “Sa katunayan kapag pinakinggang mabuti ang Gloriagate audio tape, dawit sa pandaraya ang TUCP. Pinadadagdagan kay Garcillano ng boto ang TUCP Partylist pati na ANAD at SMILE. Pero natalo pa rin ang TUCP dahil wala naman itong naipakitang rekord sa pagtataguyod ng interes ng mga manggagawa,”  hayag ni Suyat. 

Iginiit ni Suyat na hindi mawawala ang  sipat ng mga manggagawa sa panawagan nitong patalsikin ang kasalukuyang administrasyon sa kabila ng mga maniobra ng pangulong Arroyo. ###

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Reference: KMU Spokesperson, Presto Suyat 0916-3225642

posted by: KMU at 02:14 | link | comments |

PRESS RELEASE

    July 23, 2005

 
“Malacanang’s declaration of non-working holiday on Monday won’t stop workers from joining SONA protests; AFP generals acting as hypocrites for dismissing YOU statement as fake” – KMU

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno slammed Malacanang for declaring July 25 a special non-working holiday and affirmed that workers from private and public sectors will join the scheduled protest actions to condemn Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Knowing Mrs. Arroyo’s holiday economics, we already prepared for this scenario. We have alternative plans to mobilize the largest number of workers on Monday even if it is a non-working holiday. Workers from the private sector as well as government employees have justified reasons to protest against Arroyo and air our calls for her ouster. Foreign-backed economic policies imposed by Mrs. Arroyo through the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) resulted to more exploitative working and living conditions. The country’s working people suffered greatly under Arroyo’s leadership. We refuse to recognize her legitimacy as president and we will carry out all possible actions to oust her as soon as possible. GMA’s SONA speech will not reverse the public’s judgment asking her to step down immediately as shown in numerous surveys.” 

KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod said that the government’s desperate attempts to dampen the SONA protests will not succeed as various militant groups, progressive organizations as well as other anti-Arroyo forces affirmed that widespread mobilizations will take place despite harassments, threats and other deceptive actions from Arroyo’s camp, the AFP and PNP.

“We expect the protests on Monday along Commonwealth Avenue

Meanwhile, KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat said, “Arroyo is now relying on her most favored section within the police and military institutions – the generals. Their loyalty to Arroyo will fade as soon as they see throngs of people rallying in the streets.  A considerable number of young officers from the AFP are expressing disgust with Arroyo and joining the people’s call for her resignation. Low morale, disillusionment due to corruption and economic hardship is afflicting the PNP and AFP rank-and-file. The Young Officers Union (YOU) has legitimate issues and grievances against their senior officers and Commander-in-Chief. It is very hypocrite for Malacanang and AFP’s leading officials to dismiss the YOU statement as fabricated. Arroyo’s failure to consolidate the military establishment and the growing gap between senior military officials and foot soldiers are in fact clear indicators of her imminent downfall.”

posted by: KMU at 09:57 | link | comments |

NEWS RELEASE

        July 21, 2005

 
Workers, urban poor, transport sector stands united against Arroyo’s fraudulent and oppressive presidency;  vows that July 25 SONA will be GMA’s last

 
As various cause-oriented groups and progressive people’s organizations prepare for nationwide protests on Monday, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said they will make sure that it will be the last time that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

 
“We will make sure that it will be her last SONA. Efforts from both the legislative and the parliament of the streets are accelerating the people’s struggle to end Arroyo’s fraudulent and oppressive presidency. We are expecting to gather at least 100,000 people around Batasang Pambansa on Monday. As for KMU’s part, we will mobilize labor unions, workers organizations, urban poor groups and the transport sector for the SONA.”

 
KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog said that various national labor centers, urban poor organizations and transport groups already formed a tactical alliance against Arroyo. “Workers and other poor people are joining together for one cause, which is to immediately end Arroyo’s reign. From SONA and beyond, we will launch massive protests, information and education campaign, organizing and alliance efforts to further expand the broad anti-Arroyo front among workers, urban and rural poor.”

