Ping, anti-women and pro-capitalist

"Ping Lacson's statement was not only anti-women, it's pro-capitalist, too. Not unexpected from a misogynist with a need to prove his macho credentials," said PM Secretary-General Judy Ann Miranda. 

This was in reaction to Lacson's statement disparaging the proposed legislation on menstrual leave. This year, Spain passed a law granting women workers paid menstrual leave for three days a month with the option to extend it to five days. Studies reveal half of women experience dysmenorrhea for one or two days and for some, the severe pain hinders their ability to work and function normally.  

          

"We are all too aware that capitalists have fought against benefits for women's reproductive rights and well-being since the dawn of the industrial revolution. And here comes Ping Lacson, a former legislator who has a lot of followers, ridiculing women's demand for menstrual leave, seemingly the 21st century spokesperson of capitalists against women's right to reproductive health and well-being," continued Miranda.

Lacson's statement was likewise thoughtless and careless. Indeed, one concrete measure of how sincere legislators are is how they view and speak about women's rights and well-being.

25 March 2023

Judy Miranda 

𝐍𝐂𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐖𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐊𝐄

Kapatiran leaders submit letter to NCR wage board

Leaders of the Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa (Kapatiran), trooped today to the office of NCR Regional Wage Board, asking the body to expedite the resolution of their demand for a P100 increase in the minimum wage for workers in the national capital region.

 

In their second follow up letter, Kapatiran asked the wage body to conduct hearings for the wage petition since none has been done since it was filed on December 5 last year.

 

“Kamakailan lamang ay may naihapag nang panukala para sa P750 dagdag-umento sa Kamara at P150 naman sa Senado. Baka naman maunahan pa ng Kongreso ang mga wage board na nauna nang nakatanggap ng wage petitions. Dereliction of duty yan,” said Kapatiran President Rey Almendras.

 

Almendras noted that a legislated wage hike is not in conflict with the P100 wage petition Kapatiran filed with the NCR wage board since the latter is simply for wage recovery due to inflation, while the former aims to narrow the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage provided under the Constitution.

 

“Gusto nga rin namin na mabago na ng Kongreso ang existing wage mechanism ngayon sa ilalim ng RA 6727 dahil ito ang isa sa mga mayor na dahilan kung bakit ang sweldo sa Pilipinas ay nabansot sa poverty o starvation level. Pero dahil bigo din ang pamahalaan na sawatain ang mataas na inflation, ang nawalang halaga ng dating sweldo ay dapat maibalik kaagad sa manggagawa,” explained Almendras.

 

Inflation in February stayed above 8%, making the demand for wage hike not only justified but urgent.

 

After their submission of the letter to the wage board, Kapatiran leaders proceeded at a nearby office of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) to have an in-depth discussion on the economics of inflation and wages.

Photos of the event can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid029uMRpjsbDv6pB5TVBVhpDkHtYS4grqhA2DJJapkLQiHUKgntKURLHJSnJMHwyGbxl

PRESS RELEASE

Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa

17 March 2023

Women Workers United on IWD demands

WAGES, DIGNIFIED WORK, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION: THE DEMANDS OF WOMEN THIS INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMEN’S DAY

Women Workers United (WWU) marks the 112th year of the International Working Women’s Day, when we reaffirm our fight against poverty, injustice, inequality, and exploitation of women in all forms. WWU is currently composed of six major organizations: Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Partido Manggagawa (PM), Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), and GABRIELA.

Filipino women find themselves in a time of crisis today. Joblessness is at an all-time high: 7 in 10 Filipinos—mostly women—are being driven into informal, precarious work; inflation is soaring at 9.3%; and violence against women (VAW) has seen a dramatic rise with 1 woman every 20 minutes becoming a victim of rape, physical abuse, lasciviousness, and other forms of VAW. 

Since the ILO High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM), in which we participated and submitted a subreport on women workers, we have developed a 15-Point Labor Agenda, within which we have expanded on the plight of women in the world of work.

This International Women’s Day, we reassert our call to (1) protect women workers’ rights to freedom of association and their rights to collective bargaining and negotiation; (2) close the gender wage pay gap and institute a national minimum wage closer to the living wage which is at PHP 1,100; (3) ratify ILO Convention 190; (4) strengthen legal framework and policies to address VAWC; and (5) pass the Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy, among others.

