LGBTQ+ youth event underlines pride in work not just in identity

 

To highlight the participation of LGBTQ+ young workers in Pride Month and underline the call for pride in work not just in identity, Partido Manggagawa (PM), its youth wing PM Kabataan and allied organizations are holding a community event on the this afternoon at the Gawad Kalinga Multipurpose Hall Paradise Heights in Smokey Mountain Tondo.

 

In joining this month’s celebration of Pride, PM demands extending it beyond identity politics, believing that the fight for freedom and equality go beyond state recognition and corporate accolades.   

 

These calls include fair wages in the form of wage hikes and the realization of living wage, freedom of association, regular employment, and better working conditions.

 

“Real Pride means demanding structural change. Pride in work, not just in identity (Pride sa pagawaan, hindi lang sa katauhan),” stated Pavs Pavillon, a LGBTQ+ leader of PM Kabataan.

 

Pavillon added that “Pride, therefore, must go beyond symbols and celebrations of identity. We need to talk about rights on the job — about wages, full employment and decent work for all, dignity, and equal treatment in the workplace.”

 

For decades, wages in all 17 regions in the Philippines stayed below the national poverty threshold, at the same time regular jobs and trade unions are being destroyed by contractualization and other restrictions - including union-busting, intimidation, and killings.

 

Along with these problems we continue to see workplace discrimination every day. For instance, gay workers in one big factory in Calabarzon are forced to cut their hair short, and they’re not allowed to use hairnets as an alternative. Lesbian workers are pushed into heavy lifting tasks just because they “look strong” — with no regard for how menstruation or physical strain might affect them. Even in social activities, LGBTQ+ workers are excluded: there’s funding for company sports fests, dance contests, and more — but anything LGBT-themed is banned.

 

When LGBTQ+ workers are treated as “less than,” it weakens the whole workforce. It justifies low pay, divides workers, and lets management off the hook. Fighting for equality and against discrimination isn’t just for a few — it’s for all of us who want better conditions, fair treatment, and real freedom.

 

Pavillon ended with “This Pride and for the next pride marches, let’s stand and fight together not only for acceptance — but for recognition, equality, and collective action. Because there’s no true liberation if our workplaces and communities are still sites of oppression.”

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa Kabataan

 

Advisory: “WALK THE TALK” for A LIFE OF DIGNITY FOR ALL

7 December 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY

Buhay na may Dignidad para sa Lahat (DIGNIDAD)

85-B Masikap Street Ext., Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon City | Tel. # 7097833

 

Requests press coverage of its event on the occasion of HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK

“WALK THE TALK” for A LIFE OF DIGNITY FOR ALL

A community workshop and walk with messages

addressed to the Duterte Administration

 

D E C E M B E R  8, 2016

2:00 - 4:30 PM - WORKSHOP at SAN ROQUE CHAPEL

along Sebastian Street Barangay San Roque (North Triangle), Quezon City

(from Agham Road, across Philippine Science High School, enter the community through

“talipapa” near the tri-bike and tricycle terminal. From there, about 8min. walk to the chapel)

               

4:30 pm - WALK

from the Chapel to Agham Road then to Bantayog ng mga Bayani

 

5 - 5:30 pm - NOISE BARRAGE and CANDLE LIGHTING at Bantayog ng mga Bayani

 

 

Contact: Teody Gacer @ 09297181427; Ana Vitacion @09175584657

 

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Week, DIGNIDAD Coalition will hold on December 8 a community workshop and walk dubbed as “WALK the TALK” to raise people’s awareness on human rights including social and economic rights. It will also highlight people’s calls addressed to the present administration to fulfill these rights.

 

There will be a discussion with about 100 women, men, and youth in the urban poor community in North Triangle. Then participants will breakout to make a poster or any visual representation of their appreciation of human rights (placard, drawing, etc.). By 4:30pm, the workshop participants and other people in the community – carrying their outputs from the workshop (drawing, placard, etc.) – will walk from the chapel going to Agham Road, then to Bantayog ng mga Bayani. The event will culminate with a noise barrage and candle lighting.

 

For Dignidad, the biggest war of the Duterte administration should be the war against poverty and inequality. This war is crucial in eliminating drugs, criminality, and terrorism.  Many believe that his electoral victory is hugely a protest vote by the masses against the Luzon-based oligarchy and incidentally a vote to end chronic poverty, unemployment, and the social injustice stemming from the people’s lack of access to the essential requirements for a humane life. However, the development blueprint of his administration still looks sketchy. Until now, the people have yet to see a clear development program that will address the economic and social ills in the country.

