Labor sector rift evident in rally

CEBU, Philippines - Their names either mean or imply “unity,” but two labor organizations could not even agree to hold one huge protest action together in yesterday’s Labor Day observance. 

This was despite them doing their separate rallies in front of each other on Colon St., Cebu City.

Both Nagkaisa! and Alyansa sa mga  Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno, though, were united in tagging the Aquino administration as “anti-labor,” as they demand for higher wages, end to contractualization, and  electricity rates reduction.

 Nagkaisa! likewise demanded for the ouster of three Cebu labor officials they accused as “pro-management.”

AMA-Sugbo-KMU was joined in its rally by representatives and members of  Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo, All UP Union, the BPO Industry Employees’ Network, fisherfolk, farmers, and the urban poor.

The bigger Nagkaisa! was joined by the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, PS-Link , Sanlakas, Alliance of Genuine Labor Organization and  employees union members under the  Panaghiusa sa Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper Corporation-AGLO, among others.

Art Barrit, ALU-TUCP spokesperson, said the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III failed to address the pressing demands of workers, especially on wage increase, contractualization, and high cost of electricity.

Jaime Paglinawan, Bayan Muna chairman, on the other hand, said that aside from a P125 across the board daily wage increase, their group is demanding the abolition of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7, which they believed was used as a vehicle to “nail” the worker’s salaries.

Dennis Derige, PM-Cebu spokesperson, said “zero” is PNoy’s legacy to the workers in terms of wage adjustment.

“For the last four Labor Day commemorations, workers have received nothing or zero from PNoy. Just like this Labor Day, workers will get no wage increase, not even non-wage benefits from the government,” he said.

Derige said that without a labor legacy, Aquino’s tuwid na daan (straight path) is a meaningless journey for workers and the poor.

“While the administration pays lip service to inclusive growth, unemployment and underemployment remains unchanged because of cheap labor policy, regulations allowing rampant contractualization, labor repression, and the preference to foreign investments and public-private partnership,” he added.

PM is calling for the establishment of an agro-industrial policy that would strengthen local agriculture and industry as basis for robust growth of decent jobs, which would provide regular work and living wages.

In a statement, Nagkaisa! said that for the past four years, the Aquino administration has continued to ignore the issues they believe would help impact the plight of the working people.

“The workers are feeling deprived of the benefits due them despite their great contribution to improving the economy. Dili tul-id, dili sakto, dili maki-angayon kun ang kalamboan alang sa pipila ka tawo lamang (It is not right, not fair, if growth is only for a few),” read the statement.

Aside from Aquino, Nagkaisa! also lambasted Department of Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares for failing to offer government solutions to pressing, long-standing labor sector concerns.

Nagkaisa! likewise tagged Petilla and Henares as the “weak link that help makes Aquino appear out-of-touch, out-of-tune, and widely disconnected with the worker’s issues.”

Nagkaisa!, launched in 2012, is the biggest alliance of labor groups and workers organizations in modern trade movement history in the country.

Although Nagkaisa! and Ama-Sugbu-KMU were both protesting in Colon St., Senior Superintendent Erson Digal, Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Regional Operations and Plans Division chief said yesterday’s Labor Day celebration was “generally peaceful.”

“Hapsay, way report sa nagkalain-laing probinsya ang (It was orderly, no reports of disturbance in the different provinces reached) PRO-7.  Generally peaceful,” he said.

PRO-7’s Civil Disturbance Management unit, though, was on standby in case demonstrators become unruly.

There was, however, friction during a Department of Labor and Employment-7 activity at SM Mall after Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Eduardo Cuizon said the program should have allotted more time to labor sector representatives to speak instead of government officials.

He said Labor Day is for the laborers their concerns should have been highlighted in the program and not the speeches of mayors.

He added that it is not even election period yet.

“Wa man poy pag-unsa ni (This is not against) Mayor JVR (Johnny del los Reyes) sa Talisay, ni Mayor Mike (Rama) sa Cebu City, or ni Konsehal Gabon sa Mandaue nga naa diri karon nga mihatag sa ilang (who each delivered a speech; pero mas igo unta nga tagaan mi og gamay nga higayon, pero unsa naman nga mura’g pamulitika naman ni (but it would have been more proper that we were given a little more time),” Cuizon said.

He said the program should not have limited the time for the laborers’ voices to be heard.

“Asa man diay sila mopadangat sa ilang gibati? Dinhi tres minutos lang, didto’s gawas pakgangon pod, birthday man ron sa mga mamumuo (Where should be air our concerns?  Here, only for three minutes, and if we do it outside, we are stopped),” Cuizon said.

DOLE-7 Assistant Regional Director Lilia Estillore, though, said they limited the time allocation for all speakers because their use of the venue was also limited, adding that politicians were not prioritized.

Three blocks from Colon St., some 2,000 individuals joined a Labor Day job fair the Department of Labor and Employment organized at the Abellana Sports Complex.

The job fair, held in partnership with the Cebu City government, offered employments for construction workers, nurses, engineers, caregivers, hotel and restaurant staff, among others.

At least 27 recruitment agencies joined the fair, where a few applicants were hired on the spot.

While those who joined the jobs fair are assured that the participating companies are legitimate, fake agencies also exist, which was why Philippine Overseas Employment Administration-7 Director Evelia Durato warned job-seekers yesterday against bogus recruiters.

Often, these unscrupulous people either approach or send a person an email informing him of a job abroad that offers big salary.

“Please have it checked with POEA first before you apply, she advised

In Cebu City, the city Department of Manpower Development and Placement  is  set to appear before the City Council in an executive session to present its plans and strategies addressing youth “unemployment and underemployment.”

City Councilor Alvin Dizon, committee on youth chairperson and committee on labor and employment vice-chairman, said there is a need to address the employment crisis in the city, considering that more graduates are now seeking jobs.

“Unemployment remains to be one of the critical challenges of the country and local governments must strive to help lower unemployment rates in their respective areas because when people have jobs, they have the means to live better lives,” Councilor Dizon said.

 DMDP was told to present an accomplishment report in terms of programs and services delivered to residents, particularly the youth.

Estimates pegged this year’s fresh graduates to number 700,000, who would join the ranks of the unemployed in Cebu City if they cannot find jobs.

“This has been the alarming trend that the national and local government must address through massive and serious campaign to create employment opportunities, address the prevalence of job and skills mismatch, and bring applicants and industries together through community-based jobs fair,” Councilor Dizon said.— Niña Sumacot-Abenoja, Kristine B. Quintas, Bryner L. Diaz and Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/RHM (FREEMAN)