Council Resolution filed for local probe on Armscor explosion

 

Photo from TV5

A city council resolution to conduct an inquiry was filed by Marikina City Councilor, Renato Magtubo, following a deadly explosion that occurred yesterday at the Armscor Global Defense Manufacturing facility in Marikina, resulting in the death of two workers and other reported injuries.

 

In his resolution, which is scheduled to pass first reading today, Magtubo is asking the City Council to direct several committees, including the peace and order, public safety and security, and labor and capital relations, to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation to ascertain the cause of the explosion as well as the level of accountability the company is liable to - for workers and the community.

 

Magtubo, who is also the chairperson of Partido Manggagawa (PM), noted that this was the second time that fire and explosion occurred at the same facility. “On February 29, 2024, a fire also occurred at the same facility, causing significant damage and injuring four people,” stated Magtubo.

 

“Huwag din nating kalimutan ang nangyari sa Kentex dahil habang nauulit ang mga ganito, makikita na hindi tayo nagbabago,” he added.

 

The resolution demands thereafter the submission of the Inquiry Report to the City Council with findings and recommendations, including:

 

1.           Amendments to existing ordinances on industrial safety, the handling of hazardous materials, and emergency response;

2.           Policy recommendations to national agencies for stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and;

3.           Measures to enhance corporate accountability and community protection.

 

Earlier, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition also called on concerned government agencies to conduct the same inquiry, saying the recurrence of such deadly workplace accidents is unacceptable.

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa

Renato Magtubo

National Chairperson

City Councilor, Marikina City 

Despite P50 NCR wage order: Labor vows to push P200 legislated wage bill in new Congress

 

Image from Dakila

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) stated that labor groups are united in pushing a legislated wage increase as a pathway to improving the living conditions of workers and a step towards reforming the wage fixing system.

 

 “It is the high-profile campaign of the labor movement for a P200 legislated increase that nudged the NCR wage board to enact the highest ever amount of minimum hike in the region lest it be criticized by workers for being stingy and useless,” Lawrence Cusipag, one of PM’s spokespersons, asserted.

 

“With the 20^th Congress convening by July 28 and despite the P50 wage order in Metro Manila yesterday, we reiterate out demand for a P200 salary adjustment that is nationwide and across-the-board so that all workers benefit. Even informal workers and micro entrepreneurs will also gain from this measure through the multiplier effects of a robust purchasing power of formal workers,” explained Cusipag.

 

Labor groups will join multisectoral organizations in the planned mobilization on the State of the Nation speech of President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. which is also the official opening of the new Congress.

 

“Labor will raise the demand for a legislated wage hike in opposition to the provincial rates which is an instrument to cheapen wages of workers. Labor productivity has risen continuously for the past two decades even as real wages have stagnated. Employers have monopolized the fruits of so-called economic progress,” Cusipag ended. ###

 

PHP 50/day minimum wage increase is a drop in the bucket

 

Image from ABS-CBN

Five P10 coins may be the biggest alms that the NCR wage board ever gave workers, but it is still barya (small change). The PHP 50/day minimum wage increase, bringing the new minimum wage to PHP 695, is woefully inadequate in addressing the skyrocketing cost of living in Metro Manila. With a daily living wage of over PHP 1,200 for a family of five, this increase barely makes a dent in the poverty faced by workers.

 

Working poor despite wage hike

 

The new minimum wage of PHP 695 translates to a monthly salary of PHP 15,290 (based on 22 working days). However, this is still below the regional poverty threshold of PHP 15,713 as of 2023. Given the rising cost of living, the poverty threshold is likely even higher now, making workers in Metro Manila even poorer.

 

Call to action

 

The labor movement recognizes that the current wage system perpetuates cheap wages. That's why we're fighting for real change through a legislated wage increase of PHP 200 in the upcoming 20th Congress. We urge all workers to unite and join the fight for a legislated wage hike that will genuinely improve our standard of living. Together, we can demand a fair wage that allows us to live with dignity. 

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

 

PRIDE IN WORK, NOT JUST IN IDENTITY

In joining this month’s celebration of Pride, Partido Manggagawa (PM) calls for 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.

 

PM, its youth wing PM Kabataan and allied organizations are holding a community event on the afternoon of June 29 at the Gawad Kalinga Multipurpose Hall Paradise Heights in Smokey Mountain Tondo in commemoration of Pride Month.

 

“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.”