 

Dignidad Coalition is a broad platform composed of 32 grassroots organizations, labor groups and other sectoral coalitions, movement‐based party‐lists and multi‐sectoral issue-based coalitions, church‐based organizations, human rights groups and academics advancing an agenda towards the realization of a life of dignity for all Filipinos. It aims to raise people’s awareness on social and economic rights and to promote programs through the campaign for a Universal, Comprehensive, and Transformative Social Protection and its eight specific demands. These demands are on work and livelihood, social/public services, food, and social security.  Among its members are: Kilos Maralita, WomanHealth, Freedom from Debt Coalition, PATAMABA, KABAPA, Coalition of Services of the Elderly, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, NASSA, SENTRO, Partido ng Manggagawa,, Alab Katipunan, ARYA, Kilusan, Rights Network, IRDF, PKMK)

PALEA calls PAL’s regrets letter to Magsaysay regrettable

Press Release
January 19, 2011
PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) criticized the management of Philippine Airlines for sending a regrets letter to Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay. “PAL's regrets letter is regrettable for it conveys the wrong message that it is company policy to ignore the abusive behavior and sexist remarks of Magsaysay,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and Partido ng Manggagawa vice chair.

PALEA is demanding from PAL the drafting of a manual of operations for handling customer relations that safeguards the rights of its workers together with specifying the responsibilities of employees to customers. “The saying ‘the customer is not always right’ is wrong. When customers purchase goods or services, they did not buy the dignity of employees serving them. There must be protection for frontline service employees of PAL. The global union International Transport Workers Federation recommends such a manual of operations,” explained Rivera.

“If the regrets letter were a pro forma response from PAL from an unsatisfied customer then it is understandable. But that is not the case here. The regrets letter turns a blind eye to the facts of the case. First, the incident report filed by Sarah Bonnin-Ocampo’s supervisor corroborating her allegations against Magsaysay. And second, Magsaysay’s own admission of guilt and offer of apology,” Rivera argued.

He added that “The regrets letter reveals that PAL is concerned only with its profits and not the welfare of its employees. Workers are treated as disposable rags that are without dignity and can be outsourced. If Ocampo was not a union member protected by a collective bargaining agreement and instead were a contractual employee in a service provider, she would have been laid off by now as Magsaysay had threatened her.”

Meanwhile the labor group PM is appealing to the House and Senate Labor Committees to conduct hearings in aid of legislation to protect service workers from abuse and indignities at the workplace. Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary-general declared that “Sarah’s fight for justice is a struggle for workers dignity. In the so-called new economy dominated by service workers such as call center agents, there must be policies to safeguard employees from ill-treatment and humiliation by customers.”

PALEA also warned PAL against any form of workplace discrimination on Ocampo arising from her pursuit of the case. “It is bad enough that PAL fails to protect its employees from abuse but it is worse if management were to harass Ocampo due to what it perceives a bad press on the company,” Rivera cautioned.

PAL employee files case at Ombudsman and House Ethics Committee

Press Release
PALEA
January 17, 2011

Philippine Airlines employee Sarah Bonnin-Ocampo and the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) today filed complaints at the Ombudsman and the House Ethics Committee against Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay of the party-list Alliance of Volunteer Educators.

They trooped to the Office of the Ombudsman by 10:00 a.m. and then to the Batasang Pambansa by 1:00 p.m. The cases allege that Magsaysay is guilty of grave slander, serious misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a high ranking public official and direct solicitation of personal favor or gain using his office. Atty. Bernadette Carrasco, legal counsel for Ocampo, said that the Ombudsman case is a criminal complaint while the Ethics Committee case is an administrative one.

“We wish that Sarah’s fight for justice will blaze a trail in the struggle for workers’ dignity. Service workers in the airline industry and call centers among others suffer indignities in the workplace through no fault of their own but receive no protection from their employers or the government. There are many more Sarahs who need support and protection against abusive officials and insensitive customers,” insisted Ginalyn Licayan, head of the PALEA Women’s Committee.

Meanwhile the labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) declared its support for Ocampo’s fight for justice and a contingent from PM joined PALEA members in the activities today.

“Sarah’s fight is the fight of all working women. We call on women workers and women advocates to stand up in support of Sarah against sexism and for dignity,” said Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary-general. PM and women’s groups participated in a forum this afternoon. In the forum “Stand Up Against Sexism and Abuse of Working Women and Men” held at a restaurant in Quezon City, PM, PALEA and other groups discussed a coordinated campaign for “Justice for Sarah Ocampo, Justice for Women Workers.”

Miranda also questioned Magsaysay’s credentials as a supposed party-list representative. “Magsaysay’s abusive behavior towards a woman employee exposes his pretensions as a representative of the marginalized. What underrepresented sector exactly does Magsaysay’s Alliance of Voluntary Educators speak for? It appears that Magsaysay as an advocate of the marginalized is as fictional as Mikey Arroyo being a representative of tricycle drivers,” she added.

