Group slams DOLE intervention to stop strike at power plant

The group Partido Manggagawa slammed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for imposing an assumption of jurisdiction (AJ) order that stopped the union at the KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) Cebu coal power plant from staging a work stoppage. The union has been deadlocked in its collective bargaining (CB) negotiations with the company.

 

“The DOLE’s AJ is favorable to the company as it prevents workers from exercising leverage to achieve its reasonable demands. Moreso, DOLE violated its own DO 40-H-13 in imposing an AJ without the following the required procedure. Both KEPCO and DOLE are pasaway (misbehaving) labor relations actors!,” stated Dennis Derige, union organizer of SENTRO and spokesperson for the PM chapter in Cebu.

 

The KEPCO union is an affiliate of SENTRO and its members voted overwhelmingly for a strike, as required by law. DOLE’s AJ was handed down on the eve of the planned strike . “Since the union could not legally go on strike, KEPCO remains hardline in its bargaining position as it felt relieved of the pressure of an impending work stoppage,” Derige added.

 

The deadlocked CB provisions included wage increase, medical allowance, signing bonus, union security, grievance procedures, agency fees and the formation of a just transition committee composed of the union and management.

 

Derige explained that “None of the union’s economic and political demands are controversial or excessive. In fact, the union has shown flexibility by reducing its initial demands. But KEPCO—despite being stable and profitable—has been intransigent and just disrespects the union.”

 

He added that DOLE DO 40-H-13 requires that an AJ can only be ordered if either both parties requested for an AJ or the DOLE first called for a conference of the two parties prior to the issuance of the AJ. Derige said that neither of these two conditions were satisfied.

 

According to latest information posted on the National Conciliation and Mediation Board’s website, the DOLE has already issued three AJ’s as of February this year. In comparison seven AJs were imposed for the whole year of 2024. The Philippine government has been the subject of complaints to the International Labour Organization for its indiscriminate use of AJs that results in the effective prohibition of the right to strike, aside from the killings of trade unionists and other forms of repression of the freedom to unionize.

April 4, 2025

Youth Stand Up Against Multiple Crises, Including the Climate Emergency

 

On International Youth Day, various youth groups declared their commitment to fighting multiple crises, including the worsening climate emergency, which they believe is causing great suffering and threatening the future of the youth.

 

Among those who participated in the Youth Day action with the call "Towards a Just and Sustainable Future," held this afternoon at Timog Circle, was the Partido Manggagawa – Kabataan (PMK).

 

According to Ferdinand Sanchez, spokesperson of PMK, "Today's youth are facing severe crises caused by the greed of the wealthy and corporations, which continue to worsen the state of our society."

 

He added that education is focused on serving foreign interests and the rich, and that poverty and inequality continue to burden our families and youth.

 

"Despite all of this, we must not be disheartened. The crises we face are not natural conditions but the result of a greedy and unjust system—a system that we can and must fight against," Sanchez declared.

 

PMK also emphasized that beyond these issues, the climate crisis poses the gravest threat to the future of the youth.

 

"This is not just an issue for a few; it is a concern for all of us. The recent typhoons and monsoon rains that flooded our streets and homes are just a preview of what could happen in the future. If the youth do not act, and if corporations and governments are not held accountable, we will continue to sink deeper into poverty and disaster," Sanchez explained.

 

He emphasized that the time has come to collectively push for real change—a society that prioritizes people over profit and advocates for a just and sustainable future for all. 

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa – Kabataan

August 10, 2024

Extend the consolidation deadline by one year not one month—workers’ group

 

The group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on the government to extend the deadline for consolidation of jeepneys by one year instead of one month as both the government and operators are not yet prepared. Traditional jeepneys with individual franchises have been allowed to continue operating in routes with less than 60% consolidation according to a memo circular from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

 

Moreover, the group supported the call of Senator Koko Pimentel about transparency in the supply of imported minibuses. PM also demanded that locally-made modern jeepneys be prioritized to reduce costs and generate jobs. “Kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan, dun tayo sa mura at gawang Pinoy,” averred Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

 

“The government should make the new year happy for jeepney operators and drivers. President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. can still choose not to be the Grinch that stole their livelihoods. Some 140,000 stand to lose their source of living by February 1, 2024,” stated Magtubo. The figure is based on one operator and one driver for the estimated 70,000 jeepneys which have not consolidated.

