The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on workers to fight
inequality as the continuation of the struggle of Andres Bonifacio. On the occasion
of this year’s commemoration of Bonifacio Day, thousands of workers from different
labor groups are coming together to a big rally at Mendiola.
Members of PM are joining the major mobilizations in the cities of
Manila, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. Chapters of PM and groups Aguila, National
Federation of Labor, Pwersa and Kilos Maralita from Metro Manila, Calabarzon
and Central Luzon are gathering at Blumentritt along Espana at 9 am. The groups
will then link up with the Nagkaisa labor coalition march from Welcome Rotonda
to Mendiola where they will hold a program up to noon.
Yesterday PM unveiled what it called “Panalo ang Pinas” and “Laban
ng Pinoys” medals to express its message of fighting social inequality amidst
economic growth. Scores of PM members trooped to Liwasang Bonifacio yesterday wearing
symbolic medals that parodied the issues facing workers such as rampant contractualization
and low wages, and the people such as government corruption and rice
importation.
“For the last decade, the economy has doubled but real wages have
remained stagnant. This means workers have not shared in the wealth that labor
has produced and instead capitalists have monopolized it. If Bonifacio were alive
today, he will be leading a new revolution against worsening inequality,”
stated Judy Ann Miranda, PM Secretary General.
She added that “Endo and regional wages are among the key instruments
by which government in collaboration with capitalists have kept workers from partaking
in the fruits of their labor. Thus the campaign of workers to end endo and
abolish regional wages are major struggles of the labor movement at present.”
PM is also condemning the repression of labor strikes that are
breaking out as contractual workers demand regularization. The group also denounced
the government for the slow action in resolving the killing of union organizer
Dennis Sequena last June. The group reiterated its demand that the government allow
the International Labor Organization to conduct a High Level Mission to probe the
killings of labor activists and the suppression of freedom of association and
collective bargaining. ###
Photos
of the activity yesterday can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/
November 30, 2019
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