Sunday, April 30, 2023

“Chi-cha not cha-cha” among nationwide Labor Day calls tomorrow

 

Demands for a salary hike and ayuda for the poor instead of changing the Constitution is among the workers’ issues to be highlighted in the nationwide protests tomorrow. “We will endure the heat of marching under the sun because the burning issue of low wages and high prices is a priority concern. Chi-cha not cha-cha,” declared Rene Magtubo, national chair of the militant group Partido Manggagawa (PM) and a city councilor in Marikina, in reference to an urgent response to the economic crisis instead of politicians tinkering with charter change.

 

PM members will assemble at 7:00 am at the Petron Blumentritt along Espana in Manila before marching towards Mendiola. The main Labor Day mobilization in Manila is led by the coalition All Philippine Trade Unions which brings together the groups Nagkaisa, Trade Union Center of the Philippines, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). Similar rallies are expected in the cities of Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Iligan, General Santos, Cotabato and Tagum.

 

“Sahod, Trabaho, Karapatan” is the theme of the nationwide protests. “We call for a P100 minimum wage hike to recover the lost purchasing power of workers. Also, we demand an end to endo and the return of regular employment as the norm. Finally, we ask the government to heed the recommendations of the International Labour Organization high-level tripartite mission on respecting labor rights,” Magtubo explained.

 

In Metro Cebu, PM will assemble at the Plaza Independencia at 8:00 am before marching to Metro Gaisano in Colon for the joint rally of the coalition Sugbuanong Mamumuo Nagkahiusa Alang sa Living Wage (SANA AL). Some 1,000 workers are expected to march for the demand for wage hike and regular jobs. The highlight of the protest will be the hammering of a makeshift statue of Sen. Robin Padilla by a giant hammer (maso) to symbolize the workers’ fight against cha-cha.

 

In Iloilo City, the coalition United Labor leads the march of some 1,500 workers at 2:30 pm to the Capitol grounds. The unions at Pepsi, Coke, URC and Iloilo Doctors are among the participants together with a contingent from the Iloilo Grab Riders Union (IGRU). The IGRU is the first union established among Grab riders in the country.

 

In Bacolod, some 3,000 workers are joining the United Labor of Negros rally at the city Public Plaza. Sugar workers will troop to Bacolod City for the Labor Day protest of the groups PM, KMU, NACUSIP, BMP, CAILO, BUNYOG and BACOD. Unrest is brewing among sugar workers due to the early onset of tiempo muerto (dead season) as a result of the sugar crisis.

 

In Iligan, the Federation of Democratic Labor Organizations (FDLO) will lead the Labor Day march to the city plaza. PM and other civil society organizations will join the FDLO rally. 

April 30, 2023

Partido Manggagawa

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Labor coalition tells union allies to encourage Biden to remind BBM of need to respect workers’ rights in the Philippines

Photo from Twitter


Because President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has opted to visit US President Joe Biden rather than meet Philippine labor groups on Labor Day to discuss mounting economic and labor rights concerns, the Nagkaisa labor coalition sent appeals instead to its trade union allies in the US to encourage Biden to remind Marcos of the need to restore the free exercise of labor rights in the Philippines amid widespread violations during the Duterte administration as confirmed by the recent ILO High Level Tripartite Mission in its report.

 

Official advisory of the Marcos-Biden meeting on Labor Day stated security as well as trade and investment as main subjects of the bilateral talk.

 

The Biden administration, as explained by embassy officials during a meeting with Philippine trade unions early this month, is pushing for a “worker-centered” trade policy.

 

“But how can PH workers benefit from any trade talks with the US when all the coercive instruments instituted by the Duterte regime are kept intact by Marcos Jr.? For us, for trade to be worker-centered, it has to redound to the benefit of workers,” said Nagkaisa Chair Atty. Sonny Matula.

 

But anticipating a rather security-focused Marcos-Biden meeting, labor groups in Nagkaisa has requested their counterparts in the USA, the same groups that led the filing of a GSP complaint in December 2022, to urge Biden in their trade talks to encourage Marcos Jr to demonstrate seriousness in addressing the long-standing concerns of the labor movement, starting with taking concrete steps to realize the recommendations of the ILO HLTM.

 

“All it takes for President Marcos Jr. to show its seriousness on trade and labor is for him to issue an Executive Order establishing the Presidential Commission on Freedom of Association,” insisted Matula.

 

According to Matula, trade union leaders and organizers have faced lethal violence, with 68, or 69 now with the most recent case in Negros, who were killed since 2016.