“We call on incoming Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Sixto Brillantes to reform the accreditation process for party-list groups. The last Comelec was universally condemned for accrediting and proclaiming bogus and fake party-list groups in contravention of landmark Supreme Court guidelines,” Miranda asserted.

Labor party supports PAL employee’s fight for justice

Press Release
January 16, 2011

The labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) declared its support for Philippine Airlines employee Sarah Bonnin-Ocampo’s fight for justice on the eve of the filing of a case against her abuser Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay. A contingent from PM will accompany Ocampo and the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) in the filing of complaints against Magsaysay at the Ombudsman and the House Ethics Committee tomorrow.

The groups will troop to the Office of the Ombudsman by 10:00 a.m. and then to the Batasang Pambansa by 1:00 p.m. The complaints will allege that Magsaysay is guilty of The complaints will allege that Magsaysay is guilty of grave slander and conduct unbecoming of a high ranking public official among others.

“Sarah’s fight is the fight of all working women. We call on women workers and women advocates to stand up against sexism and for dignity in support of Sarah,” said Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary-general. PM will join other women’s groups in a forum tomorrow after the filing of cases. In the forum “Stand Up Against Sexism and Abuse of Working Women and Men” to be held at a restaurant in Quezon City, PM, PALEA and other groups will discuss a coordinated campaign for “Justice for Sarah Ocampo, Justice for Women Workers.”

“We hope Sarah’s courageous fight for justice will blaze a trail in the struggle for workers dignity. Service workers in the airline industry and call centers among others suffer indignities in the workplace through no fault of their own but receive no protection from their employers or the government. There are many more Sarahs who need support and protection against abusive and insensitive officials and customers,” insisted Miranda.

Miranda also questioned Magsaysay’s credentials as a supposed party-list representative. “Magsaysay’s abusive behavior towards a woman employee exposes his pretensions as a representative of the marginalized. What underrepresented sector exactly does Magsaysay’s Alliance of Voluntary Educators speak for? It appears that Magsaysay as an advocate of the marginalized is as fictional as Mikey Arroyo being a representative of tricycle drivers,” she added.

“We call on incoming Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Sixto Brillantes to reform the accreditation process for party-list groups. The last Comelec was universally condemned for accrediting and proclaiming bogus and fake party-list groups in contravention of landmark Supreme Court guidelines,” Miranda asserted.

PALEA demands justice for abused member not mere apology from sexist solon

PRESS STATEMENT
PALEA
12 January 2011

“We want justice for Sarah and for all aviation workers who have suffered abuse from customers, especially politicians and government officials!”

This is the demand of Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) in response to Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) Party-List Representative Eulogio Magsaysay’s “sorry” after members of PALEA and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) picketed his residence in Greenhills, San Juan.

PALEA plans to file cases against Magsaysay at the Ombudsman and House Ethics Committee next week. The Philippine Airlines (PAL) ground crew union is insisting that Magsaysay has liabilities under the law that cannot be simply dismissed through an apology. “Magsaysay must face the consequences of his abusive action and sexist remarks,” argued Ginalyn Licayan, head of PALEA’s Women Committee which is assisting fellow member Sarah Bonnin-Ocampo.

Judy Ann Miranda, secretary-general of PM which is supporting Ocampo’s fight for justice, claimed that “Sarah’s case is just the tip of the iceberg. Frontline service workers in the airline industry and call centers among others suffer indignities in the workplace through no fault of their own but receive no protection from their employers or the government. Sarah’s fight is a fight for the dignity of workers.”

Licayan quoted from Republic Act No. 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”, which in the Declaration of Policy found in Section 2 states that: “It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.”

Licayan also pointed out that according to the Women’s Crisis Centre (WCC), a non-government organization with expertise in assisting violated women and children and which is handling Ocampo’s psychological needs, the verbal abuse that Ocampo was subjected to was tantamount to physical abuse, thus damaging to the dignity and self-confidence of the victim. “Hence, sorry is not enough,” she reiterated.

PALEA also lambasted PAL management’s lack of support for Ocampo. “PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna’s effort to play ‘Pontius Pilate’ smacks of PAL’s callous insensitivity to its workers. During peak season, despite the rush and stress, PAL employees stood their ground and did what management expected from hardworking and loyal employees. But now PAL is shirking from its responsibility to its employees by distancing itself from a workplace issue,” Licayan asserted.

PALEA is demanding that PAL draft a manual of operations instituting protection for employees in situations similar to Ocampo’s case.