Life under PNoy is daily sacrifice for workers – labor group

PRESS RELEASE

14 April 2014

The Filipino masses got a brief respite in yesterday’s convincing victory of their Pambansang Kamao over Timothy Bradley, yet such a moment of glory cannot gloss over the fact that life remains a difficult fight for survival under the present administration. 

 

In their traditional rendition of “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita” held this morning at Mendiola, members of the labor group, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), called the attention of the Aquino administration on several issues where ordinary workers were practically and perpetually “crucified”. 

 

These issues include the problems of unemployment, contractualization, and the deepening inequality between the rich and the poor.

 

“In truth the ‘tuwid na daan’ was a tricky road to trek.  It remains a “kalbaryo” -- a daily sacrifice for ordinary workers who are continuously denied the rights and opportunity to live a decent life,” said PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda. 

 

Miranda said life under the Aquino administration remains a difficult fight for survival to both men and women who carry the burden of jobs crisis characterized by rising unemployment, low-wage and contractual work arrangements. 

 

According to the Social Weather Station (SWS) 27 out of 100 adult Filipinos were considered unemployed in December 2013.  The same survey also showed that unemployment was highest among women (35.9%) and among youth (52.3%) under the age group 18-24.

 

And for those who are employed, added Miranda, the working conditions remain very harsh with millions of workers living a slave-like subsistence under contractual work arrangements while their bosses join the club of the world’s top billionaires. 

 

According to PM’s own study, the workers real wage increased by mere 14% between 2006 and 2013 while the net worth of the country’s 10 richest capitalists increased by 1,005%. 

 

The group likewise lambasted the government for failing to address the problems of high power rates, the high cost of basic goods and services, as well as the deteriorating state of our mass transport system particularly the MRT and LRT.

 

The group, together with the labor coalition Nagkaisa!, are now preparing their forces for a major nationwide action on Labor Day.

“Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita” held in Makati

Press Release

April 4, 2012

A “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita’ was held in Makati today to highlight the plight and demands of workers and the poor. Some 200 members of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) participated in the “Kalbaryo.”

“The Kalbaryo is an annual tradition to remind government of the unmet demands and the heavy crosses borne by the working people. Contractual jobs, low wages, high prices and demolitions of depressed communities are the problems underscored by today’s protest,” Renato Magtubo, PM chair explained.

The Kalbaryo passed through key government agencies and private institutions in Makati in a mock stations of the cross. One protester carried a symbolic cross on his back. Some women participants held shrouds ala the legend of St. Veronica. The cross and shrouds were marked with the issues highlighted by the Kalbaryo.

The advance party of the protesters from PALEA arrived early at

Ayala Ave.

by 8:00 am to catch the employees going to work. The rest assembled at the Makati fire station by 8:30 am. At 9:00 am the Kalbaryo started with a march to Lucio Tan’s office in Allied Bank Building to assail contractualization at Philippine Airlines. Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair said that “To resurrect Philippine Airlines (PAL), its regular workers must be reinstated. PALEA is the solution so that PAL regains its place as Asia’s best. We say this to PAL’s old boss Lucio Tan and its new owner, the San Miguel group.”

The “Kalbaryo” then proceeded to the Employers Confederation of the Philippines office in Buendia to criticize the business group for its resistance to a wage hike. The next stop was the nearby office of the Department of Trade and Industry to draw attention to the high prices of basic commodities.

To focus on the problem of oil price hikes, the protesters then marched all the way to the Shell office in Valero. The “Kalbaryo” ended at the HUDCC office in

Makati Ave.

corner Buendia to call on the government for a moratorium on demolitions and increased budget for housing.

Magtubo added that “The Kalbaryo is a buildup to the May 1 rally. On Labor Day, workers demand reforms beyond the prosecution of Gloria and the impeachment of Corona. Workers will call on the Aquino government to heed the demands for regular jobs, wage increase and reduction in prices of oil products. Further we ask for a review of the policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization that have led to thousands of closures and layoffs, and the collapse of industry and agriculture.”

Reopening of FASAP case is a travesty of justice

Press Release

March 22, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) called the decision of the Supreme Court to affirm the reopening of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association (FASAP) case as a “travesty of justice.” “Only in the Philippines can a case that had already been ruled with finality twice by the highest court of the land still be reviewed once more on its merits. Indeed justice delayed is justice denied for 1,400 our sister and brother flight attendants,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

He added that “FASAP’s case is relevant is PALEA’s fight since if the retrenchment of cabin crew in 1998 at a time when Philippine Airlines was bankrupt is illegal then so much more is the layoff of 2,400 ground staff after the flag carrier posted PhP 3 billion in profit for its previous fiscal year.”

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, chairperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa, declared that “The timing of the release of the Supreme Court resolution clearing Chief Justice Renato Corona is perfectly timed for the defense presentation in the impeachment case. It leaves everyone thinking that it is part of the impeachment defense of Corona.”