 

“The situation seems to hark back to the 18th or 19th century, as if unionizing is still considered a crime. But with President Marcos opting to visit US President Biden rather than meet with Philippine unions to talk about this issue this coming Labor Day, we hope he learns from Biden’s Presidential Task Force on union organizing that supports union revitalization in the US, and hopes that upon his return a decision is made to establish a Presidential Commission on Freedom of Association in the Philippines, as recommended in the ILO-HTLM report.”

 

Aside from labor rights and the creation of a Presidential Commission on Freedom of Association, the Nagkaisa and the unified Labor Day action by All Philippine Trade Unions on Monday would also raise demands for immediate wage hike, an end to ‘endo’ or contractualization and creation of decent jobs, as well as provisions of quality public services, including those for women and the youth. 

PRESS RELEASE

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition

29 April 2023

Ref: Atty. Sonny Matula

Chairperson

09178079041

 

Friday, April 28, 2023

LIGTAS NA PABAHAY HILING SA NHA NG MGA NAKATIRA SA DANGER ZONES SA BULACAN

 

Lumusob ang may 100 pamilya sa tanggapan ng National Housing Authority sa San Jose Del Monte Bulacan upang hilingin sa ahensya na ipagkaloob na ang matagal na nilang hinihintay na pabahay sa mga katulad nilang naninirahan sa tinatawag na danger zone o mga lugar na hindi ligtas sa pinsala ng mga sakuna katulad ng pangpang ng ilog o mabababang lugar na madalas binabaha.

 

Nais ng mga ito na muling makipagdayologo sa mga opisyal ng NHA sa rehiyon upang alamin ang mga hakbang na gagawin matapos ang ilang taong pag-uusap tungkol sa kanilang kahilingan. Ang grupo ay kinabibilangan ng mga kasapi ng Partido Manggagawa (PM) at Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilino (AMP).

 

Ayon Kay Ver Estorosas, Pangulo ng PM at lider din ng AMP, 2017 pa umano nagkaroon ng mga dayologo sa kanilang kahilingan subalit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa umanong linaw mga hakbang para sa kanilang paglilipatan.

 

“Umabot na nga ang aming pakikipag-usap hindi lamang sa NHA kundi sa Kapitolyo at Senado. Sa katunayan ay may mga ilang nailatag nang resolusyon na napag-usapan kaharap si former Gov. Willy Alvardo ng Bulacan at noo’y Housing Committee Chair ng Senado na si Sen. JV Ejercito,” pahayag ni Estorosas, subalit wala umanong iniuusad sa antas ng NHA kung kaya’t idinadaan nila itong muli sa protesta.

 

Darating na naman aniya ang tag-ulan at panahon ng bagyo at mahaharap na naman sila sa panganib gayong may mga paraan nang natukoy noon para sa unti-unting relokasyon (by batches) ng nakalistang mga pamilya sa mga proyektong pabahay ng pamahalaan.

 

“Bukod sa panganib ay hindi rin kami makapirmi sa aming paghahanapbuhay dahil sa iregularidad ng aming kalagayan kaya’t doble namang titinitiis ang hirap ng buhay at kawalang katiyakan sa paninirahan,” dagdag pa ni Estorosas.

 

Nakisaup sa NHA, sa provincial government, at maging sa Kongreso na magtulung-tulong na para maihakbang at ganap nang masolusyonan ang kanilang kahilingan.

 

At bilang bahagi ng uring manggagawa, ang PM at AMP ay sasabay din sa selebrasyon ng Mayo Uno sa Maynila sa darating na Lunes upang makilahok sa panawagang dadag na sahod, regular na trabaho, at karapatan ng manggagawa at maralita. 

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

28 April 2023

Contact:

Ver Estorosas

PM/AMP – Bulacan

09423690337

Thursday, April 27, 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: Women workers create artistic props, announce demands for Labor Day

MEDIA ADVISORY

Reference: Trish, 09178658720

 

Women workers create artistic props, announce demands for Labor Day

 

WHAT: Art workshop & press conference

WHO: Women Workers United (WWU)

WHEN: 10:30AM–12:00PM | 28 April 2023

WHERE: UP Solair Auditorium, Diliman, Quezon City

 

Days before Labor Day, WWU will announce women workers' demands and their participation in the upcoming May 1 protest. Seven major labor centers and women's organizations, along with around a hundred workers from various fields and industries, will be gathered on that day for an activity that aims to bring together the struggles of Filipino women workers. The activity is also part of the commemoration of the International Workers' Memorial Day with the global theme: Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living.

