Largest labor groups lambast DOLE for anti-worker policies

UNITED WORKERS

Press Statement | May 29, 2020

LARGEST LABOR GROUPS LAMBAST DOLE FOR ANTI-WORKER POLICIES

Organized labor minced no words as they collectively lambasted the Department of Labor and Employment’s twin issuances—Labor Advisory 17 (LA17) and Department Order 213 (DO 213)—for being blatantly anti-worker.

In a joint virtual press conference, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa (Paggawa) with various unions and workers associations came together as the United Workers Coalition to call for the scrapping of both issuances.

“Our call is for “Balik Trabahong Ligtas” since workers have the right to retun to work only under safe and healthy conditions,” said Atty. Sonny Matula, chairperson of Nagkaisa.

“Now that even more workers will be trooping back to work come June 1, we are being forced to put our lives on the line just to keep industries and the whole economy going. Instead of getting the full support of government, we are being left to fend for ourselves, or worse, it is making things more difficult for us,” said Matula, reacting to the relegation of NCR to General Community Quarantine status.

“Labor Advisory 17 was released in bad taste, with very bad timing. It encourages and practically gives employers the power to slash wages. This, while we are in the thick of negotiations with management for hazard pay,” said Matula.

Paggawa spokesperson and NCL national president Ernesto Arellano said that “both LA17 and D0213 serve the selfish interests of the employers, who, even before the COVID19 pandemic, have been pushing for labor flexibilization by removing standardized wages, regular hours of work, and fixed benefits for tenured employees.”

“Manggagawang ginutom na, pipigain pa! This government has totally abandoned its responsibility to the Filipino workers and people. After two months of lockdown without means to support their families, the workers are now left at the mercy of companies. This government has no compassion at all even in this time of crisis,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

Nagkaisa, KMU and Paggawa are the biggest labor coalitions and labor centers in the country.

“Workers must be the last to sacrifice in the attempt to keep businesses afloat because they were last to benefit from the profits they created when the economy was booming. The labor movement must unite and display class solidarity to become the inspiration for the millions of unorganized workers, especially at a time when competition amongst ourselves, as sellers in the labor market is being provoked by the propertied elite,” said Arellano.

With Metro Manila and other urban centers to be placed in general community quarantine status, more workers will be returning to work with no guarantee to safe work and transit, as no mass testing has determined the extent of COVID-19 infection in the country. “The Labor Department should be the one with oversight on matters of health and safety of workers once they go back to work. The workers are now being placed in a very difficult and precarious situation. Are their work places safe? Do they have safe means of transportation? Are their jobs and income secured? These are matters that should be guaranteed by government,” said Labog.

“Then, DOLE does not oblige employers to shuttle their employees from their residence to the workplace and back, while public transportation like jeepneys and busses—the most accessible means of transportation for workers, continue to be banned. Workers have really been left behind,” added Matula. ###

Contact:

Atty. Sonny Matua, Nagkaisa: 09178079041

Atty. Ernesto Arellano, Paggawa: 09171572429

Elmer Labog, KMU: 09081636597

PAGGAWA Press Statement: RELEASE ALL MAY 1 POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW!

PAGGAWA Press Statement

3 May 2020

RELEASE ALL MAY 1 POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW!

Socialist labor alliance Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa (PAGGAWA) strongly condemns the PNP's arrest of labor leaders BMP Vice President Lito Rastica and Reynaldo Dulay on the morning of May 1, 2020 at Rodriguez, Rizal.

The two were arrested for leading a picket protest to mark International Worker's Day near their residences inside Eastwind Subdivision, Barangay San Isidro. The protesters - who were calling for mass testing, sufficient government aid during the lockdown, and paid quarantine leave and hazard pay for all workers especially frontliners - followed lockdown precautions such as wearing face masks, observing physical distancing, and carrying their barangay passes with them.

Their compliance with lockdown precautions alone should have prevented authorities from penalizing their constitutional right to free speech.

Now the PNP have detained Mr. Rastica and Mr. Dulay for 2 days in San Jose Precinct and have hurled a flurry of trumped-up charges against them such as Alarm and Scandal, Violation of RA 11469, RA 11332 (Non-cooperation), Art. 151 of RPC (Resistance and Disobedience), and Municipal Ordinance 20 s. 2020 sec. 3. Their inquest scheduled for tomorrow May 4.

