Labor Center heeds call for communal action

"The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center and all the labor federations and union under its wing will answer the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for 'communal action' to address the massive corruption and human rights violation perpetrated by the Gloria Arroyo regime through various industrial and streets actions."

This was the statement today by Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU as their National Council convenes today to map-out national plans addressing various issues, including wages, employment, trade union rights violation and corruption.

"This is definitely an opportune time for our national leadership to sit-down and discuss our short and medium term plans to address issues of labor. Top on the agenda will be the legislated PhP 125 across-the-board wage hike, retrenchments, continued trade union rights violations, inflation and regimes' corrupt practices," detailed Labog.

Labog underscored the rising number of unemployed. "The last quarter of 2007 and the January of this year saw many firms closing down, resulting in the loss of employments of thousands of workers. Factory closures, especially those whose markets includes the United States (US), are occurring everywhere and we are yet to see the worst of the US recession. What more when the US economy hit rock-bottom?"

"It will also be an occasion to remember our leaders, unionists and ordinary workers who have been murdered by this regime. The survivors of the victims of political killings enforced disappearances still seek justice for their loved ones," ended Labog.