Magtubo said that the plight of FASAP and PALEA reveals the failure of the labor justice system in the country. “It is not just with the Supreme Court but even more with the graft ridden National Labor Relations Commission, National Mediation and Conciliation Board and Department of Labor and Employment that workers lose to the power of money of abusive capitalists,” he added.

“Workers demand reforms beyond the prosecution of Gloria and the impeachment of Corona. For workers at least get a taste of fair share of justice, the NLRC, NCMB and DOLE must be cleansed, and the policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization that have led to thousands of closures and layoffs, and collapse of industry and agriculture must be rolled back,” Magtubo explained.

PM announced that the May Day campaign will start early with a “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita” on the first week of April that will highlight the issues of low wages, high prices, mass unemployment, contractual jobs and urban poor demolitions.

PAL employees hold Kalbaryo ng PALEA at Baclaran

Press Release

April 20, 2011

PALEA

Some 100 Philippine Airlines (PAL) employees held a “Kalbaryo ng PALEA” at the Baclaran Church this morning in a dramatic expression of the problems faced by workers. The members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) reenacted the complete Stations of the Cross but adapted the content in the context of the PAL workers struggle against contractualization. “The threat of mass layoff and labor contractualization are heavy crosses for PAL employees to bear,” exclaimed Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

Rivera meanwhile slammed the Employers Confederation of the Philippines for its position that “collective bargaining is the better option to a wage hike.” He explained that “This is a pleasant sounding doublespeak. In reality, employers oppose with all their might workers forming unions and bargaining for contracts, similar to PAL’s intransigent refusal to open negotiations and bust PALEA.”

Some PALEA members carried makeshift crosses while being whipped by other protesters wearing masks of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and former Acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman. Another protester wearing a mask of Lucio Tan was kicking the PAL employees carrying crosses. In another scene, a protester in the character of President Benigno Aquino put crowns of thorns on the heads of the PAL employees.

At 12:00 noon the PALEA members joined the commemoration of the desaparecidos that is traditional sponsored by the group Families of the Involuntary Disappeared. PALEA has been seeking the solidarity of sectors and groups for its planned strike against PAL and has won the support of Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo and human rights NGO’s.

Today’s Kalbaryo protest is PALEA’s own although it has participated since Monday in similar mass actions by other labor groups. A broad unity of labor groups has been supporting PALEA’s fight for regular jobs and bargaining rights.

The Kalbaryo is part of series of buildup activities for the May 1 mobilization to be led by PM, PALEA and other labor groups at Mendiola. At 9:00 a.m. on May 1, PM and PALEA will assemble at Mehan Garden in Manila then march to Mendiola for a 11:00 a.m. mass to be celebrated by Bishop Pabillo. PM will also lead Labor Day protests in Cebu City, Davao City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, General Santos City, Iligan City and Dipolog City. Thousands of workers are expected to participate in the Labor Day protest.

On April 27, hundreds of PALEA members will picket the National Labor Relations Commission on the occasion of the first hearing on the labor dispute. The day also marks the first anniversary of the termination notices sent by Philippine Airlines management to some 2,600 workers. Also on April 29, PALEA will lead a workers caravan that will go around the major industrial estates and economic zones in Cavite.

PALEA asks PNoy to speak his mind on the PAL labor row on Labor Day

Press Release

April 19, 2011

PALEA

With Labor Day a few days away, the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) asked President Benigno Aquino to make a policy statement on the Philippine Airlines (PAL) labor row as he had done with the reproductive health issue. PALEA issued the challenge as scores of its members joined an anti-contractualization rally at Mendiola today led by the Alliance of Progressive Labor.

“We want to hear PNoy declare forcefully his policy on labor contractualization as he did on reproductive health. We know that it was Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa who penned the Office of the President ruling so now we want to learn PNoy’s own thoughts on the dispute given the motion for reconsideration we filed,” stated Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

Rivera slammed the “non-wage benefits” and “job fairs” announced by Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz as government’s gift to workers on May 1. He argued that “These are mere crumbs thrown to workers. Non-cash benefits from Philhealth and Pag-ibig, and discounts on basic goods should complement not replace a substantial across-the-board wage hike in order that the minimum wage can approximate the living wage.”

“Meanwhile the Labor Day ‘contractual job fairs’ are unfair for it fosters contractual work and denies workers the dignity of a regular job that gives decent wages and benefits. Some 100,000 contractual workers are being offered in the job fairs even as thousands of regular workers are being terminated as in PAL. The myth of the employment policy of the government has been exposed by its complicity in the mass layoff at PAL. Government is collaborating with employers in destroying regular jobs and creating contractual work,” Rivera explained.

Yesterday PALEA joined another Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa sponsored by PM at the vicinity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa is part of series of buildup activities for the May 1 mobilization to be led by PM, PALEA and other labor groups at Mendiola.

