Advisory: Labor Day activities

Contact: Judy Ann Miranda @ 09175570777, 09228677522 

Labor Day activities

April 30 (Today), 7:00 p.m.

Noise barrage @ Welcome Rotonda

 “Lakbayan para sa Pabahay at Trabaho” of some 500 Metro Manila and Calabarzon workers and poor will hold program by 5:00 p.m. at DOLE then at Welcome Rotonda. Main call is stop demolitions and end contractualization; housing and jobs for all. Lakbayan marchers will stay overnight at Holy Trinity Church then merge will Labor Day rally

May 1

7:00 a.m. Assembly along Espana (from Welcome Rotonda to Ramon Magsaysay High School) of 20,000-strong rally of 40 groups under Nagkaisa. PM contingent of 1,000 will assemble at PLDT

            9:00 a.m. March to Mendiola

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Program at Mendiola

            After Mendiola rally, PM and PALEA will motorcade to protest camp @ PAL In-Flight Center for an afternoon program

Cebu: 4,000-strong rally of Nagkaisa (PM, ALU-TUCP, APL-SENTRO, Makabayan) will march by 8:00 a.m. from Pier 1 to downtown Colon to the Department of Labor

Bacolod: 1,000 sugar workers and factory laborers from PM will rally at the Bacolod public plaza

Iloilo City: Indoor assembly in the morning then march downtown in the afternoon

Davao City: 400 members of Nagkaisa will march by 1:00 p.m. from Orcullo Park

Women workers seek Kris Aquino’s support to the RH bill

PRESS RELEASE

30 April 2012

Around a hundred women workers from Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) together with Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), United Cavite Workers Association (UCWA), Women’s Day Off and the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) gathered together at the Gabriela Silang Monument (Ayala Triangle) in Makati City early this morning. 

The women proceeded to Kris Aquino’s residence at One Roxas Triangle to seek her support for the immediate passage of the RH bill.  They brought with them posters with Kris’ image and slogan saying “Women labor for RH; Kris, endorse the RH bill” and carrying cans of milk labeled “RH milk” depicting Kris Aquino’s endorsement of a milk products for children. 

“As the country’s top celebrity endorser with countless fans among women workers, we sincerely hope that Kris will also endorse the RH bill,” said PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda.  “Kris owes her success partly from women of the working class who supports her, the fans who do not only watch her shows on television and movies in cinemas but also patronize the products she endorses.”

“We hope you understand the predicament of poor and working women when it comes to maternal health problems and family planning.  Affluent women may have the same difficulties but it is totally a different story where poor women are concerned,” Miranda further explained.

The passage of the RH bill is one of the Labor Day demands of Partido ng Manggagawa, PSLINK, UCWA and Women’s Day Off in tomorrow’s celebration of the International Labor Day worldwide.

Lakbayan against demolition and contractualization today

Press Release

April 30, 2012

One week after the bloody demolition at Silverio compound and threats of demolitions in several depressed areas in Metro Manila, including the Tucuma community in Barangay Merville in Parañaque, a Lakbayan was launched today to push for a long-term moratorium on demolitions, and the provision of housing and jobs for the homeless and unemployed. Some 500 workers, youth and poor from Metro Manila and Calabarzon led the “Lakbayan para sa Pabahay at Trabaho” which started this afternoon at Baclaran Church and ended tonight at the Holy Trinity Church in Balic-Balic.

Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa chairperson, declared that “The government needs to address the root cause of lack of housing for the poor. The housing program is tied up with the jobs and wages policy. The low wages in the country, as attested by a recent report of the ILO, means that the poor have barely enough income for food much less rent or amortization on housing,” he said.

The Tucuma Federation, Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino, Partido ng Manggagawa-Kabataan (PMK), Philippine Airlines Employees Association and PM joined in the Lakbayan. The Lakbayan held a short program at the DOLE office in Intramuros and the staged a noise barrage at the Welcome Rotonda early tonight. The marchers will stay overnight at the Holy Trinity Church then merge tomorrow with the huge 20,000-strong “historic” rally by the newly-formed Nagkaisa, which unites the country’s major labor center for the first time since the 1980’s. Among the eight major demands of Nagkaisa’s Labor Day rally will be reform of the socialized housing program of the government and a moratorium on demolitions.