 

Panelists will present their urgent calls for wage hike, decent jobs, accessible social services, respect for rights, and the ratification of ILO Convention 190 as commonly used ingredients in the kitchen. Together, these form nutritious dishes essential to Filipinos—just as workers' calls are.

 

MEDIA COVERAGE IS REQUESTED.

Photo opportunities and interviews will be facilitated

 

MEDIA ADVISORY: MARALITA NG BULACAN MAGPOPROTESTA BUKAS SA NHA-BULACAN

MEDIA ADVISORY

Partido Manggagawa

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

27 April 2023

Contact:

Ver Estorosas

PM/AMP – Bulacan

09423690337

 

Request for coverage

 

MARALITA NG BULACAN MAGPOPROTESTA SA NHA-BULACAN

 

WHEN:  April 28, 2023

TIME:    9:00 AM

PLACE:  NHA-Bulacan

Address: Evenezer School Quirino Hiway Barangay Sto.Cristo San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

 

Nakatakdang magprotesta bukas sa tanggapan ng National Housing Authority (NHA) sa Bulacan ang mga residenteng naninirahan sa tinatawag na danger zone o mga lugar sa tabing ilog at pangpang.

 

Ito ay upang makipagdayalogo sa mga opisyal ng NHA na 2017 pa umano nangako sa kanila kaharap mismo ang dalawang Gobernador ng lalawigan ng Bulacan na haharapin ang kanilang kalagayan subalit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring nangyayari sa lilipatang pabahay.

 

Hiling nila ang agarang aksyon para dito para mailipat na sila mula sa panganib lalo na sa parating na panahon ng mga bagyo at tag-ulan. ###

Women workers decry high prices and low wages

 


Women members of the militant labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today called for a wage hike and government aid as they decried the high prices of goods. In a buildup activity for the coming Labor Day commemoration, women PM members bought daily necessities at the Pritil Market out of a budget of P570, which is the minimum wage in Metro Manila.

 

“Kakalog-kalog ang basket of goods na mabibili ng P570 minimum wage. The minimum wage is a libing not living wage,” asserted Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary general.

 

The group stated that the impending rice crisis is not just the looming shortage of the staple food but also price inflation. Miranda explained that the recent P2 to P3 per kilo increase in the prices of rice alone has eroded workers’ wages further by another P71 to P106 per month based on an average 8.9 kilo rice consumption per week for a family according to the government’s Family Income and Expenditure Survey.

 

“But things are yet to become worse as the price of rice is expected to increase by up to P6 due to the supply and demand imbalance. Anyare sa pangakong P20 na bigas? Dagdag P2 ang nangyari!” Miranda continued.

 

A wage hike, along with demands for a stop to contractualization and respect for labor rights, will be the highlight of the Labor Day rally led by the All Philippine Trade Unions (APTU) next Monday. The APTU is a coalition of the major labor groups in the country and is spearheading the Labor Day march from Espana to Mendiola in Manila.

 

The Labor Day protest will be nationwide as counterpart workers’ mobilizations by PM and allied organizations will be held in the cities of Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Iligan, Tagum and General Santos.

 

PM affiliated groups in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Cebu and Iloilo have filed petitions for a P100 minimum wage hike. The wage boards have yet to hold any hearings on the petitions. The group estimates that P100 has been eroded from the purchasing power of wages as a result of inflation.

 

“The P100 wage increase is a demand for wage recovery. It is just a stepping stone for a call for a living wage or for a just share in labor productivity gains,” Miranda elaborated.

 

Tomorrow, PM and other women workers’ groups are holding an assembly at the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Labor and Industrial Relations for a whole-day of discussions, art workshops and a press conference to reiterate their demands for wage hikes and ayudang sapat together with specific women issues such as gender-based violence in the workplace.


April 27, 2023

Partido Manggagawa

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: PRE-LABOR DAY ACTIVITY OF WOMEN WORKERS

MEDIA ADVISORY

Partido Manggagawa

April 27, 2023

Contact Judy Ann Miranda @ 09175570777

PM Secretary General

 

PRE-LABOR DAY ACTIVITY OF WOMEN WORKERS

Bente Pesos na Bigas, Anyare?

At least P2.00/kg pa itinaas, Anyare?

 

When: TODAY, April 27, 2023 Thursday

Time: 10:00 AM

Place: Assembly at Bgy 91 Covered Court besides Pritil Market, Manila

 

Women workers will buy their family daily food needs at Pritil Market with limited budget. Aside from the prevailing high inflation rate, the recent P2-3/kg increases in the prices of rice alone eroded wages further by another P71 – P106 per month.

