DIKTADURYA: PolEco: Huge Labor Day Rally of Nagkaisa (Workers' Coalition) in Manila (from the Partido Lakas ng Masa website)

More than 25,000 workers belonging to labor groups under the NAGKAISA workers coalition marched

on May 1 in Metro Manila, and thousands of workers joined rallies in cities and towns across the

Philippines. The workers demonstrated against the government's refusal to grant a wage increase.

They also demanded security of tenure, adoption of a living wage, cheaper electric rates,

promotion of labor rights in the public sector. Rally organizers claim that more workers

mobilized this year than in the previous year.

BMP National President Leody De Guzman said they hope to bolster their campaign for salary increase,

tenure security and stronger purchasing power of workers through the candidates who vowed to

make these concerns their priority when elected.

"Gusto naming palawakin ang laban. Gusto namin maghanap ng totoong kakampi sa Kongreso.

Subukan natin ang mga kandidatong ito," he said.

De Guzman said they were disappointed with President Benigno Aquino III's promise of "tuwid na

daan," a campaign pitch which he said Aquino also used among them during the last election.

"Malayong-malayo sa kanyang ipinangako nung siya'y tumakbong Pangulo ng bansa,"

the labor leader said.

For years, the labor groups have been pushing for a legislated wage increase that amounts to up

to P125 per day. They are also seeking for the realization of security of tenure bill that will

eliminate the concept of contractualization of employees. The bill was approved at the committee

level of the Lower House but never prospered since then.

The labor groups call on the government to immediately act on the rising prices of

electricity, food and other basic commodities that diminish the purchasing power of workers.

Progressive candidates who supported labor’s platform of demands were endorsed by

NAGKAISA and the demonstrators.

DIKTADURYA