Far from being an isolated incident, Mr. Rastica and Mr. Dulay joins the more than 80 workers and activists persecuted and arrested for peacefully celebrating International Worker's Day and exercising their right to free speech. These include the Iloilo 42, the Marikina 10, the Quezon City 18, the Valenzuela 4, and the Sta. Rosa 16.

In stark contrast to these arrests, Mocha Uson and her opportunistic gathering of more than 300 OFW's in Lian, Batangas last April 26 received none of the aggression and stigma that authorities gave to workers and activists on May 1.

Why is it that when the supporters of the administration violate lockdown rules, they are left unscathed. But when workers and activists who exercise their right to free speech to call attention to the plight of the working masses - while observing lockdown rules - they are suppressed and penalized?

These illegal arrests reflect the overall approach of how the Duterte Administration has responded to national problems, including the COVID-19 Pandemic: with fear-mongering and repression. If there is anyone that should be arrested, it should be the likes of Mocha Uson and Bong Go who have used the restrictions of the lockdown to surreptitiously achieve their opportunistic goals.

The unions, federations, and labor centers that make up PAGGAWA call for the dropping of charges against and immediate release of Lito Rastica, Reynaldo Dulay, and all May 1 political prisoners!

TULONG HINDI KULONG! AYUDA HINDI PARUSA! #

For reference, please contact: PAGGAWA Spokesperson Leody De Guzman @ 0920 520 067

(photos from Inquirer.net)

Statement: Live the spirit of Bayanihan ang Unleash the Power of the Organized Masses

A CHALLENGE TO THE DUTERTE REGIME:

LIVE THE SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN AND UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE ORGANIZED MASSES

The President appeals for Bayanihan to combat the menace of COVID 19. But asking the people to timidly stay at home and practice physical distancing belies the true spirit of Bayanihan.

Bayanihan is not just about cooperation nor simply conforming to rules. It is more about solidarity and action of the people to overcome enormous challenges in life such as the COVID 19 pandemic.

Much has been said about the weaknesses of current government efforts to effectively fight the growing COVID 19 epidemic. More than oneness and adequacy in our government efforts, the colossal task of defeating an invincible adversary like the COVID 19 can only be accomplished by both government and the people willing to survive and return to their normal daily lives.

The urgency to end and be victorious against the current health challenge will need more than funds but physical power. Our front liners have been extended to its limits. Doctors and other health workers have succumbed to infections and died. Even our state forces have been likewise susceptible to the dreaded disease. The protracted war against COVID 19 is taking its toll on the health and lives of all of those in the frontline. No one is safe and imperishable at this time unless we truly flatten the curve.

Hence, we call on the Duterte government to live up to the true spirit of Bayanihan. Unleash the enormous power of the organized masses in the community. The workforce of the organized masses is society’s reserve army against such social menace. Unleash it and utilize it to supplement our current frontline. A community based-approach that taps the reserved force of the organized working people can help government effort to effectively combat COVID 19 at the community level. Much can be done at the community level to augment our front liners. All is needed is to unleash it and make it part of our social warriors against the epidemic.

⚫️ Utilize our organized communities to make masks, gloves and makeshift protective gear. Supply them with materials and procure it for our mass consumption;

⚫️ Organize community laundry washers to provide service to our front liners;

⚫️ Utilize organized workers in the community to augment our barangay forces, in maintaining not only peace and order but ensuring that we maintain effective social distancing and quarantine;

⚫️ Create community kitchens in every community not only to feed our frontlines but also our poor people;

⚫️ Tap our displaced workers to act as logistics volunteers to ensure more efficient deliveries of goods and services;

⚫️ Encourage farmers and fishers’ groups to engage in community gardens for local food production; and,

⚫️ Task our LGUs to utilize our stranded construction workers to build quarantine facilities.

More can be said and done if you unleash this potent force sitting in our communities The spirit of BAYANIHAN is the spirit of united collective action. The true spirit of Bayanihan is believing in the capacity and power of the people.

Meanwhile, as to funding requirements, we suggest that the employers sector - especially the top ten billionaires that is collectively worth P1.6 trillion - to finance the anti-COVID drive. You were the first to benefit during times of economic prosperity. Is it too much to ask for you to be first to sacrifice in times of crisis? Do consider the proposal of purchasing billions worth of zero interest government securities. The odds are not even a loss nor a breakeven (tabla-talo). You own most firms that produce the people's needs and facilitate the circulation of money and commodities. All of this will eventually end up to line your pockets but before it does, it will trickle down to feed and cater to the needs of a hungry and quarantined population. #

Bakit sinasabing ang relihiyon ay opyo sa mamamayan?

