Urban poor protest Cavite mayor’s intrusion into mass housing project

Informal settlers protest at GMA, Cavite municipal hall

Urban poor protest Cavite mayor’s intrusion into mass housing project

More than a hundred informal settlers in the town of General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), Cavite protested yesterday the interference of the mayor in a mass housing project being implemented by the National Housing Authority (NHA). The GMA residents held a march from their community in Quarry Hills in Barangay Dacin to the NHA office and finally at the municipal hall.

“We demand that Mayor Walter Echevarria cease and desist from obstructing the smooth completion of the housing project handled by the NHA that will benefit some 300 families in Quarry Hills. We call on the Mayor to allow the ongoing validation and verification of actual occupancy that is part of the NHA’s process for socialized housing,” asserted Jun Labrador, leader of the GMA informal settlers.

The day before, the mayor had ordered a stop to the validation and verification being done by NHA personnel at the Quarry Hills community. “We even heard from reliable sources that Mayor Echevarria  verbally abused the NHA project manager in his fit of anger,” Labrador insisted.

The protesters at the GMA municipal hall called on Mayor Echevarria for a dialogue but instead it was his daughter, Councilor Maricel E. Torres , who is running in the coming election as the vice mayor of his re-electionist father, who came down to meet the Quarry Hills informal settlers.

“We agreed to Councilor Torres’ proposal for a meeting of all the interested parties at the Quarry Hills site even as we insisted that such a meeting should not stop nor delay the ongoing validation and verification phase of the housing project,” Labrador argued.

Ramil Cangayo, chair of the Cavite chapter of the party-list group Partido Manggagawa (PM), which is assisting the Quarry Hills residents in their fight for housing rights, averred that “The LGU should not interfere in the project implementation since it is entirely the mandate of the NHA. For the LGU to interfere is to overstep its bounds and is tantamount to abuse of authority.’

He explained that the Quarry Hills informal settlers had already struggled too long to secure their tenure rights to the 3.7 hectare public land. “As early as 2002, the NHA had issued memorandum circular 1754 awarding the land to the informal settlers on Quarry Hills. In 2006, the LGU had already approved the subdivision plan for the onsite housing project. Justice delayed is justice denied. Kung totoo ang tuwid na daan, matagal na sanang nakamit ang katiyakan sa paninirahan ng mga taga-Quarry Hills,” Cangayao stated.

PM vowed to support the Quarry Hills residents in the ongoing dispute and their fight to secure affordable housing. “The protest yesterday is not the first nor the last. Tuloy ang laban hanggang maipanalo ang katiyakan sa paninirahan. Accessible housing for the poor is a key part of PM’s demand for sufficient social services. Along with our call for cheap prices of goods and utilities, decent wages and job security, these constitute PM’s Apat na Dapat platform for workers and the poor,” Cangayao clarified.

October 30, 2015

Partido Manggagawa

PALEA calls for PAL’s testimony on platinum card in to impeachment rally

Press Release

February 27, 2012

PALEA

In a rally before the start of today’s impeachment trial, the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) once more aired its call for the Senator-judges to allow the testimony of Philippine Airlines (PAL) management on the privileges given to Chief Justice Renato Corona and his wife. “We hope that in the caucus today, the Senators will reconsider Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s decision to deny the testimony of PAL VP for Sales Enrique Javier on the platinum card given to CJ Corona,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

More than a hundred PALEA members together with a group from PM picketed the Senate grounds this noon. The protesters distributed makeshift platinum cards to passers-by in allusion to the privilege extended by PAL to CJ Corona.

Before the protest at the impeachment trial, PALEA and PM held a motorcade that passed by the different PAL offices such Nichols, Data Center Building, PNB Building and PAL Learning Center (Faura).  The motorcade commemorated the 5^th month of PALEA’s protest at Terminal 2 and the implementation of PAL’s outsourcing plan.

“Five months into PALEA’s protest against outsourcing and contractualization, thousands of our members remain steadfast in the struggle. If reports are indeed true that the flag carrier will be acquired by a new owner, then we call on them to make PAL fly high again by resolving the labor dispute and reinstating the locked out workers back to their regular jobs,” Rivera insisted.

PM meanwhile countered President Benigno Aquino’s pronouncement at the EDSA celebration yesterday that the judiciary needs to be reformed in pursuit of good governance. “Indeed people need to participate in the fight to reform government but change cannot be achieved by simply impeaching the Chief Justice and prosecuting former President Gloria Arroyo. As shown by the experience of PALEA and FASAP, the corruption and greed of the 1% affects not just the high officials of the judiciary but also of the executive and even the legislature. To give justice to PALEA and workers, we need reforms beyond Gloria and Corona,” explained Renato Magtubo, PM chair.