This International Working Women’s Day, we remember the historic role women have played in advancing the people’s vision for a world free from exploitation. Today, we march on and carry the torch of the millions of working women throughout history who overcame society’s impositions on women and asserted their rightful place in the struggle for social justice.

Our fight for justice and equality in all forms continues. This International Working Women’s Day, the women workers of the Philippines march on. Women workers rise. Women workers strike. Women workers stand united.#

References:

GABRIELA Vice Chairperson Joms Salvador

Partido Manggagawa Judy Ann Miranda

Federation of Free Workers Women’s Network Vice President Arta Maines

Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) Jillian Roque

Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK) Spokesperson Jaq Ruiz

Women Workers United

PRESS STATEMENT

08 March 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: Women workers protest on IWD

MEDIA ADVISORY

for March 8, 2023

Reference: Trish Muli, 0917 865 8720

INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMEN'S DAY

Women Workers United

1. Women workers dialogue & protest at DOLE

8:00AM assembly at Round Table, Intramuros

8:40AM March to send-off leaders to DOLE

9:00AM–10:00AM Program outside Round Table

10:00AM - Unveiling of WWU challenge, then March to Liwasang Bonifacio

Several women's groups under Women Workers United (WWU) will meet with DOLE officials to get DOLE's support for the ratification of ILO Convention 190, Women in the World of Work, on International Women Workers' Day (IWWD). The groups will also forward cases of labor rights violations against women workers and reiterate ILO-HLTM's recommendations to the PH government.

During the dialogue, around 200 women workers gathered outside will hold a protest action to highlight their issues and demands. WWU will conclude the program with the reveal of the latest unity among the broadest rank of Filipino women workers—their most urgent challenge to the Marcos government.

2. Filipino Women SALUBONGAN

10:30AM at Liwasang Bonifacio

Filipino women workers led by WWU and all other sectors of women will converge at Liwasang Bonifacio. Women leaders from various sectors will hand out roses to women workers to honor their leading role throughout history in the emancipation of women across the world, while women workers will offer bread to women leaders to symbolize the fruits of their labor that feed the peoples of the world.

3. IWWD Program: Women Workers Unite for Wage Hike, Decent Jobs, Accessible Quality Social Services, and Freedom of Association

10:30AM–12:30PM Program at Liwasang Bonifacio

Thousands of Filipino women from several major women's and sectoral organizations will gather for the IWWD program that will register the united call of women for wage, jobs, services, and rights amid severe economic and political crisis in PH. The program will highlight the severe hits suffered by women and Filipinos due to unabated price hikes, anti-people policies that massacres jobs, and the incessant attacks on rights and freedoms led by no less than the highest officials of the land.

4. Filipino Women take the IWWD protest right at the foot of Malacañang

12:30PM March to Mendiola

12:30PM–1:30PM Program at Mendiola

1:30PM Symbolic presentation of Filipino Women's Message to President Marcos Jr.

Women will march to Mendiola to implore Marcos Jr. to finally respond to the crises hounding Filipinos under his reign. Protesters will issue their condemnation of the government's anti-people and pro-foreign capitalist indulgences while Filipinos drown in massive poverty, mounting debts, and growing fascism and militarism.

---

MEDIA COVERAGE IS REQUESTED.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERVIEWS WILL BE FACILITATED.#

Photo from CNN Philippines

 

Pakikiisa sa laban kontra jeepney phaseout

 

Ang nakaambang jeepney phaseout batay sa tinatawag na PUV modernization ay mauuwi sa pagkawala ng hanapbuhay ng daang libong operators at drivers. Ang planong palitan ito ng modern jeepneys sa pamamahala ng mga korporasyon ay magreresulta naman sa mas mataas na pasahe. Ito ay magpapatindi sa kahirapan ng mga Pilipino sa gitna ng hirap ng buhay na dulot walang-tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

 

Nakikiisa ang Partido Manggagawa sa laban ng mga kapatid na jeepney operator at driver. Sumusuporta ang PM sa nakatakdang welga na panawagan ng grupong Manibela. Nananawagan ang PM sa kasapian nito at sa mamamayang Pilipino na makikiisa labang ito.

