On the Mindoro incident: Start at the top – not at the guardhouse

 

Photo from Daily Tribune

The incident in Oriental Mindoro where a construction site guard was blamed after preventing Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor from entering a DPWH project site exposes how crooked government officials treat workers – as disposable shields to protect those truly responsible. DPWH Regional Director for MIMAROPA, Engr. Pacanan’s call to dismiss the guard is nothing less than scapegoating.

 

For us, this incident reveals a disturbing pattern, like other high-level investigations such as the fertilizer, pork barrel, war on drugs, and Pharmally scams: the blame too often falls on small workers, while the powerful and well-connected scape scrutiny. It is not under the guard’s 24/7 watch but with Pacanan’s regular and diligent inspections that DWPH projects comply with the highest standards.

 

Let us be clear: The security was doing his job. He’s not the one raking millions from padded contracts, substandard projects, and anomalous flood control programs. Yet in the middle of ongoing investigations, it is the small fries who are threatened with dismissal, while the big fish – contractors, politicians, and high officials remain untouched.

 

Furthermore, the incident shows the rotten state of governance in the country: when projects are questioned, it is the powerless who pay the price. Meanwhile, the politically connected contractors and DPWH brass continue business as usual, unaccountable for public funds wasted and communities left vulnerable to floods and disasters.

 

Kung gusto ninyong magsimulang maglinis DPWH, unahin ninyo ang sarili ninyong tanggapan dahil dyan nagaganap ang totoong tanggapan kasama ang mga contractors at politicians.

 

Hands off the workers! If DPWH wants accountability, start at the top – not at the guardhouse. Let the axe fall where it should be – on the corrupt, not the working class. 

Reporma Lagpas kay Sara! Legislated Wage Hike, Now Na!

PAHAYAG

Partido Manggagawa

June 10, 2024

Tama, pero kapos. Tuloy, pero bitin. Ganito namin inilalarawan sa PM ang mga kaganapan ngayon, sa dalawang huling nalalabing araw ng sesyon ng Kongreso.

Salamat naman at si SP Chiz Escudero ay nahimasmasan, tumiklop sa kahihiyan kahit na hanggang sa dulo ay kimkim ang sama ng loob sa pagkatalo ng kanyang posisyon. Dahil sa kanyang paliwanag, kahit na may salitang “forthwith” na dapat sundin, ang impeachment trial ay hindi dapat minamadali. Ibig sabihin, pwedeng mabagal, pwedeng dahan-dahan. O pwedeng hindi na lang.

Teka-teka ang tawag sa ganitong pulitika. Ganito ang pulitika na hindi nakatuntong sa matibay na panininindigan para sa tama at mali, sa nararapat at hindi. Ganito ang makasariling pulitika, ang timbangan ay nakasentro sa sarili o kaya ay sa dynasty. Ngunita lam natin na hindi solo ni Chiz ang ganitong pulitika.

Makikita natin ang marami sa kanila sa proseso mismo ng impeachment, kapag nagsimula na ang trial. May inisyal nang palatandaan. Kagabi ay siyam lamang ang bumoto pabor sa “proceed”, anim ang tumutol, at walo ang nyutral. Neutral? May ganun? Magbabago ang komposisyon ng Senado sa 20th Congress kaya’t magkakaroon pa ng rigodon.

Subalit kung nababagalan ang marami sa takbo ng impeachment, ano pa sa tinatakbo ng legislated wage hike? February last year pa naipasa ng Senado ang P100 increase, pero sa Kamara nito lamang nakaraang linggo naipasa ang P200. Para mapabilis ay dapat nag-usap na ang bicameral panel para dito, pero wala pa. Dahil dito ay mamimiligrong hindi ito maipasa.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hinihimok din namin mga ang mga mambabatas na manumpa, hindi lamang bilang mga justice at prosecutor sa impeachment court, kundi para maipasa ang legislated wage hike na nakabinbin ngayon sa Kongreso.

Nakapanumpa na si SP Chiz Escudero bilang presiding justice at maaring ngayon o bukas ay manumpa na rin ang lahat ng senador.  Subalit ang wage hike ay wala pang naitatalagang conferees ang Senado para sa Bicam. May mga pahayag din mula sa ilang Senador na bubusisiin pa nila ng husto ang naipasa nilang panukala, bagay na lalong magpapabagal o ganap na pumigil sa pagpasa nito. 