PALEA and PM insisted that they will not be a party to the conflict between “factions of the 1%.” Magtubo added that “We did not participate in the EDSA activities yesterday and will not join the Luneta mobilization tomorrow which are just shows of force by the opposing camps of the elite. The 99% should allow themselves to be used as cannon fodder by any of the factions of the 1%. We call on the people, especially the workers, to organize into an independent movement that will struggle for a new EDSA based on radical social change. Poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment will not be solved, albeit only worsen, with ousting presidents and impeaching chief justices. Reform will be won by changing the system.”

PALEA calls on senators to hear PAL testimony

Press Release

February 23, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) called on the senators sitting as judges in the impeachement trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona to reconsider and hear the testimony of Philippine Airlines (PAL) management. PALEA also defended its lawyer, Atty. Marlon Manuel, for appearing as a private prosecutor in the trial. “We call on any of the senators who does not have a platinum card in his or her wallet to stand up for truth and move that PAL testify regarding the privileges given to CJ Corona and his wife,” said Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

Meanwhile more than a hundred PALEA members trooped this morning to the Department of Agrarian Reform national office in Quezon City to support scores of peasant leaders who are calling for the resolution of land reform cases, including the distribution of Hacienda Luisita. “It is the alliance of the 99%, the workers and the farmers, which will usher in change in our society that has been made rotten by the corruption and greed of the 1%,” explained Rivera.

He also insisted that the testimony of PAL VP for Sales, Enrique Javier, is relevant in Article 3 of the impeachment complaint since “The platinum card is directly related to the Pilato-num decision of the Supreme Court on the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association (FASAP) case.” Two weeks ago, PALEA had already challenged PAL to appear at the impeachment trial after FASAP president Roberto Anduiza accused CJ Corona of influencing the Supreme Court.

In reply to the House minority’s criticism of Atty. Manuel’s appearance as a private prosecutor, Rivera clarified that PALEA has no “axe to grind” and “vested interest” in ousting CJ Corona since their case against PAL’s outsourcing plan is pending at the Court of Appeals not the Supreme Court. “Rep. Danilo Suarez should get his facts right before he speaks. He might be accused of being one of the government officials given platinum cards, as defense lawyers have declared. Within PAL, it is said that only those who are FOB’s or friends of the boss receive a platinum card as a gift,” Rivera argued.

PALEA has previously staged rallies at the impeachment trial and called for “Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona.” Rivera averrred that “Corona and PNoy may be fighting over the fate of Gloria Arroyo and Hacienda Luisita but both are beholden to Lucio Tan. With a mere letter from PAL’s lawyer Estelito Mendoza, Corona’s Supreme Court recalled the ruling in favor of the 1,800 flight attendants of FASAP. But also on the mere say-so from PAL that it is losing money even when the facts deny it, Aquino’s government betrayed the 2,600 ground crew of PALEA.”

He added that “The people want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her minions like Corona is the start of fundamental reforms. But without any signs of real changes then such is mere wishful thinking.”

Mabuhay ang 11th anniversary ng PM

Workers' Digest on Corona Impeachment Trial

PALEA challenges PAL to testify at impeachment trial

Press Release

February 8, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) held a rally at noon today to support the testimony of Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) president Roberto Anduiza who will undergo cross-examination. PALEA is challenging Philippine Airlines (PAL) management to testify too at the impeachment trial.

“PAL management should face the music. PAL employees and the Filipino people deserve to know the truth behind allegations that Lucio Tan had influenced the Supreme Court through Chief Justice Renato Corona,” said Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

Some one hundred PALEA members picketed the Senate from 12 noon to 1:00 pm in their third straight day of keeping watch over the impeachment deliberations. Anduiza testified yesterday on Corona’s intervention in the recall of the Supreme Court decision on 1,400 flight attendants after a mere letter from PAL lawyer Estelito Mendoza. In the impeachment proceedings last week, public prosecutors accused Corona and his wife of receiving perks, including free trips abroad, from PAL.

In time for President Benigno Aquino III’s birthday, Rivera quipped that “Aquino has a heart for Grace Lee but none for PAL workers.” PALEA also raised the call “Justice for workers, Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona” as a challenge to the Aquino administration’s so-called campaign for good governance. Members of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) also joined PALEA in the rally at the Senate.

Renato Magtubo, PM chair, said that “Like the rest of the people, we want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her followers is the start of fundamental reforms. But without any signs of real changes then such is mere wishful thinking.”

In the press conference yesterday of the “Ang Tipo Kong Chief Justice Movement,” PALEA and PM joined the League of Cities of the Philippines and other groups in calling for people’s participation in the impeachment trial as stakeholders and not just spectators.

