Message of May First Labor Movement on International Workers’ Day

On behalf of the national leadership of the torchbearer of genuine, militant and anti-imperialist trade unionism in the Philippines, the Kilusang Mayo Uno sends warm greetings of solidarity to the workers of the world on this momentous occasion.

It is absolutely appropriate that we extend our salutations to all working people of the world and to celebrate this day, the working class’ day, International Labor Day.

On this momentous occasion, let us hold high the banner of the working-class. Let us pledge our commitment to fulfill our historic mission to change the putrid and oppressive system enveloping our countries and carry on with the struggle for a free, prosperous and peaceful future.

May Day is an occasion to celebrate the fruits of our battle against oppression, the butchery of free-market globalization and the US Imperialist-led war on terror. Filipino workers are one with the workers of the world in our common fight against monopoly capitalism, reactionaries, puppet regimes and revisionism and we thus stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all working people in the struggle for socialism.

In the same breath, let us celebrate our hard earned victories and further intensify the struggle of the working-class against the isolated and much-hated U.S.-Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime.

Comrades, how can we believe the pronouncements of Arroyo that the economy is improving yet we cannot see, feel or taste even the slightest hint of this supposed growth of goods? Prices of electricity, water, fare and rent remain unaffordable yet this regime callously taunts the working people that we ourselves are to blame for our plight because we supposedly live beyond our means and spend a lot of money on vices.

The Arroyo regime takes offense on the idea of our wages increasing from its present slave-like level towards a more humane level despite repeated inflation and devaluation of our purchasing power through time.

After Malacañang and its cohorts in Congress used all measures to stop the Beltran-Barinaga Bill or the PhP 125 across-the-board legislated wage hike, they still have the gall to announce that workers should not expect any wage increase this May 1.

This regime boasts of providing jobs yet even government statistics account for an increase in unemployment with 4.1 million without jobs and another 7.5 million workers being underemployed.

But on the other hand, free-market globalization has assured 40 Filipinos who belong to billionaires and multi-millionaires club to divide among themselves $16B of profits, while a great majority of the population are wallowing in grinding poverty!

What we have here are tell-tale signs that the economic and political crisis we are experiencing are bound to worsen in the following days and will contribute to the intensification of contradictions in society.

That is why this Mid-term election in May 14 is crucial for the Arroyo regime. All possible means, dirty and otherwise, will be used just to prevent ANAKPAWIS Party list and the other progressive party lists from winning. But they will fail!

Aside from ensuring the victory of ANAKPAWIS Partylist, those candidates who ignored our issues must be taught a good lesson. We must campaign against candidates who oppose wage increase, those who took money from public coffers, those who turned a blind-eye on the massacre of workers, journalists and activists and those who would sell our patrimony and sovereignty without even batting an eyelash must suffer defeat in this election.

Brothers and Sisters, the cries against grinding poverty and state terrorism aimed at workers and the people pierce the air.

The facts presented here are but a fragment in the worsening situation of our people and the demand of our people to end the anti-poor, puppet and fascist US-Arroyo regime reverberates.

All indicators point to the worsening of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal economy. But instead of melting in these hellish conditions, poverty and slavery serves as fuel for our movement and drives more and more workers to embrace the banner of genuine, militant and anti-imperialist brand of unionism.

We, the working people never deserved this rotten, backward and oppressive society. But our hands, the workers hands, our sweat and toil, working people’s sweat and toil, along with the poor and marginalized in our society, will erect a new society worthy of our dreams. We must never cease in moving forward, the working class must persevere and lead the struggle for national democracy and freedom with a clear socialist perspective.

“Workers of the world Unite, we have nothing to lose but the chain of our slavery!”

Long Live the Filipino Working People! Long Live the Working Class!

Long Live International Solidarity!


(sgd)
Elmer Labog
KMU Chairperson