Matatagalan ang nabuksang paglilitis sa impeachment dahil tatawid pa ito sa 20th Congress, samantalang ang wage hike bill na P100-P200 ay naghihingalo sa antas ng bicam at nanganganib pang di makarating sa Palasyo para maging batas. Nanunulay din ito sa presyur ng capitalist veto dahil sa pagtutol ng mga negosyante at economic managers ni Bongbong Marcos. 

Naniniwala kami na may magagawa pa ang Kongreso kung magkakaisa lamamg ang dalawang Kapulungan na maipasa ang wage hike bill kahit nasa last two minutes na tayo ng labanan. Kung hindi ito magagawa, ito ay pagtalikod sa kanilang tungkulin at pagyuko sa capitalist lobby laban sa manggagawa.

Ang ganitong kabiguan ay lalo lamang magpapatibay at magpapatunay sa aming paniniwala na kapos ang impeachment ni Sara kung walang kaakibat na mga reporma, katulad sa mga naunang impeachment.  

Naninindigan kami na ang reporma ay dapat lagpas sa impeachment ni Sara, at ang pagtugon sa kahilingan ng mga manggagawa na baguhin ang maling patakaran na naglibing sa sweldo sa starvation at poverty level ay mas malaking inhustisya na dapat ituwid ng mga mambabatas. 

Reporma Lagpas kay Sara! Legislated Wage Hike, Now Na!

Maraming salamat!

Take Your Vow for a Wage Hike Too

We, the workers, also urge lawmakers to take an oath—not just as judges and prosecutors in the impeachment court—but to pass the long-pending legislated wage hike currently stalled in Congress. 

 

Earlier, Senate President Chiz Escudero took his oath as presiding judge, and today or tomorrow, senators may don their judicial robes to swear into their roles. 

 

However, the wage hike bill still lacks Senate conferees for the Bicameral Conference Committee. Some senators have even stated that they will thoroughly review the proposal they had already approved, which could stall its passage in the remaining two days. 

 

The impeachment trial that has begun will drag on into the 20th Congress, while the P100-P200 wage hike bill languishes in the bicameral stage, at risk of never reaching Malacañang to become law. 

 

The wage hike bill also faces intense pressure of a capitalist veto due to opposition from business groups and Bongbong Marcos’ economic managers. 

 

We believe Congress still has the persuasive power to pass this bill—even in the last two minutes of the session—if both chambers unite. 

 

Failure to do so would be a betrayal of duty and a surrender to the capitalist lobby against workers. 

 

This failure would only reinforce our belief that Sara’s impeachment alone is insufficient without accompanying reforms, as seen in past impeachments. 

 

Reform must go beyond Sara’s impeachment. Addressing workers’ demands to reverse policies that keep wages at starvation and poverty levels is a far greater injustice that lawmakers need to rectify.

 

Labor coalition denounces Senate’s U-turn on workers’ security of tenure in CENECO case

Photo from Official Gazette

 

The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition issued a strongly worded statement, Tuesday, against the Senate majority for voting against the proposed amendment introduced by Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros, to include a security of tenure (SOT) provision to the franchise bill being sought by the Negros Electric Power Corporation (NEPC), a successor company created by the highly controversial joint venture agreement (JVA) between the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) and MORE Power.

 

CENECO is a unionized electric cooperative and cannot be considered as ‘ailing’ to merit private takeover.

 

“We are glad there remains a great minority in the Senate in the person of Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Sen. Koko Pimentel, who remain committed to the fundamental rights of workers to security of tenure as mandated by the Constitution. But shame on the majority who did a Duterte move on the issue of SOT,” said Nagkaisa in indignation.

 

Duterte, who promised to kill endo lords to end contractualization during his term, reversed himself and vetoed the SOT bill he certified and consequently was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in 2019.

 

“Noong 2019 ay si Duterte ang bumaliktad sa kanyang pangako. Ngayong 2024 ay ang Senado naman, kahit sa maliit lamang na kaso ng 400 na manggagawa ng CENECO na dati nang nagtatamasa ng security of tenure bilang regular workers pero pinatay ng NEPC sa kanyang anti-labor na JVA at application for franchise. Ito ay kahiya-hiyang mga pagkakataon sa ating kasaysayan. Na-Duterte din ang manggagawa sa Senado,” said Nagkaisa.