Magtubo welcomed Robredo’s suspension of demolitions but also pushed for an extension. “Suspending demolitions until new rules are drafted merely scratches the surface of the problem. The moratorium should stay until the socialized housing of the government is reviewed and reformed. The government’s housing policy for the poor is profit not service-oriented.”

Menchie Amaro of PMK asserted that “The youth face a bleak future with the prevalence of contractual employment in the ecozones of Calabarzon and the threat to our homes and livelihood because of demolitions. The suspension of demolitions applies only to Metro Manila not Region IV.”

The Labor Day commemoration by groups comprising Nagkaisa will be nationwide. In Cebu, some 4,000 members of PM, ALU-TUCP, APL-SENTRO and Makabayan will march from the Pier 1 to downtown Colon and then a rally at the office of the Department of Labor. Some 1,000 sugar workers and factory laborers led by PM will have a rally at the Bacolod public plaza. Hundreds of leaders of labor unions, jeepney drivers associations, trisikad federation, truck drivers association, farm workers and urban poor in Iloilo City will have an indoor assembly in the morning and then a march downtown in the afternoon. In Davao, some 400 members of Nagkaisa including PM will assemble by 1:00 p.m. at Orcullo Park and then march around the city.

Advisory: Lakbayan against demolition

WHAT: Long march of some 500 Metro Manila and Calabarzon workers and poor

WHEN and WHERE: Today, April 30 (Monday)

3:00 p.m. Assembly @ Baclaran Church

5:00 p.m. Short picket @ DOLE Intramuros

7:00 p.m. Noise Barrage @ Welcome Rotonda

8:00 p.m. Arrive @ Holy Trinity Church (Balic-Balic, Manila)

DETAILS: Main call is stop demolitions and contractualization, housing and jobs for all. Lakbayan marchers will stay overnight at Holy Trinity Church then merge with Labor Day rally.

Contact: Judy Ann Miranda @ 09175570777, 09228677522

Tucuma residents appeal to Catholic Church for support

Press Release

April 29, 2012

Tucuma Federation

The residents of the depressed community of Tucuma in Barangay Merville, Paranaque City appealed to the Catholic Church for support in its land dispute. Leaders of the Tucuma Federation will meet with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who also heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, today to present their case and request.

“The social teachings of the Catholic Church put forward that people should be first before profit. Applied to our case, this means that the housing and livelihood needs of some 1,000 families are a priority over the private property claims of the Molave Development Corporation which wants to profit by speculation over a long-idled land,” explained Ramil Asturias, Tucuma Federation president.

Tomorrow a long march or Lakbayan will banner the call “Stop to demolitions, Housing and jobs for all.” Some 500 workers, youth and poor from Metro Manila and Calabarzon will lead the “Lakbayan para sa Pabahay at Trabaho” which will start by 3:00 p.m. at Baclaran Church and end by 8:00 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church in Balic-Balic.

The marchers will stay overnight at the Holy Trinity Church then join on May 1 the huge 20,000-strong “historic” rally by the newly-formed Nagkaisa, which unites the country’s major labor center for the first time since the 1980’s. Among the eight major demands of Nagkaisa’s Labor Day rally will be reform of the socialized housing program of the government and a moratorium on demolitions.

Asturias will propose to Bishop Pabillo that the Catholic Church call for an extension of the temporary suspension of the demolitions ordered by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. The suspension will only last until the regulations on demolitions are assessed and affirmed. “We however want that the moratorium last until the socialized housing of the government is reviewed and reformed. The government’s housing policy for the poor is profit not service-oriented,” Asturias insisted.

Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa chairperson, welcomed Robredo’s suspension of demolitions but also pushed for an extension. “Suspending demolitions until new rules are drafted merely scratches the surface of the problem. The government needs to address the root cause of lack of housing for the poor. The housing program is tied up with the jobs and wages policy. The low wages in the country, as attested by a recent report of the ILO, means that the poor have barely enough income for food much less rent or amortization on housing,” he said.

Magtubo revealed that the number of informal settlers was estimated at half a million families by a HUDCC study in 2007 while the housing backlog is assumed to be 3.7 million units.

