Workers have nothing to be thankful of Arroyo – KMU; ‘Something’s cooking at President’s lunch with some labor leaders’

With the worst attacks on labor rights and livelihood unleashed under Arroyo’s term, Filipino workers have absolutely nothing to be thankful of the President, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno said today.

“How can workers be thankful of Arroyo if she is at the helm of the most brazen attacks on workers’ rights? Filipino workers would rather curse her for letting joblessness soar to record levels and for conniving with business chambers in denying the much-needed wage hikes,” said KMU chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

Labog said that real unemployment averaged at 11.2 percent since 2001 under Arroyo – the highest in the country’s history. He also said that 93 workers were killed under Arroyo’s term, which is comparable to the numerous killings of unionists during the Marcos regime.

“Arroyo has categorically labeled workers as terrorists and has used such accusation to launch a bloody war against the trade union movement,” Labog said.

KMU criticized the leaders of some labor groups led by Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) for expressing their gratitude to Arroyo and even having lunch with the most hated President in Malacañang, saying it is a grave insult to the workers whom they claim to represent.

“Those labor leaders who shared the dining table with the most corrupt President should be condemned by workers to hell. How could they eat with labor’s number one enemy even as millions of workers can barely have a decent lunch?” Labog said.

“Something’s definitely cooking at the Malacañang lunch today. They are probably concocting a measly bonanza for Labor Day in an effort to douse the growing discontent of Filipino workers,” he added.

KMU noted that TUCP has been the spokesperson of government in various labor conferences and has blocked legitimate labor demands. TUCP also receives a steady funding from the Arroyo government.

Labog said it was expected that KMU did not receive any invitation to the lunch meeting. #