KMU hits “aristocratic labor group” on Cha-Cha

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today hits on Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) after its statement that jobs creation will be boosted through charter change.

Far from being a key to genuine local autonomy and jobs creation, KMU National Chairman Elmer Labog said that charter change is the final touch to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's de-facto martial rule.

"Tapat sa kanyang track record itong TUCP bilang tagapagtaguyod ng alinmang rehimen na dumadahas sa mamamayan. Tulad ng kanyang among si Mrs. Arroyo, sila ay mga tuta ng mga dayuhan. Isinusuko nila ang patrimonya at mga likas na yaman ng ating bansa sa mga dayuhan na siyang laman ng Charter Change. Sisikilin nila ang anumang pagtutol ng mamamayan alang-alang sa kanilang Cha-cha," Labog further went on.

The labor leader also said that among the contentious and unacceptable provisions in the Cha-Cha proposal include the ff: 100% foreign ownership of land, mass media outlets, advertising firms and liberalization of education. Also, Cha-Cha aims to open the economy and national patrimony to unrestrained foreign exploitation and profiteering.

"Globalization already massacred thousands of domestic jobs. Things will become worse with Cha-Cha as it shall legally institutionalize unbridled foreign domination of the local economy. For the working sector, Cha-Cha means massive job loss, unemployment and unimaginable poverty."

Further on, Labog said, Mrs. Arroyo’s Cha-Cha will worsen the violations in our freedom of expression, assembly and civil liberties. With Cha-Cha, the powers of the president or prime minister will be unhampered as to worsen the carnage of the bill of rights.

An accomplice to repressive regimes

Labog likewise recalled, "Isa ang TUCP sa humiling kay Marcos noon na ipakulong ang mga aming mga lider na sina Felixberto "Ka Bert" Olalia at Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran at iba pa naming mga lider."

He said that in a 1988 human rights investigation in the country by the group of Ramsey Clark, it was found out that it was the Asian-American Free Labor Institute (AAFLI) through the National Endownment for Democracy (NED) which pushed that KMU leaders be arrested, “TUCP then is a conduit of the NED.”

Labog also said that the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) puts it well when it said that the 'charter change is the antidote to those who want to secede and divide the republic.' "It is apparent that Mrs. Arroyo is keen on closing all constitutional avenues to the opposition to her anti-worker and anti-people policies and to the clamor against her illegitimate usurpation to power."

The labor leader said that the Cha-cha AdCom and the TUCP are apparently singing the same tune for what he calls a “Gloriahorrific” charter change, “If the country is to pursue a change in the constitution, it ought to be in the perspective of construction of an economy that will advance the interest not only of a few but of the basic social sectors.”