Tucuma residents welcome suspension of demolitions but wants moratorium extended till housing program reformed

Press Release

April 28, 2012

Tucuma Federation

The residents of the depressed community of Tucuma in Barangay Merville, Parañaque who have been preparing to fight off an eviction heaved a sigh of relief and welcomed the temporary suspension of demolitions ordered by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo hours after they held a rally and sought a dialogue with his office yesterday.

“We however call on Sec. Robredo to extend the moratorium till the housing and even jobs policy of the government is reviewed and reformed,” Ramil Asturias, Tucuma Federation president said. This was in reaction to reports that the suspension will only last until the regulations on demolitions are assessed and affirmed.

Leaders of Tucuma Federation together with residents of NIA compound in Quezon City and West Bicutan who face similar land disputes staged the rally and were met with a DILG official named Clarion Paz-Tanghal who received the letter on behalf of Sec. Robredo. Asturias appealed to Robredo to facilitate negotiations between Tucuma Federation, the landowner Molave Development Corporation and Parañaque  Mayor Florencio Bernabe.

Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa chairperson, supported Asturias’ position and said that “Suspending demolitions until new rules are drafted merely scratches the surface of the problem. The government needs to address the root cause of lack of housing for the poor. The housing program is tied up with the jobs and wages policy. The low wages in the country, as attested by a recent report of the ILO, means that the poor have barely enough income for food much less rent or amortization on housing.”

Magtubo announced that a long march or Lakbayan from Calabarzon to Manila will be held on the eve of Labor Day and banner the call “Stop to demolitions, Housing and jobs for all.” Some 400 workers, youth and poor from Cavite, Laguna and Batangas will march from Zapote early in the morning of April 30 then merge with a contingent from Metro Manila by 3:00 p.m. in Baclaran and stay overnight at the Holy Trinity Church in Balic-Balic. On May 1, the “Lakbayan para sa Pabahay at Trabaho” will join the huge 20,000-strong “historic” rally by the newly-formed Nagkaisa, which unites the country’s major labor center for the first time since the 1980’s.

Magtubo revealed that the number of informal settlers was estimated at half a million families by a HUDCC study in 2007 while the housing backlog is assumed to be 3.7 million units. “Tucuma’s fight is the fight of all. Decent housing is a right not a privilege of all Filipinos. Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement,” he insisted.

Tucuma residents ask Robredo to intervene for expropriation of disputed land

Press Release

April 27, 2011

Tucuma Federation

A delegation of leaders from the Tucuma community in Barangay Merville in Parañaque staged a rally at the DILG head office and sought a dialogue with Secretary Jesse Robredo. A DILG official named Clarion Paz-Tanghal met with the Tucuma leaders and received the letter on behalf of Sec. Robredo. Ramil Asturias, Tucuma Federation president, said that “We asked Sec. Robredo to intervene and persuade Mayor Florencio Bernabe to stay the implementation of the demolition order and refile expropriation proceedings. It is not true that Mayor Bernabe’s hands are tied. The expropriation case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning the city hall can refile it once more. All it takes is political will.”

The Tucuma Federation leaders held the protest and then dialogue with Paz-Tanghal at around 10:00 a.m. in Quezon City in order to prevent another bloody eviction similar to the demolition at the Silverio Compound last Monday.

“We explained to the DILG that Mayor Bernabe is not powerless to do anything except demolish our homes. The local government’s expropriation case was dismissed without prejudice by the courts. This means that all Mayor Bernabe has to do is to refile the expropriation case against the Molave Development Corp which is headed by a certain Cynthia Tinitigan,” Asturias explained.

The Tucuma Federation is banking on City Ordinance 0013 s. 2000 which mandates the local government to buy the disputed land measuring some one hectare for the purpose of a socialized housing project for the informal settlers. Meanwhile some 1,000 families in Tucuma are on a 24/7 alert to defend their homes and livelihood against the expected demolition attempt.

Renato Magtubo, chairperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa, declared its support for the Tucuma Federation. He said “Tucuma’s fight is the fight of all. Decent housing is a right not a privilege of all Filipinos. Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement.

He revealed that one of the demands to be raised in the coming May Day rally of workers is a moratorium on demolitions. A long march or “Lakbayan” of informal settlers and community youth from Calabarzon will start on April 30 and merge with the May Day rally. The Lakbayan will banner the call “Stop demolitions. Housing for all.”