 

Sen. Hontiveros pointed out this sentiment when she reminded her colleagues that the Senate passed the SOT bill during the time of Duterte, and that laws and jurisprudence on company mergers and consolidation also do not warrant the dismissal of employees of the absorbed company, especially when the company did not cease operations.

 

But all in the majority present in the plenary last night voted against Hontiveros’ SOT amendment to the NEPC franchise. Their votes will enable NEPC to terminate and provide separation pay to CENECO employees, while the latter wait on to be prioritized in the hiring. NEPC also plans to rationalize its operation, thus, the threat of lower wages ‘based on industry standards’ absent the union and CBA for new hires.

 

Nagkaisa also made mention of Sen. Joel Villanueva who voted against the Hontiveros amendment but is the principal author of the SOT bill he refiled in the 19th Congress. Other senators who voted against the amendment also have bills filed recognizing the right of gig workers to be regularized. There are also SOT bills filed in the Senate for government employees who have already rendered long years as job orders or contract of service in the bureaucracy.

 

“Inconsistency and betrayal are truly constants in our political system where loyalty is to the kings and the kingmakers, not to the majority of the people and the working class,” concluded Nagkaisa.

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition

14 May 2024

 

NATIONAL WAGE COALITION DEMANDS A PRO-WAGE HIKE VOTE IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ON 15 MAY 2024

As the  House of Representatives’ Committee on Labor and Employment drags its feet on the legislated wage hike after already three hearings, the National Wage Coalition, spearheaded by the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition (NAGKAISA!), and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), demands the labor committee chaired by Rep. Fidel Nograles, to finally vote for the committee approval of the long-overdue and much-deserved wage increase in its next hearing on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. 

After three exhaustive hearings where economists, academics, think tanks, civil societies, and workers themselves already demolished the fancied threats, myths, and lies of massive price spikes, joblessness, and business closures, the National Wage Coalition calls on the House Committee on Labor to now vote for the approval of the proposed legislated wage hike measures. With a significant majority of the members of the committee as co-authors such as in the ₱150 legislated across-the-board wage recovery increase by the TUCP, the National Wage Coalition trusts that the House of the People will heed the people’s pleas and accept the resounding truth that there is an imperative for Congress to raise workers' wages now after more than three decades of token increases and starvation wages under the regional wage board system.

Instead of the inadequate presidential order to review and reform regional minimum wage rates, the National Wage Coalition demands that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. immediately certify urgent the legislated wage hike to fast-track its approval in the House of Representatives, considering that it is already passed in the Senate. The President must recognize that decades of insufficient increases from the regional wage boards must be set aside in favor of the legislated wage measures advanced by the united workers of the National Wage Coalition.

To be truly the House of the People, the National Wage Coalition demands Congress to raise the wages of all workers towards their right to a living wage, such as the P750 legislated wage hike by the Makabayan bloc through the legislated wage hike for private sector workers and a fair Salary Standardization Law to increase the minimum wage of public sector workers to ₱33,000. We call on the honorable members of the House of Representatives to co-author legislated wage hike measures and for the House Committee on Labor to immediately approve these measures and send them to the plenary for urgent deliberations and passage. For all the workers of this nation whose honest hard work creates the wealth of our nation, the National Wage Coalition forges ahead in our struggle to demand the end of senseless dribbling because all that needs to be said has been already said. The House of the People only needs to listen and heed the people's demand: DAGDAG SAHOD ISABATAS! ₱150 PATAAS! 

National Wage Coalition

9 May 2024 

Nagkaisa! Presses the Lower House to Raise Wages Higher than What the Senate Could

 

With the Senate getting closer to passing on third reading the proposed P100 wage increase, the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition now calls on the House of Representatives (HOR) to get their own version of the bill moving and raise wages higher than what the Senate could.

 

Pending before the HOR are bills seeking a P150 and P750 across-the-board wage hikes for private sector workers, and P33,000/month entry level for public sector workers. Today, a bill was also filed for a P50,000 salary base for teachers.

 

If the HOR can create a mountain out of a molehill, like what it did for a more complicated process of revising the Constitution, then they can do the same for the wage hike bills and in correcting the defective wage setting mechanism in the country.