The group argued that the one-month delay in the implementation of the consolidation exposes that the government is not ready for the consequences of the jeepney modernization plan. “The government is not willing to admit the reality but it is aware that the public transport system will fail if the hard deadline for consolidation was enforced last January 1. In fact, not only do jeepney operators and drivers stand to lose their means of livelihood but commuters stand to lose their means of transportation,” Magtubo insisted.

 

He added that “The bitter truth is that the government is not ready to implement the phase of jeepney consolidation and the next period of the shift to modernization. Why impose a hard deadline on jeepney operators and drivers when transportation officials cannot even provide hard data on the level of consolidation? In fact, transport officials also cannot give the exact number of LGU’s which already have Local Public Transport Route Plans which is a crucial component of the scheme along with consolidation.”

 

PM reminded the government that it has subscribed to the International Labour Organization’s principle of just transition. “Under just transition, affected workers and communities must be better not worse off as a result of the changes necessitated by climate mitigation and adaptation. But the rushed enforcement of jeepney consolidation which will lead to job losses for drivers and a broken transport system for commuters clearly violate the principle of just transition,” Magtubo explained. 

Press Release

January 4, 2024

Workers in Cebu demand jeepney franchise extension, P150 wage hike in year-end rally

 

In a year-end action today, a delegation of workers and students rallied at the SSS Building along Osmena Boulevard in Cebu City to demand a one-year extension of individual jeepney franchises extension and the passage of the bill for a P150 wage hike.

 

“At the stroke of midnight today, 148,000 will lose their livelihoods. This is conservatively estimated as one operator and one driver for the 74,000 jeepneys units which have not been consolidated either into cooperatives or corporations, according to the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board. This is a significant number, comprising an additional 7% to the 2,090,000 officially unemployed Filipinos as of October 2023,” stated Dennis Derige, Partido Manggagawa (PM)-Cebu spokesperson.

 

Speakers at the rally included the president of the labor union at Lami Foods and a leader of the Guadalupe Women’s Collective. Members of the Cebu chapters of PM and SENTRO joined the picket.

 

Derige explained that “In 14 out of 17 regions, minimum wages were increased by PhP 30 to Php 40 in the second half of this year, bringing them to a high of Php 610 in Metro Manila to a low of PhP 368 in Zamboanga Peninsula. However, the equivalent real wages remain depressed. The PhP 33 hike in Central Visayas raised nominal wage to PhP 468 but the equivalent real wage is only PhP 397. That is, PhP 468 in 2023 can only buy the equivalent of PhP 397 in 2018, or a gap of PhP 71.”

 

He added that “The difference between nominal and real wages is a result of inflation over the years: wage hikes have not kept up with the rise in prices and so workers’ purchasing power has been depleted. The nominal versus real wage gap ranges from PhP 63 in Zamboanga Peninsula to PhP 108 in Central Luzon. Thus the necessity for Congress to plug the gap by enacting the bill for a PhP 150 salary increase.”

 

PM is calling for a just transition for jeepney operators and drivers in the implementation of the modernization program.

 

“The government claimed that 200,000 new jobs were created as a result of investment pledges accruing from the President’s trips abroad. Assuming this is true—the administration still needs to explain how they guessed these figures—it is almost matched by the number of traditional jeepney operators and drivers who will lose their livelihood as a result of the cancellation of their individual franchises. The President does not need a 58% hike in his travel budget to PhP 1.4 billion to generate new jobs, he just needs to extend the individual franchises so that existing livelihoods are preserved,” Derige insisted.

 

Photos and a video of the rally can be accessed here: https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid0T7NQBtzk5mcHnHjCwrdawUnmXS7V9vvZgTco5wBqWuPPcznf2djmJS1trumeNfm9l and https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/videos/1567012827390462 

Press Release

December 31, 2023

Give jeepney operators and drivers a holiday gift: Extend the individual franchise by a year

 

We ask President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr to be nice not naughty. The government should extend the individual franchise of traditional jeepneys by another year as a holiday gift.

The impending revocation of individual franchises by January 1, 2024 threatens the livelihoods of tens of thousands of operators and drivers. Let us not deprive hardworking Filipinos of their means of livelihood as we are all facing economic difficulties with rising prices of basic goods, especially rice, and the harsh impacts of climate change like El Nino.

