Frozen wages highly unjust amid record-high inflation

The clamor for a substantial wage hike found further justification after government announcement today of a 14-year record high inflation for June.

“Even without the figures, the people's extreme cost-cutting measures and growing unrest can spell-out very well the record high inflations. The burden doubles as we can equally feel our wages frozen at levels beyond our ability to cope up,” said Elmer Labog, Kilusang Mayo Uno Chairperson.

“The height of price hikes also reveal the height of injustice of the Arroyo administration by still not yielding to the demand for a meaningful wage hike.

“We warn that such inaction will also bring to new heights the people's rage,” Labog said.

KMU, together with other labor organizations, and representatives from the urban poor, migrants, youth, legislators, religious people, academicians launched the Unity For P125 alliance on Wednesday to signal a heightened and broadened campaign for a substantial wage hike amid soaring prices.

World oil prices also rose to 145 dollars per barrel today. Former UP Department of Journalism Chair Danilo Arao, resource speaker for the Unity For P125 alliance launch, predicted that local oil prices could reach the price of P80 by the end of the year based on trends.

“We demand the big businessmen to immediately stop their speculations and profiteering at the expense of the people. Our threshold have reached the limits,” Labog said. ###