“We appeal to our fellow workers to raise their voices as to what standards should a Chief Justice be held to. We cannot have a Supreme Court that will recall a ruling in favor of thousands of flight attendants due to a letter from respondent’s counsel,” Rivera argued.

Magtubo explained that “As it stands now, the so-called campaign for good governance by PNoy looks no more than a factional fight among the elite. This is because there is no difference between the regimes of Arroyo and Aquino with regards to labor policy, neoliberal economics and social programs. The clash between Corona and PNoy looks more like a case of the kettle calling the teapot black and the teapot accusing the kettle of being ebony.”

PALEA calls for pro-labor Chief Justice

Press Release

February 7, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) staged a picket at the Senate for the second straight day and called for a pro-labor Chief Justice. Some 100 PALEA members rallied before the start of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona carrying placards with the message “Ang tipo naming Chief Justice ay kakampi ng maliliit hindi kakuntsaba ng mayayaman.” The rallyists also brought a giant tarpaulin emblazoned with the slogan “Reporma lagpas kay Gloria at Corona.”

The PALEA rally coincided with the press conference this morning of the “Ang Tipo Kong Chief Justice Movement” in Quezon City. In the press conference, PALEA joined the League of Cities of the Philippines and other groups in calling for people’s participation in the impeachment trial as stakeholders and not just spectators.

“We appeal to our fellow workers to raise their voices and vote with their feet as to what standards should a Chief Justice be held to. We do not deserve a Chief Justice who can be bought by the second-richest Filipino. We cannot have a Supreme Court that will recall a ruling in favor of 1,800 flight attendants due to a mere letter from Philippine Airlines (PAL) lawyer Estelito Mendoza,” explained Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

He added that “Workers want a pro-labor Chief Justice who will make real the dictum that those who have less in life shall have more in law. But a Chief Justice is only one person who can do so much. Thus we further demand fundamental reforms in our society.”

Rivera enumerated a sample of the fundamental reforms that PALEA is seeking. First, the prosecution not just of a corrupt Chief Justice but the purging of labor dealers in the DOLE and NLRC. The imprisonment not just of an illegitimate president but the punishment of killers of labor leaders.

Second, a shift in change in the government’s labor policy so that regular jobs are protected, contractualization is stopped, wages are not frozen, and the freedoms to organize and bargain are guaranteed.

And finally, a reversal of the neoliberal economic model that has led to the collapse of domestic industry and agriculture. Instead of labor exported abroad, jobs must be generated in the country through national industrialization, land reform and agricultural modernization.

Meanwhile PALEA continues to garner international support as the US union Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the biggest flight attendants group in the world, sent a letter of concern to the PAL office at the Los Angeles international airport (LAX). AFA-CWA held an “Occufly” protest at LAX to slam corporate greed by airline companies.

Ang Tipo ng Manggagawang Chief Justice ay Pro-Labor

Press Statement

February 7, 2012

Gerry Rivera

PALEA President

We join the call for people to become active stakeholders not just passive spectators in the ongoing impeachment trial. In particular we appeal to our fellow workers to raise their voices and vote with their feet as to what standards should a Chief Justice be held to.

We deserve a Chief Justice of a higher moral and professional caliber. Not a Chief Justice who can be bought by the second-richest Filipino. Not a Supreme Court that will recall a ruling in favor of the 1,800 flight attendants who were illegally dismissed due to a mere letter from Philippine Airlines lawyer Estelito Mendoza.

Workers need a speedy resolution of cases instead of thousands of labor cases remaining trapped in the backlog of the Supreme Court since crooked capitalists know that the wheels of justice grind ever so slowly for those without money and influence. Justice delayed is truly justice denied for workers.

Workers want a pro-labor Chief Justice. Someone who will put flesh to the Constitutional proviso that workers shall enjoy full protection.  A Chief Justice who will make real the dictum that those who have less in life shall have more in law. Ang tipo ng manggagawang Chief Justice ay kakampi ng maliliit hindi kakuntsaba ng mayayaman.

But a Chief Justice is only one person who can do so much. Even a cleansing of the entire judiciary cannot liberate the oppressed. Thus we demand fundamental reforms in our society.

Workers want not just the prosecution of Gloria Arroyo and her minions but the cleansing of all corrupt officials in the bureaucracy and further substantial changes in the political and economic system. In the face of the ongoing impeachment trial of the Chief Justice, workers demand “Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona.”

Without thoroughgoing reforms then the purging of Gloria’s followers would just pave the way for the embedding of PNoy’s own cronies in government. We want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her minions is the start of real reforms. But without any signs of fundamental changes then such is mere wishful thinking.

We want to see the prosecution not just of a corrupt Chief Justice but the purging of labor dealers in the DOLE and NLRC. We call not just for imprisonment of an illegitimate president but the punishment of killers of labor leaders.

