Kilusang Mayo Uno

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

NEWS RELEASE

November 10, 2005

Labor group warns Arroyo to stop disputing the necessity of wage hikes

“With EVAT in full swing and Gloria still in Malacanang, Filipinos facing another gloomy Christmas this year” -- KMU

The militant labor center said that Filipinos are expecting a gloomier Yuletide season this year as the Arroyo government continue to act as a Christmas Scrooge by refusing to grant any wage increase for workers. “It’s barely 45 days before Christmas, we expect the Congress to work double time on the wage hike bill. A wage increase will help cushion the devastating effects of EVAT. We are hoping for an economic relief and this will only be possible through significant wage adjustments,” said KMU Chairman Elmer Labog.

Yesterday, the government reiterated its’ no wage hike position after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) dismissed the effects of tax measure Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) as a valid ground to grant higher wages for workers in the private sector. Malacanang announced that effective January 1, 2006, EVAT will be raised to 12%. The 10% EVAT is already too much, increasing it to 12% will be last nail on the coffin of poor workers.” 

KMU said that Malacanang, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and all agencies under it are maligning workers’ just demands for better wages. “If the government will wait for the full impact of EVAT on the livelihood of workers and wage earners before granting any wage increase, then they might as well wait for workers to die one by one due to hunger and poverty.” 

“We can never expect the wage boards to side with workers when it comes to wage related issues. The government formed the wage boards to safeguard the interests of employers and undermine the labor sectors’ national fight for higher wages.”

The labor group said they will work double time on their lobby work in Congress to convince legislators to fast track the discussion and approval of the wage hike bill.

“We appeal to solons not to behave like Mr. Scrooge this Christmas and approve the wage hike proposal. This early, we are receiving numerous reports that many employers are declining to give the mandatory 13^th month pay incentive and Christmas bonus for their workers. ###

posted by: KMU at 02:41 | link | comments |

NEWS RELEASE

November 9, 2005

Even if Malacanang backpedals on legislated wage hike

“Fight for wage hikes not yet over; workers to pursue pay hike demands thru Congress and street protests” -- KMU

“Malacanang is really good at telling lies and deceiving people. Mrs.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will break all world records when it comes to lying with her recent retraction of an earlier statement that her government is ready to grant legislated wage hikes for workers and wage earners in the private sector. It only took two days when she backtracked on the promised legislated wage increase,” this was the irate reaction of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) as Malacanang backpedaled on its position on the public’s long time demand for pay hikes.

“True enough, Arroyo was forced to pretend she’s in favor of the legislated wage increase for workers because she is afraid of any urgent political backlash of the EVAT implementation. But even more loyal to her true character, Mrs. Arroyo is more afraid to lose the confidence and support of local and foreign big businesses who are constantly opposed to any significant wage adjustments. Arroyo would rather see her constituents die in hunger and poverty that losing the financial and political support of the business sector. This kind of leadership will definitely bring Arroyo’s presidency to its inevitable downfall,” said KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod.

“Business groups are holding Arroyo and her trusted minions Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila by the collar. Arroyo and her ilk cannot bear to break the hearts and profit vaults of elite business owners.”  

“Malacanang’s attempts to douse the people’s strong demands for better wages will be futile. The fight for wage hike is not yet over. Things are just starting to heat up again. We will simultaneously pursue our case in Congress and in the streets through series of protests. We know that the House Committee on Labor and Employment is on our side. The P125 across-the-board, across-the-country wage bill has been pending in Congress since 2001. We will reject efforts of bringing back the wage hike issue to tripartite wage boards. Wage boards are nothing but profit buffers for employers.”