 
Labog said the formation of a Truth Commission called by Arroyo herself will only help her buy more time to escape the people’s outrage and prolong her stay in Malacanang. “A so-called Truth Commission emanating from within Arroyo’s clout will not be supported by the public. It only exhibits Arroyo’s sheer greed for power. The truth is already out long before the jueteng and Gloriagate CD scandals broke out – majority of Filipinos, especially workers and poor people are rejecting Arroyo’s bankrupt and ineffective leadership.”

 
Meanwhile, KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat criticized Malacanang for reviving its cash-for-work program. “The cash-for-work program or the “Programang Patrabaho ni Gloria” is not really aimed at helping jobless Filipinos. It’s merely for Gloria’s media projection for SONA. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Statistics Office (NSO) are actually misinforming the public with the current labor force statistics. As of April 2005, DOLE’s redefinition of employment based on the deceptive International Labor Organization (ILO) concept, slashed more than 1.9 million from the 4.8 million actual number of unemployed persons and did not include it either in the actual labor force data, thereby making it appear that the unemployment rate diminished in the past year. DoLE and NSO virtually made 1.9 million jobless Filipinos ‘ghosts’ by deleting them from official government records.”

 
“The deterioration of employment and livelihood under Arroyo’s presidency is already a just basis for workers to demand her resignation. She did not only fail to provide better living conditions for the people, she also worsened the state of economy due to her policies that are causing so much harm to the people and are only beneficial to local and foreign big businesses,” Suyat concluded.”

posted by: KMU at 02:37 | link | comments |

BALITA

Hulyo 20, 2005

8 sa 10 Pilipino, ayaw na kay PGMA ayon sa Pulse Asia

DOLE Sec. Sto. Tomas, kapit-tuko gaya ni GMA

Kapit-tuko si Sec. Patricia St. Tomas ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sa pagsuporta kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ayon sa militanteng grupong Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

“Hindi ito nakapagtataka,” ani Nitz Gonzaga, Kalihim ng Women’s Department ng KMU, “Parehas ng tapang ng apog ang mag-among iyan sa kabila ng malawakang panawagan ng taumbayan para patalsikin ang kasalukuyang administrasyon.”  

Ayon sa sarbey ng Pulse Asia, Inc., 8 sa 10 Pilipino ang gusto nang mapaalis si PGMA sa Malakanyang bago matapos ang anim na taon nitong panunungkulan. Isinagawa ang sarbey nationwide at pinasubalian nito ang pahayag ng Malakanyang na marami sa mga naninirahan sa labas ng Metro Manila ay gusto pang manatili sa puwesto ang pangulo.

Sa isang press statement, pinasubalian ni Sto. Tomas ang mga ulat na susunod na siya sa ibang  mga gabinete ng palasyo na nag-widrow na ng suporta sa pangulo.

Sinabi naman ni Presto Suyat, Spokesperson ng KMU, na matagal na nilang pinagbibitiw si Sto. Tomas sa kanyang puwesto dahil katulad ni PGMA, marami syang kasalanan sa mga manggagawa at sangkot din sa maraming kontrobersiya.

Aniya, walang patumanggang ginamit ng DOLE Sec. ang Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) na sa welga sa Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI)  at iba pang kumpanya na humantong sa karahasan, “Sa katunayan, tinagurian siyang ‘AJ Queen’ ng mga obrero.”

Sa HLI, humantong sa madugong masaker sa mga manggagawa at manggagawang-bukid ang dispersal na inihudyat ng paggamit ni Sto.Tomas ng AJ.

Binatikos din ng KMU spokesperson ang pahayag ng DOLE Sec. na hindi nito diumano hahayaang makasagabal ang pulitika sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa taumbayan at lalo na sa mga manggagawa, “Maraming kontrobersiya na nagpapakitang pulitika ang mas nanaig sa kanya sa paglabag sa karapatan ng mga manggagawa.”

Dagdag pa ni Suyat, nang dumalo sa kumperensya ng International Labor Organization (ILO) si Sto.Tomas noong 2002, binayaran ang kanyang limousine service ng Nestle’ Philippines na noo’y nahaharap sa isang labor dispute.