On April 27, hundreds of PALEA members will picket the National Labor Relations Commission on the occasion of the first hearing on the labor dispute. The day also marks the first anniversary of the termination notices sent by Philippine Airlines management to some 2,600 workers. Also on April 29, PALEA will lead a workers caravan that will go around the major industrial estates and economic zones in Cavite. On Labor Day thousands of workers are expected to participate in the protest.

Groups hold Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at the airport

Press Release

April 18, 2011

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA), the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) will hold this afternoon a Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa to highlight the dire plight of Philippine Airlines (PAL) employees and Filipino workers. “Labor contractualization, cheap wages even violent demolitions are heavy crosses for workers to bear. The anti-labor and anti-poor policies of the PNoy government are unfortunately adding to the burden suffered by workers,” declared Renato Magtubo, PM national chair.

“We call on PNoy to give due course to our motion for reconsideration and reverse the ruling penned by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa. We want PNoy himself to speak his mind on contractualization at PAL. PALEA also declares it support for the demand for a wage hike amidst the escalating inflation,” said Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair.

At 3:00 p.m. today the Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa starts with some 100 PALEA, PM and AMP members reenacting the Stations of the Cross. Some PAL employees will be carrying makeshift crosses while being whipped by other protesters wearing masks of Ochoa, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and former Acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman. Another protester wearing a mask of Lucio Tan will be kicking the PAL employees carrying crosses. In another scene, a protester in the character of President Benigno Aquino will put crowns of thorns on the heads of the PAL employees.

In reaction to the controversy over the state of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Rivera explained that “A better airport should also mean better working conditions for workers. Airport workers must enjoy regular jobs. Salaries and benefits for airport workers must be improved.”

PALEA and PM have lambasted the decisions of Lagman and Baldoz allowing the mass layoff of some 2,600 PAL employees and their transfer as contractuals in service providers. The groups have also criticized the Office of the President decision drafted by Ochoa that affirmed the earlier decisions,

By 5:00 p.m. Fr. Erik Adoviso, head of the Archdiocesan Ministry for Labor Concerns, will lead a mass at the Our Lady of the Airways Parish located at the corner of Sucat and MIA Roads. Hundreds of PALEA members are expected to attend the mass. Also at 11:00 a.m. PALEA and PM members will distribute leaflets at the Baclaran Church among churchgoers and passersby.

The Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa is a buildup to the May 1 mobilization to be led by PM, PALEA and other labor groups at Mendiola. Thousands of workers are expected to participate in the Labor Day protest.

PALEA seeks reconsideration of P-Noy ruling

PRESS RELEASE

April 12, 2011

Saying they need to exhaust all administrative measures available to them, members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) went back to Malacanang Tuesday to seek reconsideration of the March 25 ruling by the Office of the President.

“We want the President to reconsider and state clear his stand in upholding the constitutional rights of workers to security of tenure and collective bargaining,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

The March 25 OP decision allowed PAL owner and business tycoon Lucio Tan to proceed with his plan to layoff some 2,600 regular employees in the airport services, in-flight catering and call center reservations, and transfer them as contractuals in service providers.

PALEA considered the decision to be flawed as it permits the mass layoff at a time when PAL is expecting $1.6 billion in annual profit.  “Worst, it lets PAL reward the sacrifice of the 12-year long suspension of the PALEA CBA with the termination of workers whose wages, benefits and protection have already stagnated in that period,” lamented Rivera.

Rivera stated further that because of its flawed affirmation of Secretary Baldoz’s earlier decision, President Aquino’s March 25 ruling drew strong indignations not only from PALEA  and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) but also from the whole spectrum of the labor movement in the country and the international labor organizations as well.

The Catholic Church, through Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, also has publicly declared its all out support for PALEA’s impending strike against mass layoff and contractualization.

“Wala siyang kakampi dito kundi si Lucio Tan. Thus, through our motion for reconsideration, P-Noy has the second chance to show the labor movement where he really stands – sa baliko at tusong landas ba ni Lucio Tan, o sa makatarungang landas ni Juan Manggagawa?,” stated Rivera.

PALEA was accompanied by its lawyers Atty. Joeven Dellosa and Atty. Marlon Manuel in the filing its MR to Malacanang.  In Mendiola, labor groups supporting PALEA such as PM and the anti-contractualization group Koalisyon Laban sa Kontraktualisasyon or KONTRA held an indignation rally in support of the embattled PAL union.

On Holy Week, the groups will hold a “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa” protest at the airport to highlight the plight of Filipino workers, especially contractual employees and the unemployed.

PALEA and the broad labor would also bring the PAL case before the International Labor Organization (ILO).

PM chair and former partylist representative Renato Magtubo pointed out that instead of fostering industrial peace, the OP decision brought PAL to the brink of a paralyzing strike last April 1. 

“It has not weakened PALEA’s resolve to fight but rather strengthened their determination to even defy the Labor Secretary’s order enjoining a strike,” said Magtubo.

 Magtubo insisted that the OP decision sends the wrong message to the workers that P-Noy’s policy is to condone labor contractualization and sacrifice workers rights at the altar of management prerogative.