 

The P100 wage proposal which passed the second reading in the Senate today falls short of the P150 originally promised and a far cry from what was needed to save minimum wage earners from the poverty wages imposed upon them by all the regional wage boards.  The measure is also for minimum wage earners only.

 

Still, we welcome it as a form of relief, and a good start as well to correcting the problems created by the regional wage setting mechanism. Once legislated, this should be followed by reforming the wage setting mechanism, which both the House and the Senate should initiate, rather than waste their time on charter change. 

NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition

15 February 2024

Partido Manggagawa Advocates State Takeover of National Grid Operations Amidst Controversial MIC Investment Proposal

 

Photo from Business World

In a recent press release, Partido Manggagawa (PM) reiterates its call for the government to reassume control of the national grid, countering the suggested state investment in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) through the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), as proposed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

 

PM underscores its opposition to the MIC proposal, expressing concern over the diversion of public funds to support what it deems an unsound investment proposal. "We have consistently opposed the creation of MIC, and witnessing public funds being diverted to support an unsound investment proposal only strengthens our opposition," emphasized PM.

 

The group argues that reclaiming control of the national grid operations is the most appropriate alternative, as investing public funds into NGCP through MIC, owned by the country's wealthiest family and supported by Chinese state capital, is totally unnecessary.

 

PM urges the government to take back the national grid operations, highlighting the historical success of the state's management of the grid before its privatization in 2008. The national grid was then considered a 'crown jewel' among Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), generating an annual net income of at least ₱20 billion.

 

"Today, it is the NGCP, rather than the state, that accumulates wealth, as revealed in previous Senate investigations. NGCP's financial statements indicate a total comprehensive income of ₱306.77 billion in 14 years, with ₱238.84 billion distributed as dividends to shareholders," lamented PM.

 

According to the labor group, the real issue facing NGCP is performance, not a lack of cash. PM contends that pouring more money into NGCP through MIC is unwise and would divert crucial resources from other essential programs.

 

The group likewise suggests that instead of investing further in NGCP, the government should rather consider imposing a wealth tax on windfall profits of power oligarchs to address the government’s own fiscal problems.

 

"NGCP’s problem is performance, not lack of cash. It is the government, on the contrary, which needs more funds; thus, it should also consider imposing a wealth tax against the windfall profits of power oligarchs," concluded PM.

FOR IMMEDIATE 

08 January 2024

Give jeepney operators and drivers a holiday gift: Extend the individual franchise by a year

 

We ask President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr to be nice not naughty. The government should extend the individual franchise of traditional jeepneys by another year as a holiday gift.

The impending revocation of individual franchises by January 1, 2024 threatens the livelihoods of tens of thousands of operators and drivers. Let us not deprive hardworking Filipinos of their means of livelihood as we are all facing economic difficulties with rising prices of basic goods, especially rice, and the harsh impacts of climate change like El Nino.

 

Partido Manggagawa stands in solidarity with our fellow jeepney operators and drivers in their struggle. While strikes do disrupt our daily lives, it is a small sacrifice for the preservation of affordable fares and the continued livelihood of our fellow jeepney operators and drivers.

 

If the outcome of consolidation and modernization is the displacement of informal traditional jeepneys with modern jeepneys under corporate management, this will result in higher fares, exacerbating the hardships of Filipinos amidst inflation.

 

Let us remember how water and electricity rates skyrocketed after privatization and corporations took control of public utilities. The same will happen if corporations take over the routes and franchises on the roads.

 

There is no doubt that the current PUV modernization will lead to a widespread phaseout. The price of modern jeeps exceeds 2 million pesos, making it unaffordable for struggling operators, especially when the promised government subsidy is only 160,000 pesos.

 

While traditional jeepneys should transition to reduce pollution, it bears emphasizing that private vehicles have significantly higher carbon emissions. The transition should result in a better life for jeepney operators and drivers, rather than unemployment. Jeepney cooperatives are a viable alternative to corporations, but they require sufficient time and support. Negotiations should listen to the pleas of jeepney operators and drivers—a just transition amid climate change adaptation.

 

However, such negotiations for a just transition may not happen because the government insists on proceeding with the PUV modernization while pushing the consolidation deadline. Therefore, it is right to oppose the government's stubbornness with the jeepney strike. It will not be a happy new year for jeepney operators and drivers.

