KMU warns Congress Labor Chair: You have 17 days to fulfill promise of calling for hearing on P125 wage hike bill

Kilusang Mayo Uno picketed the house of Congress Labor Committee Chair Magtanggol Gunigundo today to strongly remind him of his promise to call for a committee hearing on the P125 wage hike bill within August.

The promise was made in an earlier picket at his same residence in Baranggay Marulas at Valenzuela last June 19, where he faced the labor leaders in a dialogue.

“We cannot wait any longer for the passage of a substantial legislated wage hike. This has been long overdue for the workers,” said Joselito Ustarez, KMU Executive Vice President.

The protesters were blocked this time by police force barricaded at various entry points to the street of his house.

“What is he afraid of? It is the workers who should be wary of his probable maneuvers to delay or totally evade the wage hike,” Ustarez said.

Gunigundo originally scheduled a hearing for the P125 bill on August 20, but has moved the date to September 3. He allowed the labor committee, meanwhile, to attend to another hearing on August 20.

“We warn Gunigundo not to play with our schedules. The price spikes and economic crisis slap us every minute. Every moment is unrest,” Ustarez added.

“He has shown that he is not a man of honor by not fulfilling his word of calling for a committee hearing as soon as Congress resumes and before the month of August ends. He still has 17 days to withdraw his decision to postpone it.

“We urge him to do his rightful duty to the people who are now at the crux of the crises. We can do more confrontational house visits if he'd compel us to,” Ustarez dared. ###