KMU warns of widespread chaos and unrest if wages are not increased and ODL not repealed amidst water & power hikes

THE Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today urged lawmakers ‘for the best interest of the majority of Filipinos’ to prioritize and pass bills calling for the repeal of  the Oil Deregulation Law  (ODL) and P125 wage increase for workers before their Christmas break.  

KMU Chairperson Elmer ‘Ka Bong’ Labog said the succeeding oil price hikes, the scheduled increases in water and power rates and price of  pandesal to P2.50 this month are enough reasons that workers’ salaries be immediately adjusted and a deregulated scheme in the oil industry be scrapped. 

“ It is unfortunate that again President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s attention and feelings are so far away from the Filipinos’ cries and demands and refused to include the P125 legislated wage hike bill and repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law to the nine priority bills she wanted to be passed before Christmas break. We therefore ask our lawmakers that for the best interests of their constituents to immediately respond to the issues that are nearest to the grumbling stomach of every Filipino,” Labog said. 

The labor leader also warned that ‘widespread chaos and unrest’ is inevitable in the coming weeks  if prices of basic commodities and services will continue to rise while wages are nailed to the floor and accessible forms of livelihood are denied to the poor. 

“ The nationally-coordinated protest actions and nationwide transport strike on December 13 are just the beginning of a series of demonstrations that will rock the Arroyo government because it refuses to attend to every legitimate demand of ordinary Filipino. The Arroyo government must beware of what hungry Filipinos can do when they are pushed to the wall,” Labog ended.