 

Totoong may epekto ang welga sa normal na takbo ng ating buhay. Pero ito ay maliit na sakripisyo kapalit ng pananatili ng murang pasahe, at pagpapatuloy ng kabuhayan ng mga kapatid na jeepney operator at driver.

 

Alalahanin natin kung paanong nagtaasan ang singil sa tubig at kuryente matapos ang privatization at sagpangin ng mga korporasyon ang public utilities. Ganito din ang mangyayari kapag napunta sa kamay ng mga korporasyon ang mga linya at prangkisa ng mga ruta sa kalsada.

 

Walang dudang ang kasalukuyang PUV modernization ay mangangahulugan ng malawakang phaseout. Ang presyo ng modern jeeps ay lagpas P2 milyon kaya’t di kayang bayaran ng abang operators laluna’t ang pangakong government subsidy ay nasa P160,000 lang.

 

Naninindigan ang PM na dapat itransisyon ang traditional jeepneys upang mabawasan ang polusyon habang inililinaw na mga pribadong sasakyan ang hamak na mas matindi ang carbon emissions. Ang transisyon ay kailangang mauwi sa mas maalwang buhay para sa jeepney operators at drivers sa halip na kawalan ng hanapbuhay. Ang jeepney cooperatives ay tamang alternatiba sa corporations pero nangangailangan ito ng sapat na panahon at suporta. At kailangang pakinggan at dinggin ang hiling at hinaing ng jeepney operators at drivers sa isang negosasyon. Ito ang tinatawag na just transition sa gitna ng pag-aangkop sa climate change.

 

Subalit hindi mangyari ang ganitong negosasyon para sa just transition sapagkat iginiit ng gobyerno na tuloy ang PUV modernization habang inuusog ang deadline ng phaseout. Kaya tama na labanan ng jeepney strike ang pagmamatigas na ito ng gobyerno.

 

Ang laban kontra jeepney phaseout ay laban ng lahat!

Ipaglaban ang murang pasahe at kabuhayan ng jeepney operators at drivers!

 

Partido Manggagawa

NEDA rep in NCR wage board asked to inhibit on P100 petition

  

The workers group Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa (Kapatiran) called on the representative of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the National Capital Region (NCR) to inhibit from the deliberations on the P100 wage hike petition.

 

Last December 5, 2022, Kapatiran filed for a P100 increase in the NCR minimum wage which is currently pegged at P570. Today, two Kapatiran leaders submitted a formal letter to the NCR wage board to follow up on its petition.

 

“NEDA Director General Arsenio Balisacan has already pre-judged the wage hike petition by his declaration that a salary increase is detrimental to the economy. The NEDA NCR Director who is vice chair of the NCR regional wage board cannot be expected to be impartial on the P100 wage hike petition given the very public opposition by his or her boss,” explained Rey Almendras, president of both Kapatiran and the Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Labor Union.

 

“Aside from the NEDA rep inhibiting himself or herself, we also call on the NCR wage hike to immediately hold hearings on the wage petition in light of runaway inflation. NEDA is noisy about a wage hike hurting the ‘economy’ but is silent on the harm inflation is inflicting on workers and their families. The Bangko Sentral itself has predicted that inflation for February will breach 9%. The P570 minimum is only worth P482 as of January 2023. Today, it is worth even less. Balisacan should remember that NEDA in 2018 admitted that the cost of living was already P42,000 in a month,” Almendras elaborated.

 

Balisacan insisted the other day that a government mandated salary hike is harmful to the economy and argued that wages should only rise through voluntary action by employers as labor productivity increases.

 

Almendras countered that Balisacan’s argument is fake news. “From 2001 to 2016, real wages stagnated while labor productivity increased by 50% and the economy grew by 100%. This information comes from the Department of Finance. Facts do not stand up to the myth peddled by Balisacan. In truth, a wage hike will harm employers but not the economy,” he insisted.

 

“Capitalists are profit-maximizing actors. They will not automatically adjust wages in line with productivity. Instead capitalists will always seek to accelerate their returns unless forced by trade unionism and collective bargaining or state mandated wage orders to share part of their profit to workers who created the wealth in the first place. Even a neutral entity like the International Labour Organization understands this elementary truth,” Almendras declared.

Rey Almendras

Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa

March 3, 2023