Bakit sinasabing ang relihiyon ay opyo sa mamamayan?

Saliksik at sanaysay ni Greg Bituin Jr.

Ang isa sa madalas sipiing pahayag ni Karl Marx ang “Religion is the opium of the people”. Salin umano ito mula sa Aleman ng "Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes". Makikita ang pahayag na ito sa sulatin ni Karl Marx na "A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right" na nalimbag sa Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher, na nalathala  sa Paris noong Pebrero 7 & 10, 1844. Ngunit parirala lang ito sa buong pangungusap na  "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people". Salin ko ay "Ang relihiyon ay buntong-hininga ng inaapi, puso ng isang walang pusong mundo, at ang kaluluwa ng walang kaluluwang kalagayan. Ito ang opyo sa mamamayan".

Marahil ay may paniwala si Marx na ang relihiyon ay may ilang mga praktikal na gamit sa lipunan tulad ng opyo para sa maysakit upang mabawasan ang agarang pagdurusa ng mga tao at binigyan sila ng mga kasiya-siyang ilusyon (ang relihiyon) na nagbigay sa kanila ng lakas na magpatuloy. Nakita rin ni Marx na mapanganib ang relihiyon, dahil pinipigilan nito ang mga tao na makita ang pagkakaiba sa uri, at pang-aapi sa kanilang paligid. Kaya pinipigilan ng relihiyon ang kinakailangang rebolusyon.

Dugtong pa ni Marx, "The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the  demand  for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo." Isinalin ko na "Ang pagpawi ng relihiyon bilang ilusyon ng kasiyahan ng tao ang hinihingi upang matamo nila ang tunay na kasiyahan. Ang panawagan sa kanilang tigilan na ang ilusyon tungkol sa kanilang kalagayan ay panawagan sa kanilang mapigil na ang kalagayang nangangailangan ng ilusyon. Kaya, ang kritisismo sa relihiyon, sa buod, ay kritisismo sa mga bula ng luha kung saan ang relihiyon ang sinag sa ulo."

Ang relihiyon ay nagsisilbing opyo upang matiis ng tao ang kanilang abang kalagayan, at umasa na lang sa diyos upang lumaya sa kahirapan. Mapalad nga raw ang mahihirap, ayon sa Sermon at the Mount. 

Kaya sa awiting Imagine nga ni John Lennon ay may linyang  "Imagine there's no heaven, its easy if you try" at "Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion, too. Imagine all the people livin' life in peace." Nakita na rin ni John Lennon na pag nawala ang organisadong relihiyon ay maniniwala ang tao sa sama-sama nilang lakas upang baguhin ang bulok na sistema. Iyon din ang kailangan natin ngayon, dahil ayon nga sa awiting Internasyunal, "Wala tayong maaasahang Bathala o Manunubos, pagkat ang ating kaligtasan ay nasa ating pagkilos."

* Unang nalathala sa kalahating pahina ng pahayagang Taliba ng Maralita, ang opisyal na publikasyon ng Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML), isyu ng Abril 1-15, 2020, pahina 18.

Duterte: Palpak sa Harap ng Matinding Pandemiko

DUTERTE, PALPAK SA HARAP NG MATINDING PANDEMIKO

isinulat ni: Kathy P. Unan

Ika-dose ng Marso nang unang ianunsyo ng pangulong Duterte ang pagsasapatupad ng community quarantine sa National Capital Region bilang tugon sa banta ng COVID-19 sa bansa. Kaakibat ng nasabing community quarantine ang pagsuspinde ng klase, pagbawal ng mga pagtitipon, pagsuspinde ng trabaho sa karamihan ng mga opisina ng pamahalaan, at paghikayat na sumunod ang pribadong sektor sa flexible work arrangement upang malimit ang galaw ng mga tao sa Maynila at maiwasan ang malawakang pagkahawa sa COVID-19, ang sakit na dala-dala ng bagong virus.