December 18, 2023

Anti-war network condemns US veto of UN resolution calling for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

 

The Network Opposed to War (NO TO WAR) strongly denounces the United States' veto of the UN Security Council resolution, which called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, in response to the UN Secretary General’s call under Article 99 of the Charter. This regrettable action occurred on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

The veto by the United States and the abstention of the United Kingdom effectively negated the 13 majority vote of the Security Council as well as the more than 90 countries, including the Philippines, which endorsed the resolution. 

 

NO TO WAR-Palestine Solidarity Pilipinas condemns these decisions, highlighting the blatant disregard for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as warned by the UN Secretary General, posing a threat to international peace and security.

 

The ongoing atrocities in Gaza, including daily massacres, displacement, and dehumanization of Palestinians, affect all, including doctors, journalists, and UN staff. The complete destruction of Gaza ensures a bleak future for its residents. It is deeply troubling that the United States and the United Kingdom openly support the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the oppressed Palestinian people, turning a blind eye to the violations of human rights and humanitarian law. Despite global condemnation, Israel continues to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.

 

In November of this year, the Philippines, along with 144 nations, condemned Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan. Unfortunately, this resolution was likewise opposed by seven countries, led by the US, UK, and Israel.

Given the apparent ineffectiveness of the international body, it is now imperative for the global community to uphold the will of free peoples worldwide.

 

NO TO WAR however believes that the increasing diplomatic isolation of the US, UK, and Israel is shaping a new global perspective on democracy and solidarity, particularly among the youth.

 

CEASEFIRE NOW! Stop the Genocide! Demand accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity now!

 

PRESS STATEMENT

NO TO WAR

Network Opposed to War

10 December 2023

PM joins human rights groups in village education and candle-lighting at CHR

 

The Partido Manggagawa (PM) is one with the human rights community in seeking justice for all the victims of human rights violations in the country, and for the countless victims of wars, including  those from Israel’s continuing campaign of genocide against the Palestinians.

 

Here in the Philippines, we join the In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (IDEFEND) today in celebration of the Human Rights Week and International Human Rights Day on December 10 through a village march and candle lighting at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in UP Diliman.

 

Workers continue to face human rights violations in many forms such as contractualization, violation of freedom of association and the right to a living wage, red-tagging, and worse, killing.

 

Palestinians, on the other hand, are suffering the worst kind of oppression known to humankind. They are denied all basic rights - the right to life, food, water, shelter, etc.

 

PM will continue to stand with all the oppressed people and uphold the principles and values of human rights and a life with dignity.

 

Photos can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid0u8RRJ56RGVXJ65Rho1oxg9Qij4q3Koh6y5NAdi8au7gpPGQKZrucEpDZRzxxKQ9Dl

Press Statement

07 December 2023

Workers demand rights and freedom, end to wars on Bonifacio Day

 

 

Despite the government's decision to move Bonifacio Day to November 27, labor groups, led by the Nagkaisa labor coalition, pressed forward with their march this morning, November 30, alongside organizations in the No to War network.

 

Amidst the intensifying cost of living crisis, the coalition declared at the Mendiola rally that workers would never enjoy the government's holiday economics.

 

Nagkaisa pointed out that, despite adjustments in daily minimum in various regions, wages still lag significantly behind the rising cost of living. Likewise, the erosion of workers' rights, including the freedom to form unions and security of tenure, remains a critical concern.

 

Emphasizing the legacy of Andres Bonifacio, Nagkaisa highlighted that the fight for freedom from colonial rule was intertwined with the pursuit of a dignified life for all Filipinos. However, the coalition lamented that post-colonial republics failed to secure genuine sovereignty, and the freedom from poverty remains elusive.

 

The coalition called for a redirection of government priorities to address these pressing concerns rather than engaging in war preparations or supporting the political agenda of the same colonial powers who were behind many of these conflicts.

 

The coalition red flags the potentially irreversible consequences of forging additional military agreements beyond the existing pacts with the US, particularly with Japan, and the looming possibility of similar arrangements with the UK, France, and Australia - all using China as the boogeyman - for they will only heighten the tensions in the region.

 

Nagkaisa warned against the devastating impact of new wars, citing the peoples suffering, exemplified by the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Expressing solidarity with war victims globally, Nagkaisa urged unity in calling for an end to all conflicts. Specifically addressing the Israel-Palestine situation, the coalition demanded a permanent ceasefire and an end to what they termed as Israel's campaign of genocide in Gaza.

