Non-wage package for Labor Day disputes Arroyo's "8 by '08" economic agenda

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno today said they are extremely disappointed with the government's offering of a non-wage Labor Day Package.

KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat said that the government's pro-business Labor Day Package is a direct affront to workers and their families. This early, Arroyo is countering her "8 by '08" social payback agenda which Malacanang claimed will grow the country's economy. How can there be social payback when the government constantly refuses to grant any wage increase for workers who are actually the producers of social wealth?"

"We are further outraged by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's mistreatment of the country's workforce. Ever since became president, she consistently denied the popular demand for a substantial wage hike."

"Every year during Labor Day, she always affronts workers by giving us insignificant labor-day package consisting of freebies and trivial offerings. We cannot accept Malacanang and the Department of Labor and Employment's (DoLE) insult to the dignity of human labor," Suyat
added.

"Arroyo's preference for the interests of big businesses over the more urgent concerns of the majority will be politically costly for her and the entire Team Unity slate. Workers are determined to trash local and national candidates who are not supporting the demands for a P125 wage increase. We will not compromise the Labor Vote. We have set particular standards for candidates. It's either candidates support
our urgent demands or we junk them in the May 14 polls," Suyat narrated.

He said that KMU and its 250,000 membership nationwide will pin their support for local and national candidates who will carry the workers' demand for the P125 across-the-board legislated wage hike; present concrete actions to curb the increasing prices of commodities, petroleum products and services, provide sufficient and regular employment and ensure the fast and affordable delivery of social services.

On May 1, KMU will lead a nationwide people's protest that will highlight the working peoples' issues, including various sectoral agenda for the forthcoming national elections on May 14.