We demand a change in the government’s labor policy so that regular jobs are protected, contractualization is stopped, wages are not frozen, and the freedoms to organize and bargain are guaranteed.

We call for a reversal of the neoliberal economic model that has led to the collapse of our domestic industry and agriculture. Instead of labor exported abroad, jobs must be generated in the country through national industrialization, land reform and agricultural modernization.

On the 11th death anniversary of Ka Popoy: Labor party revives campaign for reforms beyond impeachment of high officials

PRESS RELEASE

06 February 2012

The Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines) made the commemoration of the 11th death anniversary of its founding hero, Filemon “Ka Popoy” Lagman, an occasion to revive labor’s campaign for reforms beyond the impeachment of the country’s high officials.

“If we want no repeat of the failed Edsa II, campaign for reforms must extend beyond the removal of high officals.  With the whole system corrupted in this country, a total cleansing is therefore necessary not only in the judiciary but in all branches of government.  In addition is the pressing necessity to reverse the country’s anti-labor and anti-poor economic policies such as cheap labor and contractualization schemes,” said Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) chair Renato Magtubo.

It can be recalled that it was Ka Popoy Lagman who led the campaign for the total cleansing of government by putting forward the call “resign all” during the height of the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Estrada in 2000.  He was assinated inside the University of the Philippines campus on February 6, 2001, a week after Gloria Arroyo assumed office.

The late Lagman argued then that simply replacing Erap with Gloria without first emabarking on major political and economic reforms would  render the whole process an empty political exercise.   Expectedly Erap was removed but the country suffered another nine years of plunder under Arroyo.

Today, PM and the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) kick off their “Reporma lagpas kay Gloria at Corona” (reforms beyond Arroyo and Corona) campaign in a picket held at the Senate where Corona’s flip-flopping on the PAL issue is expected to be raised.

“Now we are in front of another impeachment trial, the Coronavela that has the single objective of removing the Chief Justice.  While it is a must to remove Corona for being unfit and corrupt, the truth remains that corruption occupies not only the streets of Padre Faura but all the branches of government, thus the need to extend the reform agenda beyond this process,” explained Magtubo.

“Habang api ang manggagawa sa PAL, alam din ng marami na hindi lang si CJ Corona ang opisyal ng gubyerno na binubusog ng mga negosyanteng gaya ni Lucio Tan,” added Magtubo.

The labor leader said that on the issue of corruption, labor will also extend its campaign on labor justice by calling for reforms and cleansing in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as well as the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) where ‘decisions for sale’ is also common knowledge.

Apart from that, labor groups will also intensify its call for an end to contractualization policy which they claim is more fundamental than waiting for another piece of evidence of Corona’s  ill-gotten wealth presented and hotly debated in the Senate.

PALEA to slam Corona and PAL at impeachment rally

Press Release

February 6, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) held a rally this afternoon at the Senate before the start of today’s impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. More than a hundred PALEA members picketed the Senate from 12 noon to 1:00 pm in time for the expected testimony of Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) president Bob Anduiza on the recall of the Supreme Court decision on 1,800 flight attendants after a mere letter from Philippine Airlines (PAL) lawyer Estelito Mendoza.

In the protest, PALEA raised the call “Justice for workers, Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona” as a challenge to President Benigno Aquino III administration’s so-called campaign for good governance. “Aquino and Corona may be fighting over Hacienda Luisita and Gloria Arroyo but both are beholden to Lucio Tan as revealed by the FASAP and PALEA cases. The privileges extended to the Coronas by PAL are just the tip of the iceberg of the cozy relationship between public officials and Lucio Tan,” argued Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

He added that “Workers want not just the prosecution of Gloria and her minions but the cleansing of all corrupt officials in the bureaucracy and further the institution of radical changes in the political and economic system. Without such thoroughgoing reforms then the purging of Gloria’s followers would just pave the way for the embedding of PNoy’s own cronies in government.”

Rivera explained that “As it stands now, the so-called campaign for good governance by PNoy looks no more than a factional fight among the elite. This is because there is no difference between the regimes of Arroyo and Aquino with regards to labor policy, neoliberal economics and social programs. The clash between Corona and PNoy looks more like a case of the kettle calling the teapot black and the teapot accusing the kettle of being ebony.”

Members of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) also joined PALEA in the rally at the Senate. Renato Magtubo, PM chair, said that “Like the rest of the people, we want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her followers is the start of fundamental reforms. But without any signs of real changes then such is mere wishful thinking.”

The call for fundamental reforms would be the banner demand for the May 1 commemoration and the rally today serves to jumpstart the early start of the Labor Day campaign.