Parañaque residents vow to defend community as Mayor says demolition to proceed today

Press Release

April 26, 2012

Tucuma Federation

Residents of a Parañaque community vowed to defend their homes as City Mayor Florencio “Jun” Bernabe declared that the scheduled demolition today will proceed. The possibility of another violent eviction follows the bloody demolition at Silverio compound last Monday in which one resident was killed and scores were arrested. Ramil Asturias, president of the Tucuma Federation, said that “We have lived peacefully here for years but will resist any attempt to forcible evict us from our homes.”

The Tucuma Federation represents some 1,000 families living in the depressed community of Tucuma in Barangay Merville. A hundred Tucuma Federation members rallied at the Parañaque City Hall yesterday in a last-minute appeal but Mayor Bernabe snubbed the call for a dialogue. In news reports, Mayor Bernabe averred that he cannot do anything as it is a court-ordered demolition. After the Tucuma members returned home from the city hall rally, they began preparations for defending their homes against demolition.

“Mayor Bernabe’s character is revealed by his double standard. He says that his hands are tied by the court order for a demolition yet he refuses lift a finger to enforce a city ordinance mandating the expropriation of the disputed land. It is in Mayor Bernabe’s power to set aside the demolition as the affected residents are also the beneficiaries of the expropriation ordinance,” Asturias explained.

The Tucuma Federation is demanding the implementation of City Ordinance 0013 s. 2000 expropriating the disputed land and asking that Mayor Bernabe refile the expropriation case on the property owner. The Molave Development Corp. headed by a certain Cynthia Tinitigan is claiming ownership of the disputed land which is less than one hectare big.

The Tucuma Federation expressed solidarity with the Silverio residents, condemned the deadly force used on Monday’s demolition and demands a moratorium on demolitions. “Heads must roll for the death of one resident from police gunfire and the brutality accompanying the arrest of scores protesters,” asserted Ramil Cangayao, spokesperson of the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP). The Tucuma Federation is an affiliate of the AMP which is an alliance of urban poor associations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa national chair, asserted that “Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement.” Magtubo explained that one of the demands of the coming Labor Day rally is a moratorium on demolitions.

Parañaque residents rally against demolition

Press Release

April 25, 2012

Tucuma Federation

More than 100 residents of a community in Parañaque staged a rally at the city hall this morning to call for a stop to the scheduled demolition of their homes tomorrow. In the face of the violent eviction at the Silverio compound last Monday, another demolition has been scheduled tomorrow at the Tucuma community at Barangay Merville in Parañaque.

Ramil Asturias, president of the Tucuma Federation has vowed that “We will defend our community where some 1,000 urban poor families reside. It is in the hands of Mayor Florencio ‘Jun’ Bernabe whether a peaceful resolution of the land dispute or another violent confrontation occurs at Tucuma.”

Aside from a stop to the scheduled demolition, the Tucuma Federation also called for the implementation of City Ordinance 0013 s. 2000 expropriating the disputed land and asked that Mayor Bernabe refile the expropriation case on the property owner. The Molave Development Corp. headed by a certain Cynthia Tinitigan is claiming ownership of the disputed land which is less than one hectare big.

“We ask that Mayor Bernabe make a political decision to set aside the demolition order since the affected residents are also the beneficiaries of the expropriation ordinance that has long remained unenforced,” Asturias explained.

The Tucuma Federation likewise condemned the deadly force used on Silverio residents and demands a moratorium on demolitions. “Heads must roll for the death of one resident from police gunfire and the brutality accompanying the arrest of scores protesters,” said Ramil Cangayao, spokesperson of the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP). The Tucuma Federation is an affiliate of the AMP which is an alliance of urban poor associations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa national chair, asserted that “Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement.”

Magtubo explained that one of the demands of the coming Labor Day rally is a moratorium on demolitions. Some 20,000 workers and urban poor under the umbrella of the newly-formed Nagkaisa will march along Espana to Mendiola to highlight the issues of job contractualization, low wages, high prices of oil and power and violent demolitions, among others. Some 40 labor organizations established the Nagkaisa, among them the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Alliance of Progressive Labor and PM.