 

Partido Manggagawa stands in solidarity with our fellow jeepney operators and drivers in their struggle. While strikes do disrupt our daily lives, it is a small sacrifice for the preservation of affordable fares and the continued livelihood of our fellow jeepney operators and drivers.

 

If the outcome of consolidation and modernization is the displacement of informal traditional jeepneys with modern jeepneys under corporate management, this will result in higher fares, exacerbating the hardships of Filipinos amidst inflation.

 

Let us remember how water and electricity rates skyrocketed after privatization and corporations took control of public utilities. The same will happen if corporations take over the routes and franchises on the roads.

 

There is no doubt that the current PUV modernization will lead to a widespread phaseout. The price of modern jeeps exceeds 2 million pesos, making it unaffordable for struggling operators, especially when the promised government subsidy is only 160,000 pesos.

 

While traditional jeepneys should transition to reduce pollution, it bears emphasizing that private vehicles have significantly higher carbon emissions. The transition should result in a better life for jeepney operators and drivers, rather than unemployment. Jeepney cooperatives are a viable alternative to corporations, but they require sufficient time and support. Negotiations should listen to the pleas of jeepney operators and drivers—a just transition amid climate change adaptation.

 

However, such negotiations for a just transition may not happen because the government insists on proceeding with the PUV modernization while pushing the consolidation deadline. Therefore, it is right to oppose the government's stubbornness with the jeepney strike. It will not be a happy new year for jeepney operators and drivers.

December 18, 2023

Photo from CNN Philippines

 

Pakikiisa sa laban kontra jeepney phaseout

 

Ang nakaambang jeepney phaseout batay sa tinatawag na PUV modernization ay mauuwi sa pagkawala ng hanapbuhay ng daang libong operators at drivers. Ang planong palitan ito ng modern jeepneys sa pamamahala ng mga korporasyon ay magreresulta naman sa mas mataas na pasahe. Ito ay magpapatindi sa kahirapan ng mga Pilipino sa gitna ng hirap ng buhay na dulot walang-tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

 

Nakikiisa ang Partido Manggagawa sa laban ng mga kapatid na jeepney operator at driver. Sumusuporta ang PM sa nakatakdang welga na panawagan ng grupong Manibela. Nananawagan ang PM sa kasapian nito at sa mamamayang Pilipino na makikiisa labang ito.

 

Totoong may epekto ang welga sa normal na takbo ng ating buhay. Pero ito ay maliit na sakripisyo kapalit ng pananatili ng murang pasahe, at pagpapatuloy ng kabuhayan ng mga kapatid na jeepney operator at driver.

 

Alalahanin natin kung paanong nagtaasan ang singil sa tubig at kuryente matapos ang privatization at sagpangin ng mga korporasyon ang public utilities. Ganito din ang mangyayari kapag napunta sa kamay ng mga korporasyon ang mga linya at prangkisa ng mga ruta sa kalsada.

 

Walang dudang ang kasalukuyang PUV modernization ay mangangahulugan ng malawakang phaseout. Ang presyo ng modern jeeps ay lagpas P2 milyon kaya’t di kayang bayaran ng abang operators laluna’t ang pangakong government subsidy ay nasa P160,000 lang.

 

Naninindigan ang PM na dapat itransisyon ang traditional jeepneys upang mabawasan ang polusyon habang inililinaw na mga pribadong sasakyan ang hamak na mas matindi ang carbon emissions. Ang transisyon ay kailangang mauwi sa mas maalwang buhay para sa jeepney operators at drivers sa halip na kawalan ng hanapbuhay. Ang jeepney cooperatives ay tamang alternatiba sa corporations pero nangangailangan ito ng sapat na panahon at suporta. At kailangang pakinggan at dinggin ang hiling at hinaing ng jeepney operators at drivers sa isang negosasyon. Ito ang tinatawag na just transition sa gitna ng pag-aangkop sa climate change.

 

Subalit hindi mangyari ang ganitong negosasyon para sa just transition sapagkat iginiit ng gobyerno na tuloy ang PUV modernization habang inuusog ang deadline ng phaseout. Kaya tama na labanan ng jeepney strike ang pagmamatigas na ito ng gobyerno.