Meanwhile PALEA continues to garner international support as tomorrow (February 6 Pacific Standard Time) the American union AFA-CWA, the biggest flight attendants union in the world, will submit a letter of concern to the PAL office at the Los Angeles international airport (LAX). AFA-CWA will hold an “Occufly” protest at LAX to slam corporate greed by airline companies.

The US flight attendants support for PALEA comes on the heels of protest actions earlier staged in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan) and Hongkong. US unions and Filipino-American groups have also initiated a boycott PAL campaign.

Workers demand reforms beyond Gloria and Corona

Press Statement

February 2, 2012

Gerry Rivera

PALEA President

In the face of the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, workers demand “Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona.” Workers want not just the prosecution of Gloria Arroyo and her minions but the cleansing of all corrupt officials in the bureaucracy and further the institution of radical changes in the political and economic system.

Without such thoroughgoing reforms then the purging of Gloria’s followers would just pave the way for the embedding of PNoy’s own cronies in government. As it stands now, the so-called campaign for good governance by PNoy looks no more than a factional fight among the elite. This is because there is no difference between the regimes of Arroyo and Aquino with regards to labor policy, neoliberal economics and social programs.

The experience of PALEA is enlightening. The decision to allow the controversial outsourcing scheme was upheld by both the labor secretaries of Arroyo and Aquino. Moreover, the Office of the President itself under PNoy affirmed the legality of the PAL’s contractualization scam despite the USD 76.5 million profit for the last fiscal year.

Thus Corona and PNoy may be fighting over the fate of Gloria Arroyo and Hacienda Luisita but both are beholden to Lucio Tan. With a mere letter from PAL’s lawyer Estelito Mendoza, Corona’s Supreme Court recalled the ruling in favor of the 1,800 flight attendants of FASAP. But also on the mere say-so from PAL that it is losing money even when the facts deny it, Aquino’s government betrayed the 2,600 ground crew of PALEA.

The clash between Corona and PNoy looks more like a case of the kettle calling the teapot black and the teapot accusing the kettle of being ebony.

Like the rest of the people, we want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her minions is the start of fundamental reforms. But without any signs of real changes then such is mere wishful thinking.

We want to see the prosecution not just of a corrupt chief justice but the purging of labor dealers in the DOLE and NLRC and the imprisonment of killers of labor leaders.

We demand a change in the government’s labor policy so that regular jobs are protected, contractualization is stopped, wages are not frozen, and the freedoms to organize and bargain are guaranteed.

We call for a reversal of the neoliberal economic model that has led to the collapse of our domestic industry and agriculture. Jobs must be generated in the country instead of labor exported abroad through national industrialization, land reform and agricultural modernization.

This will be our call for the coming celebration of Labor Day. To jumpstart the campaign, we will mobilize on Monday for the impeachment trial by carrying the banner of “Justice for workers, Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona.”

It’s the 99%, not Gloria, who are the real victims of injustice in this country

 

Press Release

November 16, 2011

The Partido ng Mangagawa (PM) today said it is the 99% and not former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who are the real victims of tyranny and injustice in this country. Members of PM and the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) held a 2:00 p.m. rally at the Our Lady of the Airways Parish at the corner of Sucat Road and MIA Road to air their sentiments on the alleged escape of the Arroyos.

Earlier today the groups also joined running priest Fr. Robert Reyes in a picket at the Supreme Court, a day after the high tribunal allowed the former President, who is facing criminal charges, to seek medical treatment abroad. They brought placards which read: “Itlog ni Topacio ibigay kay PNoy para tumindig vs Lucio Tan,” “Panagutin si GMA sa pagnanakaw, pandaraya at pagsisinungaling. Panagutin si PNoy sa pang-aapi sa manggagawa,” “Wag patakasin si GMA sa pagkakasala sa bayan. Wag patakasin si PNoy sa pagkakasala sa manggagawa ng PAL.”

“Gloria was merely banned from leaving the country for a while, whereas thousands of PAL workers and several millions of contractuals, unemployed and underemployed out there are being denied the right to live decent lives,” stated PALEA president and PM vice chair Gerry Rivera.

Renato Magtubo, PM national chair, agreed with the position of DoJ Secretary Leila De Lima in invoking a judicial process available to all, in this case a motion for reconsideration, to take its course before Gloria is finally allowed to travel and seek medical treatment abroad. He said that “The Pinoy Bonnie and Clyde should not be allowed to escape from facing cases of stealing, cheating and lying. They will not get any sympathy from oppressed workers in their attempt to fly out of the country and out of reach of justice.”

“As to PAL’s implementation of its outsourcing plan we stand by our position that outsourcing should not be implemented while the case remains pending before the Court of Appeals,” said Rivera.

