In the midst of an intensifying power struggle between the
competing dynasties of the UniTeam coalition, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition
views the recent suspension of the people's initiative (PI) proceedings by the
Commission on Elections (Comelec) as nothing more than a temporary truce.
The labor group stated this view while holding another
picket outside the Senate Building on Tuesday, coinciding with the scheduled
committee hearing on alleged irregularities in the PI process.
The Senate action was also part of Nagkaisa’s continuing
campaign to press for the enactment of the P150 across-the-board wage hike, end
to endo, and other economic measures to address the rising cost-of-living
crisis, which for them requires immediate action from Congress and the
Executive rather than to revising the Constitution at this point in time.
“Chicha hindi chacha ang kailangan ng mga manggagawa, lalong
hindi ang pumili sa pagitan ng polvoron o fentanyl,” asserted Partido
Manggagawa (PM) Secretary General Judy Miranda, as she dismissed claims about
the benefits arising from constitutional amendments.
Josua Mata, Secretary General of Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at
Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), observed that the recent counter-rally in
Davao on January 28 has further intensified the conflict between former allies
within the UniTeam, and it looks like the war of dynasties has reached the
point of no return.
“Hindi pa patay ang PI,” Mata insists, noting that the
Comelec’s suspension of PI proceedings might only be a tactical move to buy
more time for both sides to strategize.
Both Miranda and Mata emphasized the importance of exposing
the political and economic motives behind the House-led push for charter change
through PI, at the same time cautioning against allowing the anti-charter
change narrative to be co-opted by the Duterte dynasty for their own political
gain.
Addressing President Duterte's shifting stance on charter
change, they remarked, "Duterte may attempt to rebrand himself as an
opponent of charter change, but his track record speaks volumes about his true
intentions."
They reminded the Senate that it was Duterte who vetoed the
Security of Tenure bill passed by Congress, failed to fulfill his promise of
abolishing the provincial rate system in wage setting, and destroyed unions
through red tagging during his term, “therefore making him a sham ambassador of
the anti-chacha campaign that he wants to elevate into a war against Bongbong
Marcos and Martin Romualdez.”
In conclusion Nagkaisa! urged the Senate to prioritize
pressing issues such as the proposed P150 wage hike and highlights the
importance of distinguishing authentic agenda to improve the lives of workers
from the personal and partisan political interests of the warring political dynasties.
PRESS RELEASE
Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition
30 January 2024
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