Compromise?

Labor is asking for their much-deserved wage hike. They are asking for a P100-P120 across-the-board increase.

 Their reason is very clear to all and one that is shared by the employers themselves. The continuing global crisis is still around, adversely affecting all, sparing no one.

 Labor is insisting on the wage hike to cope with “continued increase in the prices of basic commodities, fuel, as well as the cost of public transportation.”

 Business, on the other hand, has also been badly hit by the persisting global crisis. The weakening of the dollar, together with unstable and variable oil prices, has also affected, especially the exporters.

 With everyone and various sectors affected by the ongoing global crisis, what can everyone do together, as a united group, to cope with the challenges posed for the survival of workers and their families and for survival of businesses?

 The wage hike solution is also not merely an issue for the business and labor groups to resolve. Government has its own responsibility as well to provide better wage and business conditions as far as possible.

 Given this present deadlock situation between labor and business, what can be done?

 Employers agree that everyone is affected by the crisis. If so, how far and how much is the business sector willing to compromise to assist their workers?

 Laborers also agree that employers are affected as well by the crisis. If so, how far and how much are the workers willing to accept in consideration of the impact of the crisis on their employers?

 How far is government, national and local, willing to assist both labor and business? 

 What types of compromise can be reached in the midst of this ongoing crisis?

 With no change in salary, workers and their families will continue to wage their daily war vs. hunger and poverty. Given the continuing crisis, businesses will also continue waging their war vs. lowered profits, less markets, among others.

 No markets, no business. Less profits, businesses will still survive. Will businesses be willing to have less for now so that more workers and their families can survive?

 How much is government willing to assist both labor and business? Can government try to assist business and labor in providing for socialized transport, special prices for basic commodities, regulated oil prices, and other non-wage subsidies?

 Not only the Executive branch. How can Congress assist both labor and business to maintain a healthy economic situation for the nation and to allow more Filipinos to survive within this continuing crisis?

 In countries like Japan, executives and leaders, both in government and in business, were first to volunteer to have their incomes cut so that the balance would be used for more workers. So many businesses closed due to the strong link of their sector with the fluctuating global trade network. Japan remains in crisis, especially with the 3/11 disaster and continuing nuclear crisis. However, the Japanese are doing their best AS A NATION to cope with their crisis and to assist the most needy as far as they can.

 What alternative solutions can be resorted to by everyone AS A NATION to cope with the challenges of this continuing global crisis? How far can each sector compromise so that a win-win solution can result, one that will be favorable and beneficial to all?

 Rather than allow this crisis situation to develop rancor and hate that will divide sectors, can all the concerned sectors go beyond and discover a compromise beneficial for all?

 Through collective and continuing prayers, the churches and all other Filipinos may also wish to join in the search for this compromise and wise yet beneficial solution so that together, we can all proceed to create a united nation premised on service and assistance for all.

 All are affected by the crisis. Therefore, how can all unite and assist all those affected by the crisis soonest?

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