AN alliance of some of the country’s labor groups condemned Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s response to workers’ demands, saying the chief executive failed to stand up for Filipino workers.
The Action against Contractualization and Towards a Significant Wage Increase Now (ACT2WIN!) condemned Aquino’s refusal to increase wages and outlaw contractual employment, arguing that non-wage benefits and job fairs will not give workers a much-needed respite from worsening poverty.
“It appears that Pres. Aquino does not value Labor Day like he should. He failed to give workers genuine relief from poverty,” said Dave Diwa, president of the National Labor Union, an ACT2WIN member.
“Aquino tried to project that he did something for the country’s workers while protecting capitalists’ profits and the government’s coffers. It was clear that he was just making publicity stunts with his Labor Day moves,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, chair of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, another ACT2WIN member.
The labor alliance also criticized Aquino over the latter’s dialogue with labor groups one day before Labor Day.
“Aquino focused on the single issue of power rates, appeared unprepared, and was unable to make concrete promises when he talked with us. Needless to say, we are deeply disappointed,” said Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers, also an ACT2WIN member.
“We value asserting workers’ demands through various means like dialogues. It is clear, however, that we also need to put pressure on the government in pursuing our just and legitimate demands,” he added.
ACT2WIN also criticized the president’s statement that employment generation should be prioritized over increasing workers’ wages or curbing contractualization, citing the recent Social Weather Stations survey showing unemployment increasing from 24.6 percent last December to 25.4 per cent last March.
“It seems that the president is asking us to wait until forever. He has so far failed to reduce, let alone solve, widespread unemployment,” said Charlie Arevalo, president of the Gabay ng Unyon sa Telekomunikasyon ng mga Superbisor (GUTS)-PLDT.
“While we want the employment situation to improve, workers are sinking deeper into poverty and hunger. In many companies, we know that labor cost is just a small section of the entire production cost,” he added.