 

For interview:

Solo parent, Vendor, Labandera, Wife of Minimum Wage Earner

 

Photo opportunities:

Women with “kakalog-kalog” basket of goods with high price tags.

Workers to march to Mendiola on Labor Day to demand wage increase, decent work, right to freely unionize



Organized labor, in a display of solidarity, will troop to Mendiola on Labor Day to demand an increase in wages, an end to contractualization and the full recognition of the right to freely unionize.

 

At a press conference today, the All Philippine Trade Unions (APTU) announced that it will gather more than 10,000 workers and march from España to Mendiola in the morning of May 1 to collectively air their demands.

 

The APTU, composed of the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and a host of other trade union centers and confederations, was established in January 2023 as workers submitted its report on the state of freedom of association in the Philippines to ILO High Level Tripartite Mission that looked into the killings of trade union leaders and other FOA violations since 2016.

 

“Wages should climb together with productivity because it is only right and just that workers, who create the wealth of our nation, get their fair share of our economic growth. Workers cannot wait anymore and workers definitely deserve better,” said Paul Gajes, Legislative Officer of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

 

There are petitions for wage increase in almost all regions, even as proposed measures for wage increase have been filed in both Houses of Congress, ranging from Php 150 to Php 750.

 

“Workers will march on May 1 to press for Malacañang’s position on our demands for an inclusive roadmap to achieve decent work, an immediate action to the popular clamor for immediate wage increase and an end to impunity among other matters. Titiyakin naming maririnig ang sigaw ng manggagawang Pilipino saanman sa mundo,” said Elmer Labog, chairperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

 

Protest actions have also been planned in different parts of the country.

 

“Depriving someone of the right to life diminishes us all. We are all part of the greater humanity. As trade unions, we are in solidarity with one another. Thus, we must defend, promote, and protect our individual rights to decent life, security of tenure in our work, as well as our rights to organize and engage in collective bargaining,” said Rene Magtubo of the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition.

 

Magtubo is referring to the joint workers report submitted by the APTU to the ILO-HLTM that that documented 68 trade union killings and hundreds of violations of the right to freedom of association, thus the need for whole of government approach to better guard labor rights.

 

"Milyong-milyon ang walang trabaho, at kung meron man, karamihan ay kontraktwal. Hamon natin sa gobyerno: ibasura ang Department Order 174, iwaksi ang kontraktwalisasyon, at igarantiya ang regular at ligtas na trabaho para sa lahat,” said Atty Luke Espiritu, president of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP).

 

Ending contractualization remains high in the priority list of organized labor.

 

"Low wages, rising prices, contractualization and workplace violence are hitting working women the hardest. Raising the minimum wage would considerably benefit women workers who are disproportionately concentrated in low-wage, precarious jobs and help close the gender wage gap. The current administration should pass the security of tenure bills in both the public and private sectors, and ratify ILO Convention 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work,” said Annie Geron of Women Workers United (WWU). The WWU was formed parallel to the APTU. 

PRESS RELEASE

All Philippine Trade Unions

26 April 2003

Contact Rene Magtubo @ 09178532905

Nagkaisa Spokesperson


Tuesday, April 25, 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: NCR WAGE BOARD MULING KAKALAMPAGIN SA ISYU NG WAGE HIKE

MEDIA ADVISORY

KAPATIRAN

Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa

25 April 2023

Contact:  Rey Almendras

Kapatiran President

09171173490


Request for coverage


NCR WAGE BOARD MULING KAKALAMPAGIN SA ISYU NG WAGE HIKE


WHEN: April 26, 2023   2:00 PM

WHERE: NCR Regional Wage Board

Address: 2nd & 3rd flr. DY Intl., Building, Malvar cor San Marcelino Sts. Manila. 


Members of the Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa or Kapatiran, together with members of Partido Manggagawa (PM), will press the NCR Regional Wage Board anew for the long-delayed conduct of public hearings and resolution for the P100 wage petition the group has filed since December last year. 


“Kakalampagin naming muli ang NCR Wage Board dahil sa kabagalang aksyon at kawalang pakiramdam,” said Kapatiran President Rey Almendras. Kapatiran said that aside from the prevailing high inflation rate, the recent P2-3/kg increases in the prices of rice alone eroded wages further by another P71 – P106 per month. 


The action comes right after the press conference in Manila of the All-Philippine Trade Unions announcing the joint Labor Day actions to demand SAHOD, TRABAHO, and KARAPATAN! ###