Workers declare May 1 as Day of Outrage

In response to Malacañang ‘no’ to legislated wage hike

“No less than Malacañang is making it clear: the Filipino workers and people have every right to be outraged in the face of starvation wages, unabated price increases.”

This was labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno’s reaction to Presidential Communications Development and Planning Office head Ricky Carandang’s statement that the Aquino government is not keen on supporting a legislated P125 across-the-board wage increase for private-sector workers nationwide because the measure could be “inflationary.”

“We declare May 1 as Workers’ Day of Outrage over stagnant low wages and unabated price increases, as well as the Aquino regime’s anti-worker policies. We are calling on the Filipino workers and people to join the protest on May 1 by the tens of thousands and show the Aquino regime how disgusted we are with its anti-worker policies. We are also calling on everyone to join our April 14 local protests,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“We take as our inspiration the ‘days of outrage’ launched by the workers and peoples of the Middle East and North Africa against widespread unemployment and curtailment of democratic rights in their countries. Just like them, we will be protesting the effects of the global economic crisis and the ruling regime’s pro-elite and anti-people policies,” he added.

KMU also criticized Carandang’s statement that a legislated and substantial wage increase will be inflationary.

“The basic point is that even without a substantial wage increase, the prices of oil and other basic goods and services have increased at a rate that has far outstripped the meager increases in wages. By trying to discredit calls for a substantial wage, the Aquino regime is making it appear that we have no other choice than to put up with our meager wages and hungry stomachs,” Labog said.

“The truth is that the Aquino regime is insensitive towards the plight of the Filipino workers and people and is actively conniving with big capitalists in pressing down workers’ wages to starvation levels. The Aquino regime is paying back big capitalists for the huge funds they poured into his campaign kitty in the last elections with value created by workers,” he added.

“We will be launching various protest actions in the coming days which will climax with our mobilization on May 1,” Labog concluded.