Rally at Paranaque city hall to demand moratorium on demolitions

Media Advisory

Contact: Ramil Asturias (Tucuma Federation president) @ 09178092807
WHAT: Residents of Tucuma community to call for a stop to demolition

WHEN:  Tomorrow, April 25 (Wednesday), 10:00 am

WHERE: Paranaque city hall

DETAILS: In the face of the violent demolition yesterday at the Silverio compound, another eviction has been scheduled on Thursday, April 26, this time at the Tucuma community at Barangay Merville in Paranaque. The Tucuma Federation has vowed to defend the community where some 1,000 urban poor families reside. Members of the Tucuma Federation will rally tomorrow at the Paranaque city hall to call for a stop to the demolition, the implementation of City Ordinance 0013 s. 2000 expropriating the disputed land and for Mayor Florencio Bernabe to refile the expropriation case on the property owner. The Tucuma Federation likewise condemned the deadly force used on Silverio residents and demands a moratorium on demolitions.

Urban poor group condemns violent Paranaque demolition, use of deadly force

Press Release

April 24, 2012

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

The urban poor group Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) and the labor party Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) condemned the violent demolition at the Silverio Compound in Paranaque and assailed the use of deadly force by the police. “Heads must roll for the death of one resident from police gunfire and the brutality accompanying the arrest of scores protesters,” said Ramil Cangayao, spokesperson of the AMP. AMP is an alliance of urban poor associations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, PM national chair, asserted that “Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement.”

Cangayao expressed the fear that violence may erupt once more in Paranaque since another demolition has been scheduled on Thursday at the Tucuma community in Barangay Merville. Ramil Asturias, president of the Tucuma Federation, declared that they will defend their community from any attempt at demolition.

The Tucuma residents are planning a rally at the Paranaque city hall tomorrow to appeal for a stop to the scheduled demolition. Tucuma Federation is an affiliate of the AMP.

Magtubo explained that one of the demands of the coming Labor Day rally is a moratorium on demolitions. Some 20,000 workers and urban poor under the umbrella of the newly-formed Nagkaisa will march along Espana to Mendiola to highlight the issues of job contractualization, low wages, high prices of oil and power and violent demolitions, among others. Some 40 labor organizations established the Nagkaisa, among them the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Alliance of Progressive Labor and PM.

Sigaw sa Mayo 1: Regular na Trabaho, Umento sa Sahod, Mababang Presyo

Noong kalagitnaan ng Marso, sa harap ng isang pulong ng mga negosyante ay nanawagan si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na maging prayoridad ng mga kapitalista ang kagalingan ng mga manggagawa. Tinawag nating “Noy-ngaling” si PNoy dahil kabaliktaran ang kanyang salita ng kanyang gawa. Kung totoong tagapagtanggol ng karapatan at kagalingan ng manggagawa si PNoy ay dapat tinutulan sa halip na sinang-ayunan niya ang tanggalan at kontraktwalisasyon sa Philippine Airlines (PAL). Di lang Noynoying si PNoy kundi Noy-ngaling pa.

Ang darating na Mayo 1 ay ikawalang selebrasyon na ng Araw ng Manggagawa sa ilalim ni PNoy. Noong nakaraang Mayo 1 ay tinuligsa natin siya sa pagpanig sa tanggalan at kontraktwalisasyon sa PAL. Sa kasalukuyan ay dapat nating usigin ang kanyang administrasyon sa patuloy na pagsisinungaling at pagtatraydor sa interes ng manggagawa na pinangakuan niyang ituring na boss.

Ganunpaman, sa harap ng patuloy na pag-iilusyon ng maraming Pilipino sa pamumuno ni PNoy, kasabay ng matalas na propaganda ng pag-usig ay dapat mapakilos ang masang manggagawa sa kagyat na mga kahilingang dapat tugunan ng gobyerno.

Sa Mayo 1, ang ating kagyat na kahilingan ay proteksyon sa regular na trabaho, pagtaas ng sweldo, at pagbaba ng presyo ng kuryente’t langis. Ito ay mga kahilingang nakatuon sa gobyerno ni PNoy upang tugunan at aksyunan. Bukod dito, mangangalampag din tayo sa pagbabago ng patakaran ng liberalisasyon, deregulasyon at pribatisasyon. Gayundin mananawagan tayo ng pagrereporma ng labor justice system.

