Workers find no peace as ASEAN summit nears

Labor group Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo – Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA-Sugbo-KMU or Cebu Workers Alliance-May First Movement) expressed today its apprehension as the ASEAN Summit preparations come in full swing. “We are very concerned with the plight of the workers as the [ASEAN] summit comes close. Cebuano workers stand to lose much with the hosting of the event,” said Wennie Badayos, AMA-Sugbo-KMU chairperson.

AMA-Sugbo-KMU said that families will be starved if President Gloria Arroyo approves of the proposal to have the dates of the summit, December 11 to 14, considered as holidays. “We won’t be able to work because of the holiday, thus workers will be denied of four-days’ worth of salary. That amount could buy a sack of rice for our families however their grandiose summit will deny us of that [Dili mi makatrabaho tungod sa holiday, mahikawan mi og bale upat ka adlaw nga sweldo. Makapalit na unta nang kantidad og usa ka sako nga bugas alang sa among pamilya],” said Wennie Badayos. The group computed that a worker will lose at least Php 964.00 should the four-day holiday pushes through. The minimum daily wage in Metro Cebu is currently pegged at Php 241.00.

Demolition also threatens workers living in urban poor areas. From January to September 2006, twelve areas have been demolished in Metro Cebu. "Several workers and their families have been dislocated by the stepped up efforts to 'clean' Cebu of squatters which officials like [Cebu Governor] Gwen [Garcia] consider as 'eyesores'. Workers in urban poor areas are wary that they will be the next victims of this 'cleaning and beautification' campaign for the ASEAN," said Badayos.

Badayos blamed President Arroyo and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia for “being too pretentious at the expense of the people.” “They are too concerned of the impression we will make to the foreign delegates. They want to project a booming province and country not minding its consequences to the poor people,” added Badayos.

AMA-Sugbo-KMU and its affiliate unions plan to launch successive mass-actions “to decry the pompous summit preparations and expose its evil facade.”