Unfortunately thousands of PAL workers were thrown out of work since October 1, 2011 when De Lima’s boss, President Benigno Aquino, allowed Lucio Tan to proceed in firing 2,600 its regular employees and outsource their jobs to third party service providers in clear violation of the Constitution, the Labor Code and international conventions. 

The only difference between the two cases, Magtubo added, is that PAL’s outsourcing was motivated by corporate greed while Gloria’s bid was a desperate attempt to escape looming imprisonment.

“Indeed, the country’s justice system is more ill than the ailing Gloria,” concluded Magtubo.

We call on GMA to do a Zubiri

Press Statement

August 4, 2011

Renato Magtubo

Many were happy with the resignation of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri in the face of the widening expose on electoral fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections. Still even more are sad that Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo still has not resigned yet.

We call on GMA to do a Zubiri. We urge her to follow his good example. Like Zubiri, GMA does not have to admit that she did cheat. But her resignation nonetheless will give a bigger berth for the investigation of cheating in the presidential polls of 2004. But GMA doing a Zubiri may of course be wishful thinking given that resignation will wipe out any residual immunity and power that she still enjoys as a congresswoman.

By resigning, Zubiri wanted to take the heat away from him since he apparently is not Teflon-coated like GMA. Or to say the same thing, that Zubiri is not made of the same thick hide as GMA.

We hope that GMA makes a speedy recovery from her spine surgery so that she can face in the soonest possible time the probe not just on electoral fraud but on other anomalies during her administration.

Eradicating wang-wangs will not eradicate poverty

Press Statement

July 25, 2011

PNoy’s bosses are unsatisfied with the SONA. Eradicating wang-wangs will not eradicate poverty. It will not create jobs for the Filipinos nor raise the wages of workers.

Workers want a war not just against Gloria for plundering the nation but even more a war against globalization for pillaging the country’s patrimony. Labor calls for a new not just straight road. The old road of contractualization, privatization, liberalization, deregulation and globalization is at the root of the impoverishment, unemployment and hunger of Filipinos.

It is not PNoy’s leadership style that is the problem but his leadership vision that is at issue. This false vision of progress through globalization is no different from Gloria’s.

PM supports Escudero’s call for independent body to investigate poll cheating

Press Release

July 20, 2011

The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) today expressed support for Sen. Chiz Escudero’s call for an independent body headed by a retired Supreme Court justice to conduct an investigation into the allegations of cheating in the elections of 2004 and 2007.

“It is high time to put a closure to the question of who really won the 2004 elections. Arising from the cover up during the regime of Gloria Arroyo, it is to the interest of truth and justice that an independent body now hears evidence and testimony of witnesses such as Zaldy Ampatuan and Lintang Bedol,” stated Renato Magtubo, PM national chair.

Magtubo also called on President Benigno Aquino III to include the burning issue of poll reregulates in his SONA speech. “We want to hear in his SONA PNoy’s personal position on the demand for an investigation of the cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections,” Magtubo insisted.

However Magtubo also challenged Aquino to go beyond the issues of cheating and corruption in his SONA speech. “We know that PNoy will highlight his administration’s accomplishments in the arena of stamping corruption but poverty will not be solved by good governance alone. Poverty can only be eradicated by radical reforms in the economic and social arena that to attacks the iniquitous distribution of wealth in the country,” he elaborated.

PM is planning protests before and during the SONA to underscore its critique of the Aquino administrations programs. On Friday morning, PM will participate in a thousand-strong mobilization of pro-RH bill advocates at Mendiola. Meanwhile on Friday noon, PM will lead a rally at the

Roxas Boulevard

office of the Philippine Export Zone Authority to assail the agency for its role in the suppression of the right to organize in ecozones.

On Monday, PM will join other labor groups in another Mendiola rally to criticize the administration’s anti-labor policies including its tolerance of contractual employment. In the afternoon, PM will participate in a broad mobilization of militant organizations at the Batasan to challenge President Aquino on the pro-globalization framework of the Philippine Development Plan and the public-private partnership.

“PNoy’s decision in the Philippine Airlines labor dispute over outsourcing and contractualization, and recently his praise for Hanjin’s billion-dolar investments but silence over the shipyard’s record as a graveyard for workers rights are the most concrete illustration of the contradiction between his anti-corruption posture and his pro-globalization agenda,” Magtubo argued.

PAL union, labor party press for inclusion of Baldoz in plunder case

PRESS RELEASE

29 April 2011

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) find it utterly necessary to include Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and other officials in the plunder case filed by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“The use of OWWA money to buy votes in 2004 had long been discussed in many fora.  Now is the time to make the guilty parties accountable for squandering millions of OFW funds,” said PM chair Renato Magtubo.

