'Oplan Manggagawa' just a figment of Arroyo's imagination

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Chairman Elmer Labog today said, "President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Malacanang executives must not blame workers if they are having sleepless nights. "Since the Supreme Court declared the Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR) as unconstitutional, Malacanang is finding ways to prevent the scheduled rallies on Monday."

As far as the organized labor sector is concerned, we will celebrate Labor Day by forwarding our urgent issues like wage hikes, employment, better working conditions and a stop to excessive price hikes. 'Oplan Manggagawa' is a Malacanang-hatched anti-Labor Day propaganda campaign aimed to besmirch the historical significance of Labor Day and the legitimate issues that workers will put forward on that day," said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

Labog said that the so-called destabilization plot "Oplan Manggagawa" is nothing but a figment of Arroyo's imagination. "Malacanang is using the upcoming Labor Day activities to highlight the alleged collusion of anti-Arroyo military forces and revolutionary groups like the CPP-NPA-NDF and to discredit legitimate labor centers and progressive organizations who will lead the nationwide rallies on Monday.

"Malacanang must stop spreading malicious anti-Labor Day propaganda. Arroyo, AFP and the entire National Security Council (NSC) must stop their trash-talk on alleged destabilization plots on May 1.

"Not in our name will Arroyo use the International Labor Day to advance her self-serving interest to cling to power and impose another repressive measure like what she when she declared state of national emergency last did last February 24 after thousands of people marched to Edsa to commemorate People Power 1."

"KMU have no plans of going anywhere near Edsa Shrine. We are marching towards Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila from our assembly areas at Plaza Miranda, Plaza Lacson, Plaza Moriones and T.M. Kalaw in Taft," the labor leader concluded.