“We deserve food on our table”

Workers demand immediate approval of the Baraniga-Beltran Bill

“While politicians are fighting each other for slots in both opposition and administration parties, workers are more united than ever under the banner of the Barinaga-Beltran Bill or House Bill 345 seeking for a Php 125 across-the-board legislated wage hike. We want to feed our families, we want it approved and we want it now.”

This was the statement made by Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center as workers belonging to the private and public enterprises gather in front of the Lower House this afternoon to demand the immediate transmittal of the Barinaga-Beltran Bill to the Senate before Congress session ends.

Private enterprise workers are seeking a Php 125 legislated wage hike while government workers led by the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) are seeking a Php 3,000 across-the-board salary hike.

“Despite the overwhelming support from workers for the Barinaga-Beltran Bill, some members of the Lower House are using delaying tactics to abort its approval. When Rep. Crispin Remulla filed a Motion for Reconsideration on the HB 345, he has fallen for a trap set by the capitalist and opponents of the wage hike, and thus is hindering the transmittal of the bill to the Senate,” opined Labog.

“The wage hike is not merely for us but for the future of our families. If they succeed in sabotaging the Barinaga-Beltran Bill by non-transmittal to the Senate, we will never forget the names of those who betrayed the cause of workers. Please remember that there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” said Labog.

Labog also noted that other labor groups have pitched their support for the Barinaga-Beltran Bill. “We are glad that Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) and other groups have started backing the HB 345. Only the yellow labor center Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) remains steadfast in its opposition to the Php 125 across-the board legislated wage hike.

Labog later clarified that they are willing to support candidates who are prepared to take up the demands of workers for a substantial wage hike. “We will dissect their platform or the lack thereof and basing on their bias for workers issues, we will show our support on a case-to-case basis.”