Meanwhile, PALEA President Gerry Rivera called anew on Secretary Baldoz to resign from her post immediately amid the raging controversy.

According to Magtubo, Baldoz together with other members of the OWWA Board cannot dissociate themselves from this crime of Gloria since they facilitated the conversion of OFW funds into election dole outs in 2004. 

“In fact workers here and abroad have very strong doubt that Malacanang and labor and officials are only interested in the funds rather than in protecting the welfare of OFWs,” added Magtubo.

Some P530 million of OWWA funds were transferred to Philhealth in 2003.  These were allegedly used to finance the distribution of Philhealth cards during the 2004 election campaigns. Chavez said the fund transfer is illegal.

“During her time, all that’s coming out of the labor department are bad news,” said Rivera, stating as an example the ruling she made on the PAL-PALEA case where she abused her discretion in allowing Lucio Tan to layoff and contract out 2,600 regular jobs in violation of the existing collective bargaining agreement, the Constitution, the Labor Code and International Labor Organization’s conventions.

“And now that she is being associated to Gloria’s misuse of OWWA funds, all the more we suspect that her recent decisions on labor cases do not come from a clean hand,” concluded Rivera.

PAL union rally at DOLE vs. “midnight decision”

Press Release
June 22, 2010

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) held a protest action this morning at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to coincide with the filing of a motion for reconsideration against the decision penned by Acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman that found the planned PAL mass layoff to be a “valid exercise of management prerogative.” PALEA lambasted the order as a “midnight decision that is faulty on both substantive and procedural grounds.”

More than 500 PAL employees participated in the protest that started as a motorcade from the PALEA office in Tambo, Paranaque City. A delegation of supporters from the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), PLDT union, Fortune Tobacco union and Alliance of Progressive Labor joined the rally at DOLE.

PALEA also demanded that the new Labor Secretary to be appointed by President-elect Noynoy Aquino be allowed to decide on the dispute. Tomorrow a delegation of PALEA leaders will troop to the Times St., QC residence of President-elect Aquino to deliver a petition. PALEA will ask President-elect Aquino to intervene in the PAL dispute, cleanse the DOLE of corrupt officials and reform the policy regarding contractualization.

“The worst of crimes are indeed committed in the darkness of midnight. Lagman’s order is a midnight decision that was released with indecent haste given that the case has not been submitted for resolution and mediation proceedings are still ongoing. We insist that the incoming Labor Secretary be given the right to study and decide on the PAL-PALEA dispute according to procedure and on a just basis,” argued Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice-chairperson.

Rivera added that “Lagman’s June 15 order is faulty on both substantial and procedural grounds. It failed to consider the PAL-PALEA collective bargaining agreement’s provision prohibiting the outsourcing of jobs that are being performed by regular employees. Further the order came only four working days after PALEA filed a motion for the production of certain documents such as PAL’s latest financial statement and its outsourcing contracts with service providers. No action has yet been taken on the motion.”

PM chairperson Renato Magtubo slammed the decision for legitimizing mass contractualization and revealing the anti-labor legacy of the outgoing Gloria Arroyo government. Magtubo added that “This is the ugly face of contractualization in PAL. Regular PAL employees will become contractual workers in service providers who will be performing exactly the same job for less wages, fewer benefits and no security of tenure. It has happened before when PAL’s maintenance and engineering department was spunoff to Lufthansa Technik and MacroAsia, shell companies whose real owner is still Lucio Tan.”

PAL union to rally vs. DOLE’s “midnight decision”

Press Release
June 21, 2010

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) will hold a rally tomorrow at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to coincide with the filing of a motion for reconsideration against the decision penned by Acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman that found the planned PAL mass layoff to be a “valid exercise of management prerogative.” PALEA insists that the order is a “midnight decision that is faulty on both substantive and procedural grounds.”

PALEA demands that the new Labor Secretary to be appointed by President-elect Noynoy Aquino be allowed to decide on the dispute. More than 500 PAL employees will participate in the protest that will start with a motorcade from the PALEA office in Tambo, Paranaque City. A delegation of supporters from the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) will join the rally at DOLE.

The protest will continue on Wednesday with a delegation of PALEA leaders trooping to the Times St., QC residence of President-elect Aquino to deliver a petition. PALEA will ask President-elect Aquino to intervene in the PAL dispute, cleanse the DOLE of corrupt officials and reform the policy regarding contractualization.

“The worst of crimes are indeed committed in the darkness of midnight. Lagman’s order is a midnight decision that was released with indecent haste given that the case has not been submitted for resolution and mediation proceedings are still ongoing. We insist that the incoming Labor Secretary be given the right to study and decide on the PAL-PALEA dispute according to procedure and on a just basis,” argued Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice-chairperson.