Ang kampanya para sa regular na trabaho ay napapanatiling buhay ng patuloy na paglaban ng PALEA sa kontraktwalisasyon anim na buwan matapos ang tanggalan. Ang pagbenta ng minority share ng PAL sa San Miguel at pagpapalit ng management ay nagbubukas ng oportunidad para sa resolusyon ng labor dispute.

Pero di pa man nagtatagumpay ang PALEA na maibalik sa trabaho ang mga tinanggal ay naobliga na ang Department of Labor na maglabas ng kautusan kaugnay ng subcontracting. Pinahigpit ang mga rekisitos sa ligal na kontraktwalisasyon at hayagang kinilala na dapat tumanggap ng mga benepisyo ang mga kontraktwal at maari pang magtayo ng unyon. Ganunpaman, pinapanatiling ligal ng DO 18-A ang karamihan ng porma ng kontraktwalisasyon na sanhi ng pagkawasak ng regular na trabaho pati pagkadurog ng mga unyon.

Kumpara sa DO 18-A, hamak na mas mahigpit ang Security of Tenure (SOT) bill na nakasampa sa Kongreso at naglalayong limitahan ang laganap na kontraktwalisasyon. Gayong wala na sa kamay ni PNoy ang kaso ng PALEA, dapat pa rin siyang itulak na gawing priority legislation ang SOT bill.

Umiinit na naman muli ang usapin ng pagtaas ng sahod bunga walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, at kasunod nito ang pasahe’t iba pang batayang pangangailangan. May nagsampa na ng petisyon sa regional wage boards. Sa kabilang banda, nakaamba na ipasa ng House Labor Committee ang panukalang legislated across-the-board wage hike. Malayo pa bago ito maipasang batas pero binibigyang diin nito ang kakagyatan ng umento sa sahod.

Tinanggihan na ni PNoy ang pagtaas ng sahod sa katwirang walang supervening event o grabeng inflation. Ang ganitong Noynoying o kawalang aksyon ni PNoy ay dapat mabatikos habang ineengganyo ang pagkakaisa ng labor groups sa pagsusulong ng pagtaas ng sahod sa anumang porma ito makakamit.

Ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa pandaigdigang pamilihan ay mangangahulugan na ibayo pang magliliyab ang usapin ng oil price hike. Pero di ibig sabihin nito na walang magagawa si PNoy kundi mag-Noynoying sa harap ng umaarangkadang global oil prices. Ang pagtatanggal ng VAT sa mga produktong petrolyo ay isang kagyat na hakbang na maaring isagawa. Ang pagrerepaso ng oil deregulation law ay isa na ring buhay na usapin at maaring igiit ang pagbabalik ng price control sa langis bukod sa pagsasabansa ng Petron.

Katulad ng mataas na presyo ng langis, ang mahal na gastusin sa kuryente ay isang ring mabigat na pasanin ng manggagawa at maralita. Ipinagkikibit-balikat lang ng gobyerno ang problemang ito habang tinitiis ng taumbayan ang pasakit na ito. Oras nang repasuhin ang EPIRA o ang deregulasyon at pribatisasyon ng power industry.

Ang deregulasyon at pribatisasyon ng langis at kuryente ay mga matingkad na halimbawa ng delubyong dala ng globalisasyon. Sa kabilang banda, ang liberalisasyon ng ekonomiya ay nagresulta sa pagsasara ng umaabot sa 3,000 empresa bawat taon sa nakalipas na isang dekada at pagkawala ng trabaho ng daan-daang libong manggagawa. Ang hatid ng globalisasyon ay pagguho ng lokal na industriya at agrikultura sa halip na progreso at pag-unlad. Malinaw na ngayon na perwisyo kaysa benepisyo ang dulot ng imperyalistang globalisasyon. Panahon nang ibandila ang panawagan ng pagbabago ng pang-ekonomiyang patakaran.

Kasabay nito dapat maibando ang pagrereporma ng labor justice system. Ang mapait na kapalaran ng flight attendants ng PAL ay nabigyang pokus ng impeachment trial ni Chief Justice Corona. Kapalit ng platinum card ay inimpluwensyahan ni Corona ang pagbawi ng paborableng desisyon sa kaso ng FASAP.

