Moderate trade unions spurn power grab, destabilization

Moderate labor groups spurned yesterday moves to overthrow the government as they called on national leaders to give workers a respite from political bickering and start addressing their concerns.

As Malacañang continued to warn against persisting destabilization plots, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) declared they would not support any coup and other means to grab power.

The TUCP said the people must be given a break from incessant attempts — "real or imagined" — to bring down the government.

The group lamented they were tired of endless politicking and misadventures while the "concerns of labor" were being drowned by self-serving politics.

TUCP appealed instead to the administration, the opposition and the business sector alike to work together and double, "if not triple" the efforts to provide jobs and attract foreign investments.

The FFW, for its part, said it condemns "any act that creates public disorder and confusion, and any attempt to grab power from duly constituted authorities by unconstitutional means."

But the group also warned against suppression of legitimate protests and peaceful celebration of the workers, saying it will not aid any move to curtail human rights and civil liberties of the people.

"The FFW recognizes that the country is in continuing state of crisis. It must be highlighted that a big part of this crisis is the joblessness and poverty of our workers that call for immediate solutions," the group said.

"FFW calls on the government to unify its forces and actions and use bold measures to hasten authentic and radical reforms that will promote decent work and alleviate the poverty of our people," it said.

The TUCP, through its president Democrito Mendoza, noted 30 percent of the population are living below the poverty line while 15 percent rely on a measly $1 a day budget.

Mendoza stressed the need to create jobs for three million unemployed Filipinos and called for more government spending in labor intensive infrastructure projects.

He said the government must invest more on building and repair of roads, ports, airports, communication facilities and the like.

Malacañang on Sunday warned opposition leaders that it will do everything to protect the country’s fragile economy and the security of the people from destabilization even as it vowed to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with protest actions.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said that while the Arroyo administration is no longer worried over threats to topple it by opposition and extremist groups, it is now focused on the adverse effects of destabilization efforts on the country’s economy and security.