The labor group said they will continue to fight for the granting of legislated wage hikes in time for the Yuletide season. “Workers are relying on their Christmas bonus and 13^th month pay and incentives to survive a decent Christmas this year. The effects of EVAT and incessant oil price hikes are devastating. Unwarranted taxes eat up more than 50% of the daily earnings of an ordinary wage earner and yet they are getting nothing in return. Social services like housing, health care and education are scarce and inaccessible,” Maglunsod concluded. ###

posted by: KMU at 02:08 | link | comments |

NEWS RELEASE

November 4, 2005

WORKERS ASSERTS CONGRESS’ APPROVAL OF LEGISLATED

WAGE HIKE

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will lead a protest in front of the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, November 7, to press Congress to include the wage hike bill among their first agenda for discussion during the resumption of session of the House of Representatives. “We want House Speaker Joe De Venecia to take note of the urgency of discussing and approving the wage hike proposals. A legislated wage increase is needed by the country’s 35 million labor force. Congress must line up better topics for deliberation other than the proposed Charter Change and the Arroyo administration’s ambition to jump to parliamentary form of government,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.  

He further said that wage hikes and tax exemptions must go together. We will not bargain wage hikes for non-wage benefits and tax reprieve. Doing these actions will give just an urgent economic relief for workers.”

KMU also lambasted Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas for her downright opposition to any wage increase for workers. It has been her perennial position to regard the granting of wage hikes as untimely and disastrous to the domestic economy. “She has never mentioned the more devastating effects of the EVAT on the lives of workers and toher poor sectors.

KMU said Sto. Tomas is backing up the position of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) against any wage hike for workers in the private sector. “Big businesses, like ECOP in particular, are incorrigible when it comes to their position on wage hikes. Comparing the granting of additional wages for workers to doomsday scenario of massive retrenchment is the worst lie that employers always counter against justified demands for pay hikes. Sto. Tomas is supporting this position of employers against any wage augmentation. Retrenchments and massive lay offs are caused by government policies favoring globalization and export-oriented, import-dependent, debt driven economy,” Labog said.

The labor leader also striked at pro-government Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) who thinks that wage hikes are not imperative and that further study in the economic trend is still needed before a wage increase can be implemented.

“Labor aristrocrats in the TUCP are mere disgrace to Filipino workers. The need for just and better wages is non-negotiable. Social justice dictates that the makers of social wealth receive what is due to them. In the ’ case, wage earners are always overworked, underpaid and living in the most miserable conditions. Cheap and docile labor promoted by the Arroyo government accounts for this dire situation of workers. ###

BALITA

Nobyembre 4, 2005

VFA at Balikatan military exercises buwagin na

Mga sexual terrorists na US troops, litisin at parusahan -- KMU

Tinawag na “sexual terrorism” ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) ang sinapit ng isang
22-anyos na Pinay na diumano’y hinalay ng anim na  United States Marines noong Nobyembre 1.

Kasama ang naturang mga sundalo sa mga puwersang Amerikano na dumating sa bansa noong Oktubre 22 para lumahok sa Talon Vision at Phiblex  joint military exercises sa Subic, Zambales.

Sinabi ni Nitz Gonzaga, kalihim ng departmento ng kababaihang manggagawa, na walang kapantay na pagyurak sa bansa at kababaihan ang ginawa ng mga Amerikanong sundalo,

“Sila mismo ang mga sexual terrorist. Binalewala nila at nilapastangan ang soberanya ng Pilipinas at kitang-kita kung paano nakakapasok nang malaya ang puwersang Amerikano sa ating bayan dahil sa Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) at Balikatan military exercises.”

Iginiit pa ni Gonzaga na maaaring hindi ito ang unang beses na naganap ang ganoong karima-rimarim na krimen sa mga kababaihan at sa bansa.

Pinananagot ng lider-manggagawa ang gobyerno ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa naganap. Aniya, gawain ng Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement ang i-monitor ang mga aktibidad ng mga sundalong dayuhan sa ilalim ng VFA. Nag-uulat ang naturang komisyon sa Pangulo kung ang VFA ay nakakatulong sa interes ng pambansang seguridad. Pero sa halip na magbantay, pinalalagpas pa ng komisyon ang mga kasalanan ng tropang Kano.  

Nanawagan si Gonzaga na litisin dito ang mga salarin at buwagin ang lahat ng di-pantay na kasunduan sa pagitan ng Estados Unidos at Pilipinas, “Kung talagang all-out war ang gobyerno sa terorismo, dapat lamang na palayasin na ang mga tropang Kano sa bansa.” ###

posted by: KMU at 06:07 | link | comments |