Iginiit ni Suyat na matapos mapatalsik si PGMA sa puwesto ay patuloy na sisingilin at papanagutin ng mga manggagawa si Sto. Tomas sa mga kasalanan nito. ###

posted by: KMU at 05:36 | link | comments |

NEWS RELEASE

   July 19, 2005

Various sectors gearing for larger SONA protests on Monday

Metro-wide noise barrage activities vs. Gloria scheduled tomorrow

Women workers, professionals, students and other women personalities trooped to Ayala this afternoon to amplify calls for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “We do not need a president like Gloria. She is a disgrace to the Filipina women. It is unfortunate that the ruling system produced women leaders that brought further suffering and misery to the lives of the people,” said Nenita Gonzaga, KMU Women’s Department Secretary.

Gonzaga said various militant and progressive people’s organizations will again stage noise barrages in over a hundred areas in Metro Manila tomorrow starting 5 in the afternoon to reverberate sustaining calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation following the obvious breakdown of the administration’s leadership with the continuous bolting out of key cabinet personalities from Arroyo’s camp.

The activities will serve as an important build-up for the nationwide people’s protest on PGMA’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 25.   

Anakpawis Party List and progressive organizations like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno, COURAGE, Migrante and broad formation Gloria Step down Movement (GSM) and other groups will join the activities.

Noise barrage and protest activities will be held in urban poor communities in the following areas: Commonwealth Ave., Batasan, UP Village, Banawe St., Delta-Panay Ave., Tatalon, Camarin, Monumento, Novaliches, Quezon Ave,  Philcoa, Tandang Sora, Elliptical Road, Cubao, Nepa Q-Mart, Katipunan, Litex and along EDSA in Quezon City. In Manila, residents along Taft Ave., Kalaw, Pedro Gil, Vito Cruz, PGH, Malate, Stop and Shop, V. Mapa, Pandacan, Trabajo Market, UST, Espana, Recto, Avenida, Singalong, San Andres Bukid, Blumentritt and Divisoria are encouraged to take part in the activities. Protests will also take place in Guadalupe, Ayala Avenue, Malabon and other parts of the metropolis.

Meanwhile, workers belonging to Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will hold simultaneous protests in various factory belts in Metro Manila. Employees and health workers from public hospitals like Philippine General Hospital and Philippine Heart Center will also participate. Students from major colleges and universities in the University Belt are also expected to hold counterpart activities. ###

BALITA
Hulyo 19, 2005

Self-employed workers, tumataas dahil sa papalaking unemployment rate

Palpak na programa sa empleyo, magpapabilis sa pagpapatalsik kay PGMA -- KMU

Larawan ng nakakadismayang job generation scheme ng gobyerno ang pagtaas ng bilang ng self-employed workers ayon sa militanteng grupong Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Ayon kay Nitz Gonzaga, Kalihim ng Women’s Department ng KMU, “Pinapalabas pa ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na magandang pangyayari ang naturang kaganapan samantalang nagpapakita ito ng bigong iskema ng gobyerno sa paglikha ng trabaho para sa naghihirap na taumbayan.”

Sa datos ng Labstat Updates ng Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) noong Abril 2005 Labor Force Survey (LFS) ng National Statistics Office (NSO), ipinapakita na lumaki ang bilang ng self-employed workers ng 597,000 o mas mataas ng 5.1%  mula 11.7 milyon noong Abril 2004 tungong 12.3 milyon ngayong taon.

Ipinaliwanag pa ni Gonzaga na ang mga self-employed workers ay walang regular na kinikita at karaniwang binubuo ng mga magtitinda,  naglalako o dili kaya’y mga may sariling maliit na negosyo o kabuhayan tulad ng tindahan o pampasadang tricycle at jeepney.

Kasama rin sa panloloko ng gobyerno sa estadistika ng empleyo, ani ng batikang lider-manggagawa,  ang pagsama sa unpaid family workers na  karaniwang mga anak, asawa ng mga manggagawang bukid na sa pagnanais tapusin agad ang trabaho ay pinatutulong sa pagtatrabaho sa bukid.

Pinabulaan naman ni Presto Suyat, Tagapagsalita ng KMU, ang pagmamalaki ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa kanyang Medium Term Philippine Development Program (MTPDP). Sinabi pa niya na hindi malulutas ang paglala ng kawalang trabaho sa pamamagitan ng Employment program na MTPDP ni GMA. Mismong ang Asian Development Bank ang nagbabala na    “Call centers provide employment opportunities but not on a permanent basis… Call Centers generate employment, which is good for the unemployment issue.”