 

While acknowledging the complexity of this age-old conflict, Nagkaisa believes a ceasefire could pave the way for de-escalation and create spaces for diplomatic negotiations.

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition

30 November 2023

 

PHILIPPINE GROUPS FORM ANTI-WAR NETWORK: Call for Permanent Ceasefire, End to Genocide in Gaza

 

 We, the Philippine groups representing various interests and advocacies, including those on human rights, labor, women, youth, urban poor, Moro and IPs, environment, and political parties, form ourselves today into NO TO WAR network in solidarity with the world’s people who are suffering from the devastating impacts of ongoing conflicts and in preventing the slide of other conflicts into new wars, including those in Asia and possibly in the Philippines.

 

As an anti-war network, we are campaigning for peace with justice and will continue to oppose the ruling establishment's inclination toward war, militarization, colonization, and destruction, both of humanity and the environment.

 

In solidarity with the Palestinian people, we join the international community in calling for a permanent ceasefire, a stop to genocide in Gaza, and an end to Israeli occupation.  Words cannot adequately convey the horrors of war being experienced by the Palestinians from the endless airstrikes and ground raids carried out by Israel. There must be a stop to this genocide and human suffering!

 

We advocate for an unconditional and permanent ceasefire because we believe this is the critical first step towards de-escalation, facilitating humanitarian aid, and creating a conducive environment for brokering negotiations and dialogues. Without a a permanent ceasefire, sparks of violence will only lead to the escalation of further violence.

 

The international community, especially the free countries within the United Nations, must step up to address the intensifying humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They should redouble their efforts to find diplomatic and political solutions to the Palestine-Israel conflict and cease support for Israel’s campaign of siege and genocide in Gaza by halting aid from the US and other western powers.

 

As a contribution to the growing peace and anti-war movement across the globe, the Philippines’ NO TO WAR network will be holding a series of activities ranging from teach-ins, physical and online fora, as well as direct actions to amplify our cause.

 

In particular, in addition to its obligation to secure Filipinos on both sides, including the safe release of the remaining Filipino hostages in Gaza, we urge the Philippine government to support the UN resolution calling for a ceasefire and the creation of free corridors for humanitarian aid. In the 1930s, when many other countries refused to take in Holocaust refugees, our nation welcomed 1,200 Jewish individuals from Shanghai, China, ensuring their safety from the genocide perpetrated by

Nazi Germany. In a similar manner, we implore the Philippine government not to abstain and, once again, to stand against genocide—this time, by calling on Israel for a permanent ceasefire.

 

On November 30, the NO TO WAR network will link up with Nagkaisa Labor Coalition in commemorating Andres Bonifacio's day. Bonifacio, alongside fellow Katipuneros and Katipuneras, led the revolutionary resistance against Spanish colonialism. Members of NO TO WAR collectively believe that the historical legacy of colonialism, occupation, and militarism has perpetuated conflicts throughout modern times. Therefore, our opposition remains against militarization and the imposition of unjust policies by foreign powers in our country.

 

NO TO WAR will also be part of the human rights community in celebrating Human Rights Week at the start of December.

 

Access photos of launching here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xdTDQQmgzbQ-4MmSiXVsy4Vi2vhoLIYy

 

NO TO WAR network is composed of the following organizations:

 

Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao

Amnesty International Philippines

Anak Mindanao-Youth

Bangsa

Coalition Against Human Trafficking of Women-Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)

Dakila

Federation of Free Workers

Focus on the Global South

KAGULONG

IIRE-Manila

In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (IDefend)

Laban Kababaihan

LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women's Rights)

MINDANOW

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition

National Federation of Labor

Partido Manggagawa (PM)

Public Services Labor Independent Confederation

Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO)

Tara Kabataan

United Filipino Service Workers

United Muslim Alliance for Development (UMA DEV)

World March of Women - Pilipinas

PRESS STATEMENT

NO TO WAR

28 November 2023

Labor group slams House’s move allowing foreigners 100% ownership of public utilities

The labor group, Partido Manggagawa (PM), warns as ‘unFilipino’ and ‘dangerous’, the plan by members of the House of Representatives to relax foreign limitations on ownership of public utilities in the country by way of a killer amendment to the Commonwealth Act, otherwise known as Public Service Act of 1936. 

