Workers are ready: There’s no stopping May 1

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) scoffed at Malacanang, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for disseminating malicious information insinuating that the Labor Day activities will be used for so-called destabilization efforts from various anti-Arroyo forces.

“We have nothing to do with the so-called Oplan 4G and Oplan Manggagawa. These intelligence reports gathered by Malacanang and AFP operatives are dubious and should not merit credibility. We warn the government against planting infiltrators in our rallies,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

“Workers have more reasons to troop to the streets on May 1. Instead of responding to our just demands for higher wages, secure employment and respect for trade union rights, the Arroyo government further insults Filipino workers by smearing the historical significance and legitimates issues of Labor Day. We will never commit acts that will disrupt our own celebration and activities,” Labog said.

“With or without the Supreme Court’s decision on the Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR), it’s all systems go for the nationwide Labor Day rallies. The PNP has no right to stop our marches and assemblies. They have no right to prevent us from holding protest programs. Nevertheless, we are pleased with the Supreme Court’s verdict on the CPR. The rallies on May 1 will be the first big test of PNP’s interpretation of the High Court’s judgment on the CPR.”

Labog further assailed the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) for declaring a ‘No Wage Increase Labor Day’. DoLE said it will sponsor a Jobs Fair on May 1 that will provide pre-employment documents for applicants and jobseekers. “Every year DoLE only manages to give out freebies and ‘token labor day package’ for workers. These are not enough and we’re pressing hard for our demands.”

Issues at hand

The labor group said that Labor Day rallies will center mainly on issues concerning workers particularly the long standing demand for P125 across-the-wage hike, excessive prices of petroleum products, EVAT, repeal of Oil Deregulation Law, opposition to Malacanang-backed Charter Change, resolution of cases of political killings and harassment of progressive groups and individuals. “We’re focusing on day-to-day issues affecting workers. Gloria is still around, so we’re having more of the same problems. We’re giving her more of the same protests she deserves,” Labog said.

The KMU contingent and allied organizations from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan are expecting around 30,000 mobilization on May 1 in National Capital Region. Assembly areas are at Plaza Miranda, Plaza Moriones, Plaza Roma and T.M. Kalaw in Manila . From the assembly points, workers will march simultaneously to Liwasang Bonifacio for a protest program at 1pm. KMU regional formations from Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Cebu, Panay, Negros, Davao , Cagayan De Oro, South Cotabato will also lead protests.

International solidarity

Like in previous years, KMU will host foreign labor leaders who will attend the local rallies and KMU’s annual International Solidarity Affair (ISA). Labor leaders and advocates from United States , Canada , Denmark , Belgium , Australia , New Zealand , Hong Kong , South Korea , Taiwan , Nepal , Bangladesh and Philippines will attend the International Labor Solidarity Mission (ILSM).

The ILSM is a fact-finding mission that aims to investigate the on-going spate of killings of workers and trade union supporters in the Philippines . It will be composed of local and foreign participants. The presence of foreign participants in the fact-finding mission will help generate public pressure on the part of Philippine government to act on the cases of killings and to put a stop to the Human Rights Violations (HRVs) being committed.

From May 2-5, ILSM teams will probe several areas in Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Negros and Southern Mindanao region that are considered hot spots of politically-related killings and human rights violations that victimize labor leaders and advocates.