“Ang MTPDP employment plan ay patuloy na mamamalimos ng trabaho at kabuhayan mula sa mga dayuhan kapalit ang mura, pleksible at siil na paggawa,” dagdag pa ni Suyat. Aniya, matagal nang dama ng mga manggagawa ang kainutilan ng gobyerno sa pagbibigay ng disente at makataong pasahod at trabaho kaya’t ihahatid ng KMU sa SONA sa Hulyo 25 ang panawagang mapatalsik ang tinawag nilang pekeng pangulo at ang pekeng programa nito sa trabaho.###

posted by: KMU at 03:39 | link | comments |

NEWS RELEASE                      

  July 13, 2005

Civilian supremacy over military

Despite checkpoints and police blockades, anti-Arroyo forces from Metro Manila, provinces gather at Ayala for the largest “Resign GMA” rally

Militant groups and progressive peoples organizations from as far as Central Mindanao, Cebu, Samar provinces, Bicol region, Southern Luzon, Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and Metro Manila gathered at the country’s financial district in Ayala, Makati today to launch a massive protest seeking for the immediate resignation or ouster  of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The OUST GLORIA rallies today are concrete expressions of civilian supremacy over military. Freedom and democracy loving Filipinos will always resist Malacanang’s Martial Law-like stance. 

The rally at Ayala today expected to gather the largest number of anti-Arroyo protesters from all sectors and political forces was organized and joined in by the United Opposition, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, People’s Movement Against Poverty, Bangon Pilipinas and other groups clamoring for Arroyo’s removal as President.

KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog said that today’s rally will serve as an ‘appetizer’ to larger protest mobilizations that will take place on July 25 as Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address SONA. “Despite numerous police blockades and checkpoints, we persevered to pursue with the protests to show the Filipino people’s crucial judgment - Arroyo must step down immediately or prepare to face the people’s wrath.

“We will not let Arroyo and former President Fidel Ramos carry out another game plan which is Charter Change. Any reforms in the Constitution will only be acceptable and significant after Arroyo’s removal in office. We will insist our proposal for the formation of a transition council that will take place right after Arroyo’s resignation or ouster.”

Labog said it seems like Ramos staged his own ‘coup de etat’ by acting as the ‘Acting President’ in Malacanang now. Obviously, Ramos imposed his influence on the latest and upcoming reforms within the bureaucracy. Arroyo is now the dummy President. She is at the mercy of Ramos’ militarist ruling.”

The labor group also condemned the government’s overkill security preparations for the rallies today. The heightened security alert and the massive deployment of police forces today only exhibits Mrs. Arroyo’s strong fears that a brewing people power can topple her disintegrating government anytime soon. ###

posted by: KMU at 03:15 | link | comments |

KILUSANG MAYO UNO
(MAY FIRST MOVEMENT LABOR CENTER)

25^TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY 1980-2005

NEWS RELEASE                     

July 4, 2005

“It’s time for big business groups to withdraw their support to Arroyo and align with anti-Arroyo forces” -- KMU

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) trooped to the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) office in Makati today and asked business groups to start thinking about withdrawing their support to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration.

 “The economy is swiftly going down the drain. Not even Arroyo can give viable and effective solutions to the worsening domestic economic situation. What we need is an urgent regime change and an overhaul in major economic and other national policies.”

 “Influential church leaders and major political forces already took their stand on the current situation besetting Arroyo’s leadership. More and more forces are either are withdrawing their support or expressing critical views on Arroyo’s beleaguered presidency. We strongly urge ECOP and PCCI to contemplate on reversing their stance towards the Arroyo government and align with other anti-Arroyo middle forces.”

 More sectors and individuals are being enlightened on the need for Arroyo’s immediate resignation or ouster from power, leaders of ECOP and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) reaffirmed their support to Mrs. Arroyo after her public apology last June 27.