The House plenary on Tuesday passed on second reading House Bill 78. A majority-backed bill that passes the second reading is almost sure of passing the third and final reading at any moment.  The bill has a similar counterpart in the Senate. 

The killer amendment is aimed at differentiating “public utility” from “public service”, thereby avoiding the 60-40 limit set by the 1987 Constitution on ownership of public utility. Under the proposal, the secretariat of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) will have the power to recommend before Congress the reclassification of public utility as a ‘public service’. 

“Our present lawmakers are trying to make themselves economically profound yet are very confused of what a public utility is. But let’s believe our instincts here. Their confusion comes not from the grey side of the law but from their vacillating standpoint that we Filipinos can stand on our own,” stated PM spokesperson, Wilson Fortaleza. 

Fortaleza asserted that as a matter of fact, the global agenda of trade union and social movements around the world today is de-privatization as decades of globalization (liberalization, privatization and deregulation) processes did not only weaken the capacities of poor nation-states but also created the most outrageous level of inequality among peoples, where less than 1% of the population owns more than half of the world’s wealth. 

“There is now a Brexit in EU and perhaps, a Frexit and Grexit soon. Trump on the other hand is pulling the US inwards to make America great again. The main proponents of globalization are now moving to the right by talking left as this is the only way to distance their selves from a failed project. Yet here are our smart politicians trying to save this failed and evil system in the Philippines,” said Fortaleza. 

The group cited as an example the failed privatization of the country’s water and power sector, which control by oligarchs and their foreign partners, is now the favourite subject of President Duterte. 

“The oligarchs are very happy we gave them the best of our public utilities in the 1990s onwards. They want more, of course, in the same way the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Americans and Europeans would want to take their slice of the pie that Congress under Cayetano is willing to surrender as one,” lamented Fortaleza. 

The labor group raises the fear that if Congress is not seeing these examples as something that would make them rethink of a better alternative other than reliance to foreign, particularly Chinese investments, then this country really fits the narrative of being a Republic of Endo, Province of China.

19 February 2020

Labor demands tripartite investigation over raids and mass arrests in Bacolod

Photo from Kodao.org

The country’s biggest labor coalition, Nagkaisa!, is demanding a tripartite investigation over the simultaneous raids and mass arrests conducted by security forces Thursday night against members of militant labor and women groups in Bacolod City to protect workers’ right to self organization. 

“We won’t let this assault on freedom pass without demanding accountability from authorities who ordered these Gestapo-style raids. We also want to send notice to the government that labor organizations in the country are jointly opposed to this kind of highhanded approach in dealing with legitimate sectoral organizations,”said Nagkaisa! in a statement sent to media. 

Some 57 people were arrested during the simultaneous raids conducted by a joint military and police forces against the Kilusang Mayor Uno, National Federation of Sugar Workers and Gabriela offices in the cities of Bacolod and Escalante in Negros last Thursday night. Cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed against those who were arrested, a charge vehemently denied by said groups. 

Nagkaisa! is pointing out that while the raids and mass arrests were carried out by virtue of a search warrant issued in Quezon City, it believes that this legality is eclipsed by the repressive character attending it which is common only under authoritarian rule.

The least that could have been done by security forces, the group said is to coordinate with labor department under the spirit of the Guideline on the conduct of the DOLE, DILG, DND, DOJ, AFP and PNP relative to the exercise of Workers’ Right and Activity.

“We envisage further that there’s more to this than meets the eye. Its chilling effect was obvious as they happen at a time the democratic spaces in the country were shrinking fast, including, among others, the systematic repression of trade union rights and the employment of violence against trade union organizers. We therefore demand a stop to the institutionalization of these draconian measures,” stated Nagkaisa! 

Labor groups were deeply concerned that the labor department’s ineffective response against trade union killings and red-tagging has emboldened our security forces to step up its brazen campaign against organized labor. 

“Thus we urge Secretary Silvestre Bello to step in, form a tripartite body and remind the military and security forces that DOLE has the prerogative in dealing with organized labor,” Nagkaisa said. 

Nagkaisa! is also urging the government to invite the ILO High Level Mission to visit the country the soonest time possible. 

The group finally reminded the government that the labor movement will always come to the defence of freedom and human rights as it values the union principle ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’. 

“An assault against a part of the labor movement, therefore, is an attack against the whole movement,” concluded Nagkaisa!

03 November 2019