Various groups all set for LaborDay 09; Job security, wage hike, assistance for displaced,junking of ChaCha to highlight May Day

Fighting demands, focal issues, and mobilization preparations for Labor Day ‘09 were presented in a presscon today by a broad coalition of workers’ groups, labor advocates, religious representatives, among others – who comprises the May Day Committee 2009.

“Job security, wages, direct benefits and justice to displaced and abused workers duly remain the main issues we should highlight in our current Labor day celebration,” said Elmer Labog, KMU Chairperson and a convener of the May Day Committee.

“But such demands are still stubbornly refused by the Arroyo government for its priority remains to be the political survival mainly through ChaCha railroading. And Arroyo’s prolonged cling to power would mean no other than more hardships for the workers and the people, as what her track record has consistently proven.

“Further, the motive to open up the country’s resources and institutions to full foreign ownership is only Arroyo’s bribe to big businesses and foreign multinationals so they can do more exploitation while the world is in the brink of a crisis. This means more wage cuts, lay-offs, and unjust flexible labor conditions as big capitalists will have further control of our economy,” added Labog.

The May Day Committee is currently composed of representatives from Kilusang Mayo Uno, Anakpawis Partylist, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, National Labor Union, PLDT Supervisors’ Union, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, Pinag-Isang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, Migrante International, Confederation for Unity, Recognition, Advancement of Government Employees, Gabriela, and Anakbayan.

The May Day Committee vows that the Labor Day will also be a marked as a big people’s protest against ChaCha.

The May Day Committee also revealed that the May Day protest will be held not just at the Liwasang Bonifacio, but will also be marched to the US embassy to highlight the US regime’s hand in the imposition of unjust policies for workers and the people.

Below is the May Day Committee 2009’s proposed fighting demands:

We, various sectors, groups, and representations, unite for the protection and advancement of the rights of our workers, especially in this time of a worsening economic crisis.

We shall make the Labor Day commemorations most meaningful by highlighting and advancing causes that will uplift the state of the workers and the people. Heightened crises, joblessness, and a spectrum of adversities confront the workers today, and the upcoming Labor Day is a great opportunity to once more bring these issues at the forefront of the battle.

Thus, we believe and shall fight for the following:

Job security
Review all cases of displacements, wage cuts, and excessive flexible labor practices with the employer citing the global economic crisis as primary factor to check for due process and legitimacy. Review cases of OFW retrenchments and deportments as well.

Monitor companies who plan or threaten to implement dismissals and ardous flexible labor arrangements.

Prevent rationalization plans in the government that will lead to massive retrenchments in the public sector.

Support the regularization of workers. Fight against the massive contractualization, casualization, and other temporary forms of employment that depresses workers’ wages and benefits.

Assistance to displaced workers
Ensure the easy and immediate grant to all workers of the benefits due to them by their social and insurance systems, and their separation pays and other entitlements from their employers. Secure funds of public social securities such as SSS, GSIS, for direct and sole assistance to its membership only.

Ensure that displaced OFWs obtain full compensation, placement fee and air transportation reimbursements, payment for unexpired portion of contracts, among others.

Provide immediate relief including, but not limited to, direct cash assistance to all retrenched workers.

Wages
Call for the immediate hearing and passage of House Bill 1722 that would legislate nationwide substantial wage hikes.

Prevent massive and illegitimate imposition of wage cuts, reduction of work shift and hours, long working hours without overtime pay, and deduction of other due wages and benefits.

Social services
Increase government subsidy and ensure delivery of necessary social services. Rechannel budget and resources from debt, military, other onerous spending, to public services.

Provide assistance and government incentives to SMEs to help them avoid displacing or cutting back the wages of their workers, and to allow them to create and expand jobs inside the country. Redirect various forms of fiscal incentives to TNCs to local enterprises.

Support basic public needs for shelter and livelihood, oppose demolitions and oppressions to informal workers.

Policy measures
Impose price control mechanisms on oil, petroleum products, rice, food, electricity, and other basic goods.

Remove the 12% tax on oil, power, and water to lower prices and provide immediate relief to the public.

Crackdown against government corruption and bureaucratic wastage to protect much needed public resources.

Oppose the passage of Charter Change that shall further make the national economy vulnerable to foreign directives.

Support projects and policies that gear towards genuine development of the country’s agriculture and basic industries.