Labor group gives tribute to pro-worker solon; reminds employers not to delay Christmas bonuses for private sector workers

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today gave tribute to Cong. Roseller Barinaga of Zamboanga del Norte, also the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment (COCLE). He is now on his third term and not eligible to run in the May 2007 elections.

In a small gathering of KMU leaders, Cong. Barinaga and his staff and Anakpawis Party List officers at the Kowloon Restaurant in Quezon City this morning, the Mindanao legislator and COCLE exec was given a plaque of appreciation for his all-out support to the workers’ demand for P125 across-the-board wage increase for private sector employees. “He is one of the few legislators that we consider as pro-worker. Cong. Barinaga helped advance the wage hike bill in the House of Representatives,” said KMU Chairman Elmer Labog.

“He never left us in time of need, even during the time of Ka Bel’s arrest last January. He was among the first legislators to condemn the Arroyo government’s political persecution against Ka Bel and other progressive party list representatives from Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Womens Party,” Labog added.

The group said that Barinaga stood and fought hard for the wage hike bill in Congress. “He took the workers’ side on the legislated wage increase proposal during Congressional hearings and floor deliberations. He often gave us continued assurances of his stance on the wage hike demand during workers’ protests outside Batasan. We truly appreciate the help and support he had given us. We need more like him in Congress. We don’t need self-serving, corrupt government officials like Arroyo,” Labog said.

“Ibigay nyo na ang aming Christmas bonus”

With less than a week to go before Christmas, the labor group reminded employers not to delay or deny the handing out of Christmas bonuses and 13th month pay benefits of workers in the private sector. “Christmas is hardly felt this year. The effects of natural calamities, worsened by the economic and political crisis courtesy took its toll mostly on workers and the poor section of the population. Ordinary wage earners badly need their bonuses to pay for loans incurred over the past months. We expect a bleak Christmas and New Year for workers and we can only blame the scrooge in Malacanang,” Labog said.