Labor code in BBL pushed

A Congress committee hearing on Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) 

The country’s largest labor group is now pushing for the inclusion of the provisions of the Labor Code in the pending Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

In an interview, Trade Union Congress of the Philippine (TUCP) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said the move will ensure workers in the proposed new independent region in Mindanao, which will be created upon the passage of the BBL, enjoys decent working conditions. He said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is already considering their proposal and has agreed to create a technical working group to discuss it.

“The negation for this is ongoing. In fact, they accepted our proposal to create a technical working group, which will be composed by labor groups, including TUCP, and will discuss the aspects (of the BBL) about labor, wages, workers rights and productivity,” Tanjusay said. The BBL is currently still pending in Congress. (Samuel P. Medenilla - Manila Bulletin)

Gov’t workers seek pay hike; strike looms

Philippine Government Employees’ Association (PGEA)

A group of government employees yesterday announced that it will hold a regular “Black Friday” protest to call for a new round of legislated wage increase.

Philippine Government Employees’ Association (PGEA) President Esperanza Ocampo said starting today their members will begin wearing black shirts to symbolize their complaint against the government’s inaction to their demand for additional pay.

PGEA is an affiliate organization of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), which covers employees in the public sector nationwide.

“As a form of peaceful dissent, all government employees will be wearing black-shirt and hanging black streamers in front of government offices to push for SSL 4 (Salary Standardization Law),” Ocampo said.

Ocampo threatened that should their demand fall on deaf ears or takes years before it gets acted upon, they will be forced to hold strikes.

She said the wage hike they are seeking will allow them to cope with the rising prices of basic goods and services.

“The government employees are praying hard that President Aquino will open his heart especially this yuletide season to the appeal of government employees to increase their salary,” Ocampo said.

PGEA has been calling on the government to begin negotiation for a new wage hike after the four-year effectivity of SSL 3 ended in 2012.

Under the SSL 3, which was approved by the previous administration in 2009, all pay grade levels in the government were increased by 12 percent.

Ocampo stressed that since SSL 3, the government has not yet granted them any pay increase.

She lamented the current administration even reduced their take home pay by increasing their taxable income.

PGEA spokesperson Glen Pastorfide said it hopes the government will listen to their request to hold dialogue on this matter early next year, before the start of the filing of candidacy for the 2016 national elections.

He said any later date would reduce the likelihood of the approval of the new SSL since lawmakers will already be preoccupied with the elections. - by Samuel Medenilla , Manila Bulletin

Protests mark Bonifacio Day

CAUSE-ORIENTED groups marched on some Cebu City streets yesterday to commemorate the 151st birthday of Andres Bonifacio. The groups also continue to push for the abolition of the pork barrel and to amend the Oil Deregulation Law.

At 9 a.m., the Partido ng Manggagawa held a protest rally on Colon St.; at 1 p.m., the groups of Anak Pawis and Bayan Muna also marched from Fuente Osmeña rotunda toward Colon St.

For both rallies, police estimated the crowd to be about 300.

Jaime Paglinawan of Bayan Muna said that their theme for the 151st birthday of the national hero was “Diwa ni Bonifacio, inspirasyon alang sa padayong pakigbisog sa tinuod na pagbag-o.”

Other groups that participated in the Bayan Muna-initiated rally were Grabriela and Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston)-Cebu.

Paglinawan told Sun.Star Cebu that he hopes that the commemoration of Bonifacio’s birthday will serve as an instrument for the concerned government agencies to listen to their sentiments.

“Based on this year’s theme, we want change, a change in our nation,” said Paglinawan.

Paglinawan said his group vows to continue the revolution initiated by Bonifacio to protect the rights of the workers.

Greg Perez, a Piston representative, also tackled the local issue that concerns the drivers–the increase of penalties for traffic violations.

He said his group will not stop protesting against the increase until the government would listen to their appeal.

Jenny Fabroa, 20, a college student from one of the universities in the city, was among those who also joined yesterday’s activity.

The concern she raised was about tuition increases.

Cebu City Police Intelligence Branch Chief Romeo Santander said at least 20 policemen were deployed during yesterday’s rallies to ensure order.

Meanwhile, the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) urged private sector employers to give their workers the correct payment “as their fair share of the fruits of production.”

ALU-TUCP spokesman Art Barrit said they hope the employers would possess the conviction, values and principles of Bonifacio, whom they honored yesterday, “as he (Bonifacio) knew that a nation is built on the back of its workers.” - SunStar Cebu By Elias O. Baquero and Jill Tatoy-Rabor

Workers deplore lack of “Bonifacio-type” leaders

Hanap ng Manggagawa: Makamanggagawang Lider ng Bansa 

The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition celebrates Gat Andres Bonifacio by marching from Mabuhay Rotunda in Quezon Avenue to Mendiola Manila in Malacanang. The group calls for a pro-labor stance from the leaders of the country.

With the 2016 elections occupying the air and time of most of the country’s politicians, the labor coalition Nagkaisa! today hit both the current administration and political wannabes, “for putting their personal political ambitions above the pressing demands of the working class.”

Nagkaisa!, the biggest labor coalition in the country today, led a march by thousands of workers from the Mabuhay Welcome Rotonda to the historic Mendiola Bridge, in commemoration of the 151st day of working class hero, Andres Bonifacio.

“Despite its open channels for communication with labor, we remain disappointed with this administration because the weight of anti-labor policies remain in full force. And this early we feel the same degree of apprehension seeing the possible 2016 line up, practically the same parties and personas,” said Nagkaisa! in a statement.

Marching under the theme, “Hanap ng manggagawa: Makamanggagawang lider ng bansa”, workers from different unions and labor organizations voiced out their indignation over the anti-labor policies that remain intact under the Aquino administration which include:

• the intensifying degree of contractualization,
• cheap labor,
• high cost of power and other goods and services, and
• the deepening inequality under the regime of jobless growth.

The group said the same problem will hound the 2016 candidates, adding that the more the working class are getting frustrated with the presumed failure of “tuwid na daan” the more they will be looking for better ones. 

“Unfortunately we still don’t see ‘Bonifacio-type’ leaders from the present crop of politicians,” conceded Nagkaisa!

The group cited as example the way the foreign-backed economic cha-cha is winning the vote of the members of Congress (possibly before Christmas as announced by Speaker Belmonte) compared to the workers’ wage hike and security of tenure bills. 

The group said when they say ‘Bonfacio-type’, they refer to men and women leaders who will commit themselves to the immediate and long-term agenda of the working class. 

“They who can provide full protection to labor; say NO to the dictates of IMF-WB and foreign powers; dismantle political dynasty; stop corporate fraud; and provide quality public service to all our people,” stressed the group.

The group is preparing for direct actions next year. At the same time it will craft political strategies for effective electoral intervention come 2016.