Export zone workers march vs. con-ass, call for action on economic recession instead of charter revision

Press Release
June 8, 2009

Some 300 factory workers and community residents marched around the Cavite Economic Zone in the town of Rosario to express outrage over the passage of Resolution 1109. “The workers protests are in response to the multisectoral movement against cha-cha and the Catholic Church’s call versus con-ass. The working class adds its voice to the people’s indignation over the railroading of con-ass and the desperate attempt to extend GMA’s term,” stated Dennis Sequena, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM)-Cavite chairperson.

Members of the Rosario Workers Association (RWA), United Cavite Workers Association and Samahang Nagkakaisa ng Cavite led two contingents that met around 10 a.m. at the main gate of the Cavite Economic Zone then marched around the export zone. The first group came from the towns of Gen. Trias and Tanza, and assembled at Tejero. The second contingent came from the towns of Rosario, Kawit and Cavite City, and gathered at the Rosario Municipal Hall.

Marites Manjares of RWA argued that “The workers call on Congress to retreat from changing the Constitution and instead act on the economic recession. The recession has been overshadowed by other sensational news but it is a threat worse than the outbreak of the AH1N1 virus while the epidemic of layoffs is a worse scandal than the Hayden-Katrina sex video.”

PM renewed its call for a workers bailout in order to stimulate the economy and counter the recession. The group is calling for tax refund, unemployment insurance and direct subsidies to displaced employees and poor people in to order to “put money in the hands of workers and the poor” and revive consumer demand.

“Resolution 1109 may be one small step for her allies in the House of Representatives but it is a giant leap for GMA. It may not be long now when the people will wake up one morning to be greeted by a Prime Minister GMA. Con-ass is the illegitimate child of the Lakas-Kampi marriage and the secret godchild of Gloria Arroyo. It is a GMA-PALAKA outrage that is worse than the sex videos,” Manjares added.

Sequena expained that “Revising the Constitution will pave the way not just for GMA’s perpetuation in power but also the annihilation of the token protection for labor rights and national patrimony that remains in the Constitution.”

Tomorrow the urban poor will hold a noise barrage at the Bicutan Interchange in Paranaque to call on Congress to withdraw the con-ass move. Affiliates of the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino and PM in Paranaque will march from their communities to the Bicutan palengke at the Bicutan Interchange. They will hold a noise barrage to call for a stop to con-ass and the scrapping of cha-cha.