Lumobo ang bilang na ito sa 142 matapos ang apat na araw at inanunsyo ng Pangulong Duterte ang isang Luzon-wide “enhanced community quarantine”. Kasama nito ang mas matinding mga pagbabawal tulad ng pagsasatupad ng curfew, pagsuspindi ng trabaho maliban sa mga may kinalaman sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong pangkalusugan at sa pagbebenta ng pagkain, at pagsara ng mga pampublikong transportasyon sa kabuuan ng Luzon; ang mga hindi susunod sa polisiyang mamalagi muna sa sari-sariling tahanan ay maaaring dakipin ng pulis o militar na agarang namobilisa ng presidente upang ipatupad ang effective “lockdown”. Tila naging modelo ng pamahalaan ang mga polisiyang unang ipinatupad sa Tsina kung saan unang kumalat ang virus.

Kapansin-pansin sa mga anunsyo ng pangulo ang hindi pagbanggit ng mga probisyong medikal upang sugpuin ang paglaganap ng COVID-19 sa bansa. Ito ay sa gitna ng apela ng mga ospital para sa karagdagang pera, pasilidad at kagamitan at sa gitna nang natukoy nang kakulangan sa testing kits para sa COVID-19. Wala ring imik ang presidente tungkol sa mga manggagawang lubusang maapektuhan ng kawalan ng trabaho sa panahon ng lockdown; pinasa na lang nito ang responsibilidad ng pagbigay ng kagyat na tulong sa lokal na pamahalaan. Sa halip, pinaka-litaw sa lahat ng anunsyo ng pangulo ang pagpapalawak ng presensya ng pulis at militar sa ating pamayanan. Dahil dito, naging maigting ang hinaing ng marami na magbigay ang Pangulo ng “solusyong medikal, hindi militar”.

Ngunit sa halip na palakasin ang ating sistemang pang-medikal, lalo lang pinaiigting at pinapalawak ng pamahalang Duterte ang kapangyarihan ng militar bilang tugon sa paglaganap ng COVID-19. Ang taktikang ito ng pangulo na sumandal sa pwersang militar para sugpuin ang kahit anong kinikilala niyang problema ay hindi na bago. Nakita na natin ito sa pagpatupad ng Martial Law sa Mindanao at sa pekeng War on Drugs. Nakikita natin ito sa bawat pagtalaga ng retiradong heneral sa kaniyang gabinete. Ngayon, ang nakatalagang mamuno sa pagpapatupad ng National Action Plan laban sa COVID-19 ay hindi ang kalihim ng Kagawarang Pangkalusugan, na siyang dapat ay may alam sa isang krisis medikal, kung hindi ang kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Pambansa, ang dating Major General Lorenzana, ang kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal, ang retiridong Heneral Año, ang kalihim ng DSWD, retiridong Lt. Gen. Bautista, at ang mga pinuno ng miltar at kapulisan.

Lalong hindi na bago sa atin ang retorika ng pangulo. Kahit ang suliranin laban sa COVID-19 ay hinahalintulad niya sa “digmaan” kung saan ang Coronavirus ay, sa kaniyang sariling salita, nagsisilbing “invisible enemy”.

Mahalagang maintindihan na ang pagtalaga ng pangulo sa virus bilang kalaban ay taktika lamang upang mabigyang-katwiran ang paggamit niya ng pwersa. Pilit na pilit ni Duterteng ipakitang may ginagawa siya kahit wala naman talagang nalulutas na problema ang pwersang ito. Kailan ba mapapatay ng baril ang isang virus?

At ngayong hirap na nga itong sugpuin ang COVID-19, humingi na naman ang pangulo ng emergency powers na sa porma at itsura ay pagbabalik lamang sa batas militar.

Napasa man ang batas para bigyan ng “special powers” ang pangulo, napasa ito nang alinsunod sa kagustuhan ng senado na mailimita ang kapangyarihang nakalagay sa bersyong unang naihain ng pamalahaan. Natanggal ang mga probisyon na magbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa pangulong mamahala ng kung anumang korporasyon at mga batayang serbisyo, arbitrayong maglipat ng pondo ng gobyerno mula sa isang proyekto patungo sa iba, at pagkukulong at pagmumulta ng mga hindi susunod sa gobyerno.

Ngunit lumipas na lang ang ilang araw at hindi pa rin natutugunan ng pamahalaang Duterte ang pangangailangan ng mga ospital, mga frontliners, at mga ordinaryong mamamayang ngayon ay naghihirap dahil sa kawalan ng trabaho.

Mapapatanong ka na lang - para saan ba talaga ang nabigay na emergency powers sa ating kinauukulan? Bakit ang bagal bagal pa rin ng pagdating ng serbisyong kinakailangan ng mamamayan?