 

Ang laban kontra jeepney phaseout ay laban ng lahat!

Ipaglaban ang murang pasahe at kabuhayan ng jeepney operators at drivers!

 

Partido Manggagawa

Groups call on government to heed demand for “just transition” after successful first day of jeepney strike

The first day of the two-day transport holiday was called a success by groups that launched the jeepney strike. They reiterated their demand on the government to stop the planned jeepney phase-out and instead implement a “just transition.”

Elmer Blancaflor, spokesperson for the Iloilo chapter of Partido Manggagawa (PM) and also president of the United Panay Truck Drivers Association, said that “Jeepney transport was paralyzed in the whole of Panay island. We estimate that 97% of jeepney drivers participated in the strike in Iloilo City, 95% in Roxas City, 95% in Aklan and 100% in Antique and Guimaras.”

PM together with the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union-Sentro are supporting the strike by the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Associations (ICLAJODA) and Confederation of Iloilo Province Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (CIPJODA).

“The unity of the jeepney drivers in Panay should be a wake up call on local governments and the Department of Transportation on the grave impact of their so-called modernization plan. The strike yesterday and today is just a preview of more militant protests if government remains deaf and blind to the demand for a just transition,” explained Blancaflor.

PM describes the just transition as consisting of four steps. First, a transition of five years before full implementation of the phase out. Second, assistance and subsidies to operators for the replacement of jeepneys. Third, a ban on the importation of old and surplus engines and second-hand vehicles. And last, conduct a study on the most appropriate alternative to jeepneys such as electric jeeps or hybrid, LPG or Euro4 engines.

“The livelihood of thousands of jeepney drivers should be benefited not endangered by the shift to environmentally-friendly public transportation. Social justice must accompany social progress,” Blancaflor emphasized.

PM criticized the draft Department of Transportation order mandating a minimum of PhP 7 million as capitalization for jeepney operators. “The capitalization requirement is discriminatory and anti-poor. It will lead to the gentrification of the jeepney sector and the dominance by big capitalists to the detriment of ordinary Filipinos who derive their livelihood as operators at present,” Blancaflor averred.

June 6, 2017

Labor group supports jeepney strike for “just transition”

The militant labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) expressed solidarity with the jeepney drivers who are on strike today and tomorrow in the islands of Panay and Negros in protest at the phase-out scheme of the government.

“Workers do not oppose modernization and the shift to environmentally-friendly public transportation but the transition must be just. Social justice must accompany social progress. The lives and livelihood of thousands of jeepney drivers cannot be sacrificed in the name of change,” declared Elmer Blancaflor, spokesperson for PM-Iloilo and also president of the United Panay Truck Drivers Association.

He added that “We understand and sympathize with the plight of our fellow workers. The temporary inconvenience of the transport holiday cannot compare with the permanent blow that the phase-out will inflict on jeepney drivers. We hope for the understanding of employees, students and commuters who are affected. The fight of jeepney drivers is our fight too.”

The group is supporting a just transition for the jeepney sector in the face of the government’s plan to immediately phase-out PUJ’s that are 15 years and older. PM, the labor center Sentro and its affiliate National Confederation of Transportworkers Union are supporting the strike being launched in Iloilo City and the whole of the Panay island by the groups Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Associations (ICLAJODA) and Confederation of Iloilo Province Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (CIPJODA).

The groups are calling on the government to meet the demand for just transition. Specifically they are demanding a four-point agenda:

1.      Transition of five years before full implementation of the phase out;

2.      Assistance and subsidies to operators for the replacement of jeepneys;

3.      Ban on the importation of old and surplus engines and second-hand vehicles;

4.      Study on the most appropriate alternative to jeepneys such as electric jeeps or hybrid, LPG or Euro4 engines.

Blancaflor also slammed the draft Department of Transportation order requiring PhP 7 million as capitalization for jeepney operators. “The capitalization requirement is discriminatory and anti-poor. It will lead to the gentrification of the jeepney sector and the dominance by big capitalists to the detriment of ordinary Filipinos presently derive their livelihood as operators,” he explained.

PM said that the two-day strike is a just a preview of larger protests and a nationwide strike later if the jeepney drivers’ demands are not met.

June 5, 2017