Workers give Noynoy a taste of May 1 with Malacañang protest

Tens of workers led by the Kilusang Mayo Uno held a rally today in front of Malacañang’s Gate 7 to condemn the Aquino government’s refusal to implement a substantial wage increase, saying this is just a preview of this year’s Labor Day protests.

“The Filipino workers and people are already very angry at the Aquino regime. We are showing our outrage over, and condemnation of, this government’s refusal to implement a significant wage increase while allowing the prices of basic goods and services, especially of petroleum products, to increase unabated,” said Nenita “Nitz” Gonzaga, KMU vice-chairperson for women.

“The Aquino regime’s callousness toward the plight of the Filipino workers and people is inciting many in our country to protest and to protest militantly. We cannot stomach the news that the President himself is having a rich bachelor’s good time while his government is shooting down calls for a significant wage hike,” she added.

KMU said this year’s Labor Day protest, named “Workers’ and People’s Day of Outrage” after the mass uprisings rocking the Middle East and North African regions, will be the start of expressions of outrage over the Aquino government’s policies.

“More than 20,000 workers and people will be marching in the streets of Metro Manila on May 1. More than a hundred thousand workers and people will be marching all over the country. We will all be condemning Aquino for refusing to heed our calls for a substantial wage increase and an end to the overpricing of petroleum products, among others,” Gonzaga said.

“After massing up at various points in Metro Manila, converging in Liwasang Bonifacio and holding a program there, we will storm Mendiola with our call ‘Sahod, itaas! Presyo, ibaba!’ We will show the Aquino government that we are not buying its pa-pogi antics because these clearly do not address our calls and needs,” Gonzaga added.