Rivera added that “Lagman’s June 15 order is faulty on both substantial and procedural grounds. It failed to consider the PAL-PALEA collective bargaining agreement’s provision prohibiting the outsourcing of jobs that are being performed by regular employees. Further the order came only four working days after PALEA filed a motion for the production of certain documents such as PAL’s latest financial statement and its outsourcing contracts with service providers. No action has yet been taken on the motion.”

PM chairperson Renato Magtubo slammed the decision for legitimizing mass contractualization and revealing the anti-labor legacy of the outgoing Gloria Arroyo government. Magtubo added that “This is the ugly face of contractualization in PAL. Regular PAL employees will become contractual workers in service providers who will be performing exactly the same job for less wages, fewer benefits and no security of tenure. It has happened before when PAL’s maintenance and engineering department was spunoff to Lufthansa Technik and MacroAsia, shell companies whose real owner is still Lucio Tan.”

Militant workers slam wage hike as loose change, call for abolition of wage boards

Press Release
June 8, 2010

The militant Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) slammed the wage hike of P22 for Metro Manila workers as “loose change” and called for the abolition of the regional wage boards for “betraying the working class.” Renato Magtubo, PM chairperson, declared that “P22 is not even enough for workers to buy a kilo of commercial rice or even the cheapest NFA rice worth P25. Since the last wage hike was in June 2008, the wage hike is effectively P11 per year over two years. Na-onse na naman ang mga manggagawa."

He stated that “The wage hike exposes the real economic legacy of the Gloria Arroyo government—deepening poverty exacerbated by a cheap labor policy and lack of social protection. The 7.3% economic growth is a myth for the workers since they cannot partake of so-called progress.”

Magtubo also warned that “If the recommendation of the Department of Finance to increase VAT from 12 to 15 per cent is approved, then half of the wage hike will be wiped out. That is P12 or 3% of the new minimum wage of P404 will not go to the pockets of the workers and just possibly end up in the wallets of politicians.”

PM renewed its call for the abolition of the regional wage boards. “The wage boards have repeatedly betrayed the workers since they were established in 1989. The yawning disparity between the minimum wage and the cost of living is the clearest expression of a system failure,” Magtubo exclaimed.

The group also revealed that they will talk to the labor groups who sponsored or supported the P75 wage petition and discuss a campaign to reform the wage fixing system via the new Congress.

Magtubo explained that “Instead of the regional wage boards, we want a National Wage Commission formed with the mandate to fix wages based on the single criterion of cost of living. Despite the huge gap between the present minimum wage and the current cost of living, the National Wage Commission can achieve equalizing the two by a host of mechanisms among which are direct wage increases, tax exemptions, price discounts at social security subsidies for workers.”

According to a study by PM the cost of living for a six-member family in Metro Manila already reached P1,000 per day last April. “Even if two members of the family earn a living—the buy one, take one policy of the state—their combined income will not even be enough for a decent life,” insisted Magtubo.

He added that “Out of 19 million waged and salaried workers, only 2 million minimum wage earners will be directly affected by the wage hike. Of the latter, hundreds of thousands more will not enjoy the wage hike because of exemptions and deferments clauses in the wage order."

Amidst concerns of election failure: PM calls on voters to be vigilant, say people power a must option

Press Release
May 4, 2010
In reaction to the recall of some 7,000 faulty memory cards and another 3,000 PCOS machines in the NCR, the labor party-list Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) called on voters to be vigilant amidst concerns of an election failure. “The recall of memory cards and PCOS machines days before May 10 is just the latest in a series of twists that may lead to a failure of elections,” declared PM chair Renato Magtubo.

PM added its voice to the growing call for people power in the event of a failed election and in the context of a power vacuum. “A failed election would be tantamount to a failure of the whole system and under such a scenario, a people power is a must option to be able to reboot the system rather than let it hang in favor of the sitting elite faction of the ruling class,” Magtubo insisted.

He added that “We have first hand reports of PCOS machines failing tests in Romblon. This is in addition to media reports of such failures in the NCR, Mindoro and Batangas.”

Magtubo revealed that the PM is mobilizing its leaders and members to be pollwatchers in populous depressed communities in which the group has chapters. “These workers’ Ballot Brigades will be present in the precincts of Metro Manila and its vicinities Calabarzon and Bulacan, and in other cities such as Metro Cebu, Metro Bacolod and Metro Davao,” he clarified.

Magtubo said the organized and even the unorganized sections of the working class will take the streets for a gallant stand against a junta type hold over government which is the most likely outcome of failed elections.

“That is because failed institutions under the Arroyo regime cannot redeem the system from such a failure, thus, a people power is the only option that can unmake or dispose of the current rotten system, or create new institutions to save this dying nation,” concludes Magtubo.