Isang matingkad na halimbawa lang ito kung paano nabibili ng mga kapitalista ang mga husgado at nababaluktot ang hustisya. Kung ang bilyunaryong gaya ni Lucio Tan ay nagagawang impluwensyahan ang Chief Justice ng Korte Suprema, ganundin namamanipula ng mga kapitalista ang arbiters ng NLRC, mediators ng DOLE/NCMB at judges ng mga RTC at Court of Appeals. Di nakakagulat na ang ordinaryong manggagawa ay napipilitang i-areglo ang mga kaso kapalit ng barya kasya mabitag sa mga pasilyo ng labor justice system.

Ang labor unity na nagkahugis sa laban ng PALEA ay maaring punla ng pagkakaisa para isulong ang mga kagyat at pangmatagalang kahilingan. Ang kampanya sa Mayo Uno ay ekstensyon at kontinwasyon ng laban kontra kontraktwalisasyon. Ang malawak na pagkakaisa ng kilusang paggawa ang magbibigay pwersa at magbabasbas ng kredibilidad sa kampanyang Mayo Uno.

Maaga nang nasimulan ang kampanyang Mayo Uno sa pamamagitan ng Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita. Pero di dapat magtapos ang kampanya sa isang pagkilos sa Mayo Uno. Ang mga kagyat na kahilingan ay di basta maipapanalo sa Araw ng Manggagawa. At di rin dapat magkasya sa simpleng pagsisigaw ng mga islogan sa Mayo Uno. Ang susunod na yugto at lundo ng laban ay ang pagbubukas ng Kongreso sa Hulyo at SONA ni PNoy. Ang mga kahilingang nangangailangan ng executive action ni PNoy ay maaring ang pokus ng Mayo Uno samantalang ang ibang obligado ang legislative measures ay maari namang tutukan sa SONA.

PALEA ok’s CA mediation, calls on PAL to reinstate workers

Press Release

April 21, 2012                 

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) yesterday submitted a manifestation to the Court of Appeals (CA) expressing its willingness to participate in mediation to seek a settlement to the labor dispute. “The new management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) should recognize that the solution to the flag carrier’s woes involves not only need a refleeting of its aging aircraft but more so the reinstatement of its skilled regular workers,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

The CA Tenth Division in a resolution dated March 27, 2012, asked the parties to the case docketed as CA G.R. SP No. 120977, if they are willing to have the issue referred to the Philippine Mediation Center-Court of Appeals for “a final opportunity to explore the possibility of coming up with an amicable settlement of their dispute.” The parties were given 10 days from receipt of the resolution to file their manifestations.

Rivera explained that “PALEA considers the CA’s mediation offer as an opening to end the labor row which could not happened without the perseverance in protest by some 2,000 of our members for more than six months and in the face of three typhoons, two attacks on its campout and spending the Christmas holidays at the picketlines. The CA resolution further spurs us to continue the protest actions until we have finally won our demands.”

In the coming Labor Day celebrations, among the issues to be raised is the recall of retrenched PALEA members in particular and the protection of job security in general. Meanwhile a leader of the Qantas engineers union is on a solidarity visit and has spoken at the PALEA protest camp in the last few days about concrete support in the fight against outsourcing. The visit follows a two-week solidarity tour of Australia by the PALEA vice president and an officer of Partido ng Manggagawa to solicit moral and material support for PALEA.

Rivera is also scheduled to go on another two-week tour this time of the United States. He will attend a May Day forum in Washington DC and then proceed to Chicago, San Francisco and Honolulu to meet labor unions and Filipino-American groups about PALEA’s struggle.

“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.”

Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita

Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita

WHAT: Workers to hold “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita”

WHEN:  Wednesday, April 4, 9:00 am

WHERE: Various stops in Makati

DETAILS: Some 200 members of PM, PALEA and other groups will participate in the “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita” that will highlight the plight and demands of workers and the poor. The Kalbaryo will pass through key government agencies and private institutions in Makati in a mock stations of the cross.

The assembly point is at the Makati fire station. The Kalbaryo will start at Lucio Tan’s office in Allied Bank Building (contractualization), then proceed to the Employers Confederation of the Philippines office in Buendia (wage hike), onto the DTI office in Buendia (high prices), then the Shell office in Valero (oil price increase) and finally end at the HUDCC office in Makati Ave. corner Buendia (housing). The Kalbaryo will also be a buildup to the May 1 rally.