Klarong-klaro. Ang Presidente natin ay isang inutil na macho-pasista na hanggang pananakot at salita lang. Dumadami ang mga taong nakikita ang katotohanang ito. Alam ito ng pangulo, at dahil alam niya ito, sasandal at sasandalan niya ang pwersang militar at kapulisan upang manatili ang hawak niya sa kapangyarihan. Walang pinag-iba si Duterte sa ibang mga pulitikong gumawa nito.

Ngunit kailangan niya, at kailangan natin, tandaan – hindi natatakot ang virus sa mga baril at batuta na dala nila. Ang tanging makakatalo sa COVID-19 ay gamot at doktor. Ngunit bunga ng hindi kahandaan ng gubyernong tugunan ang tunay na pangangailangan ng mamamayan, gagawin niya nalang ang tanging bagay na sanay na sanay na siyang gamitin: pahirapan ang ordinaryong mamamayan at uring manggagawa. ##

APRIL 1, 2020

BMP condemns arrest of QC protestors

Press Statement

01 April 2020

BMP condemns arrest of QC protestors

The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) condemns the arrest and dispersal of urban poor residents of Sitio San Roque, who were holding a noise barrage near their community along EDSA this morning. The residents were seeking for food and assistance from the government.

In this time of crisis, food and state assistance are just and legitimate demands. Hunger and desperation are natural consequences of the state-imposed, ill-conceived enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). This is further exacerbated by the inept and disorganized response of agencies and local government units all over the country.

Fact is, these households already belonged to the poor and near-poor economic brackets even before the COVID 19 outbreak, the administration of President Duterte should have placed these communities on the top of their priorities and should heavily considered their plight when they decided to implement the ECQ.

To arrest hungry and desperate people is a new low for this administration. Not only did they dilly-dally in addressing the crisis in late February, the government treated the health crisis as a peace and order issue and deployed security forces instead of medical practitioners.

Protests similar to what was held in San Roque today will not be an isolated case. More and more people are questioning and rising up against the violent yet impossible implementation of ECQ in urban poor communities similar to the cases of Quiapo, Taguig and elsewhere. More community actions and marches shall burst open in the days to come as Duterte and minions continue to dismiss the calls for free mass testing and fail to guarantee food rations for all families.###

Labor fed bares ‘unjust’ employer practices during pandemic

Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms - SUPER

March 28 at 9:39 PM

PRESS RELEASE MARCH 28, 2020

Labor fed bares ‘unjust’ employer practices during pandemic

Labor federation Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms (SUPER) released March 28 its first list of employers who have engaged in “unjust” practices, such as “no work, no pay” schemes, layoff/retrenchment, and “endo” during the Luzon-wide lockdown arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a labor survey conducted between March 19 and 22 with verified complaining workers, SUPER gathered 318 reports of unjust employer practices of 160 companies during the Coronavirus crisis.

These reports include companies that are allegedly using the crisis to justify illegal termination of its workers (11 companies), workers made to work under the “no work, no pay” scheme but without transport being provided; (81 companies), flexible work arrangements but with reduced pay (28 companies), suspension of work without pay (98 companies) coupled with refusal to apply for the financial assistance programs being offered by the Department of Labor (56 companies).

“Malacanang’s only response to the COVID-19 pandemic is strict quarantine, without giving thought to the economic dislocation except that it gave a mere suggestion to employers to address their workers’ needs,” Luke Espiritu, National President of SUPER, said.

According to Espiritu, the survey proves that reliance on employer volunteerism is farcical because rather than cooperating with their workers in this time of crisis, employers tend to take advantage of the situation to deepen the precarious nature of work.

The Department of Labor has created financial assistance programs for workers affected by work suspensions such as the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), however, Espiritu said that it cannot be accessed directly by the workers and they have to wait for management to accomplish and file the necessary forms with the regional labor office.

“There are a lot of companies that simply refuse to apply even if the procedure for the program is simple. The amount of assistance is very little, only P5,000, but at least it could have helped our workers.” Espiritu added.

The list is currently being relayed in official correspondence to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and their respective local government units where the companies are located.

In addition, the list of companies practicing these policies will be updated regularly to increase public pressure and force companies to do their part to “flatten the curve.”

A second survey is being conducted starting on March 28 until April 5, which will include employers who are not issuing personal protective equipment (PPE) to their employees or practice social distancing, and refusing to pay unionized workers with paid emergency leaves provided in their collective bargaining agreements.