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KMU hits GMA for not granting wage hike

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 14 ) — The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) stands firm on its demand for a nationwide wage increase and continues to stage nationwide protest actions condemning Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for turning a deaf ear to the long standing workers’ demand for decent pay.

The militant workers group aims to gather one million signatures all over the country in support to House Bill 1063 filed by Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran urging P125 across the board wage increase. The said bill is on its third hearing.

KMU-Cordillera, together with allied organizations and supporters held a noise barrage and petition signing campaign this week and gathered over 300 hundred signatures. Signatures gathered in the region totals 3,500 since September 1.

Necessary wage hike

KMU-Cordillera Spokesperson James Tulipa said that their demand for a wage hike is very necessary given the continuous increase in prices of basic commodities. He stressed that the minimum wage in the Cordillera, which is P190, is not enough. The additional P15 Emergency Cost of Living Allowance (ECOLA) implemented by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board last August 1 was not able to provide immediate relief for the workers.

KMU National Chairperson Bong Labog explained in an article printed by Pinoy Weekly that the ECOLA is not considered as a salary increase and is not included in the overtime and 13th month pay computation.

“Maging ang World Bank na pangunahing dahilan ng kahirapan ng mamamayan sa kalakhang bahagi ng daigdig ay nagsabing dapat dagdagan ng P137 ang sahod ng mga manggagawa ng Pilipinas,” (Even the World Bank, the primary cause of poverty of most nations admitted that the Philippine government should grant workers a P137 wage increase) Labog added.

PISTON-Metro Baguio (Pinag-kaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide) President Carlito Wayas expressed his group’s support to the proposed wage hike. He explained that the call for a wage increase is similar to their call for a fare increase, that both calls are due to the increasing daily expenses brought by the continuous and drastic oil price hikes.

According to government standards, a family of six needs P573 a day in order to live decently. “Pero kahit parehong may trabaho ang mag-asawa sa ganitong sahod hindi pa rin ito aabot sa sinasabi ng gobyerno na minimum na gastusin ng isang pamilya,” (Even if both spouses are employed, their combined salaries are still not enough and are still below the standards set by government) Tulipa said.

From 2002-2003, 1,700 workers in the region lost their jobs due to illegal dismissal and retrenchment. Tulipa explained that this is the total of reported cases only. “Hindi pa kasama dito yung mga hindi inireport ng mga gahamang kapitalista,” (Many unreported cases are not included in this figure) he added.

KMU also criticized the strike moratorium agreement between the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) together with the Trade Union Council of the Philippines (TUCP), Trade Union of the Philippines and allied Services (TUPAS), and Federation of Filipino Workers (FFW). Such an agreement does not promote the welfare of workers, Tulipa said. KMU vowed to continue launching protest actions until the Arroyo government heeds their call. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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