“The steady plunging of the peso and shares of stocks, widespread anti-Arroyo protests and public unrest are enough reasons for employers to make up their mind and junk Arroyo. Peso now stands at an average of 55. 6 to a dollar, the prices of basic goods, utilities, services, transportation costs will surge once Malacanang pursue its plan to overturn the temporary restraining order impose by the Supreme Court on the Expanded Value Added Tax.”  

KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat said the likes of business leaders Rene Soriano and Donald Dee have benefited much from the Arroyo government’s promotion of anti-labor policies including wage freeze policy, labor contractualization and trade union repression. Until now, ECOP and PCCI refrains from giving out the latest wage order and COLA released by regional wage boards by saying that they cannot afford to grant any wage increase for workers.

The big turn out of the rally at Makati last Friday hints that the business community is ready to accommodate more anti-Arroyo activities in the country’s major financial district.

posted by: KMU at 06:18 | link | comments |

NEWS RELEASE

July 1, 2005

Anti-Arroyo labor front marks July 7 as National Day of Protest

Devastating effects of EVAT will hasten collapse of Arroyo administration; workers to launch rallies, walk outs and strikes to intensify calls for Arroyo’s expulsion

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) announced today that they will launch nationwide rallies, calibrated walk outs and labor strikes starting July 7 to underscore the workers’ calls for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urgent ouster. KMU members urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), and transport organization PISTON will join the protests.

Workers marked the July 7 nationally-coordinated protests as Araw ng Welga at Protesta ng mga Manggagawa at Maralita, Araw ng Paniningil at Pagtatakwil kay Gloria. KMU’s regional and provincial chapters and affiliates nationwide will join the rallies. 

KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod said they will lead protests in major urban centers and provinces nationwide just to show how much ordinary Filipinos despise Arroyo’s bogus presidency. “We do not accept her apology. She must bear the punishment of her actions.”

He said workers and urban poor sectors will launch nationwide rallies, walk outs from factories and workplaces as well as community-based protests and transport strikes starting July 7. “This is just the beginning. We will mobilize more people on July 25 as the Filipino holds the Genuine State of the Nation Address.”

EVAT, labor and economic issues vs. Gloria

“With the tremendous impact of the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) which takes effect today, prices of petroleum products, transportation cost, consumer goods, public utilities, medical and legal services and basic commodities are expected to increase beyond high heavens. This grave economic condition all the more compels us to hasten actions to remove Arroyo. Her continued leadership will further bring the country’s economy down the drain. Chances of economic improvement and political stability wanes each day as more and more sectors demand for Arroyo’s removal from power,” said KMU Vice President Lito Ustarez.

“Workers are ready to lead the people’s struggle to remove Arroyo to make way for the installment of a people’s democratic council. We have been demanding for Arroyo’s ouster as President since 2002 when she rejected our persistent calls for an immediate substantial wage increase particularly the P125 across-the-board, across-the-country wage hike demand. Now that we already proved that she rigged the last elections and snatched the presidency, we have more reasons to protest against her corrupt, burdensome and repressive administration. We’ve had enough of Gloria,” Ustarez stressed.

Poor sectors invite Ms. Susan Roces to join rallies

KADAMAY Chairperson and People Power veteran Carmen ‘Nanay Mameng’ Deunida extended the poor people’s invitation to Ms. Susan Roces-Poe to join the July 7 rallies and upcoming protests against Arroyo.

“We laud her courage and strong resolve to continue the people’s quest for truth and justice. We encourage Ms. Roces to join the poor people’s fight until the end.”

KMU and its affiliate organizations will join the mammoth rallies at Ayala, Makati this afternoon. “The government must brace itself for daily rallies and protests. We will not stop until Arroyo is removed from Malacanang.”

People’s alternative: a government for the masses

The labor group said they will support the formation of a people’s democratic council to replace Arroyo. “Regime change is not enough. The problems, issues and social unrest will just be cyclical.  There must be a radical overhaul of the entire social system. We want a government that will genuinely serve the best interests and welfare of the majority of the Filipino people.  We will continue to reject a government that is duty-bound to exploitative big businesses, foreign power and military interests.”

KMU said they are willing to support the formation of ‘transition council’ and stressed the need for workers’ representation in the council. ###

posted by: KMU at 06:37 | link | comments (2) |