A HUNDRED YEARS years ago on the first of May, 100,000 men and women
laborers, peasants and fisherfolks marched to Malacañang. Led
by the Union Obrera Democratico de Filipinas, this significant event
led to the appropriation of May 1 for the commemoration and celebration
of the struggle of the working class. In that historic march, they
were articulating the aspiration of the masses for freedom. Freedom,
as envisioned by the men and women who took part in the movement,
was inspired by Andres Bonifacio's articulation of this aspiration.
Freedom was conceived in two realms—freedom from the clutches
of colonial rule, and freedom of the masses from the clutches of economic
strife and poverty brought about by the concentration of wealth in
the coffers of the ruling class. The movement was founded on the vision
of the working class for freedom and the recognition of their civil
and political rights.
A hundred years later, as we march to Malacañang, our demands
remain the same—freedom and the recognition of our rights. The
labor movement claims victory in the assertion and institutionalization
of minimum labor standards and civil liberties. However, a number
of conditions that emasculate the rights and welfare of the working
class still prevail. But more importantly, the victories that we have
conscientiously struggled for are now being diluted and, worse, undermined
by the posturing of the state and the economic elite. It is not an
exaggeration to say that our freedom and rights are now being threatened.
Basic rights that guarantee our civil and political liberties are
now being laid as sacrificial offerings at the altar of pseudo-economic
development. The Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce is proposing
a ten-year moratorium on labor strikes. To seduce the state, they
promised to generate three million jobs in the next three years. This
in effect reflects the seemingly unchanging and condescending attitude
of the economic elite towards the working class that resulted in a
century of constant struggle. Their proposal will erode and nullify
the victory of the labor movement for the right of workers to organize
and assemble. If the state gives in, it will usher in a decade of
oppression and exploitation of the working class. This is most ironic
because it is incumbent upon the state to safeguard and guarantee
the rights and welfare of the majority, and incidentally the most
vulnerable sector of society that we are a part of.
The state in its actions contradicts its propaganda of concern for
the working class. The Macapagal administration's unconditional support
for the US war on Iraq is now being hailed as an employment-generating
undertaking for Filipinos. The government has appealed to the US to
employ Filipino workers in the reconstruction of the devastated country.
Instead of creating opportunities for employment, it is exposing Filipino
workers to greater possibility of racism—a perennial problem
among our OFW's—and harassment from camps that see the Philippines
as a minor accomplice in the destruction of Iraq. Also because of
this, the Arroyo government is condoning the inequality between Filipino
workers and their Western counterparts. For sure, the Americans and
the British will receive greater compensation than the Filipinos who
are expected to receive meager wages in Iraq. But these problems are
also being experienced by OFWs around the globe. The state, therefore,
must be able to guarantee protection for our OFWs where ever they
are.
Macapagal administration's invitation to the US troops to enter Sulu and
Cotabato via Balikatan 03-1, instead of fostering an atmosphere of
economic growth that is a prerequisite in the generation of employment
opportunities, will lead to further conflict in the region and will
victimize more innocent women and children. This will aggravate the
already appalling economic situation in Mindanao, undermining years
of women's work to rehabilitate and heal the trauma of the Bangsa
Moro people. With the invitation of Macapagal to the US in exchange of dollars
and a possible presidential sponsorship, the country is regressing
in the area of national independence and self-governance—betraying
the revolution of the masses more than a hundred years ago.
Its economic policy of compliance to the WTO, WB and ADB leaves the
working class neck-deep in poverty. Its obsession with liberalization
has taken its toll on our daily lives. Due to the impact of the AoA,
vegetable farmers and their families in Benguet and in other parts
of the country are now dying of hunger because they cannot compete
in a market flooded with imported agricultural products. Our already
meager earnings are being expended for the high cost of public utilities.
This is coupled with the lack of social services that we now need
to purchase from private providers. The exorbitant cost of food, electricity,
water, fuel, and social services leaves us very vulnerable. This is
made worse by job insecurity and non-valuing of work in homes. Thus,
more are exploited in the informal sector, especially the women and
even the children.
And now, with the onslaught of the "Terror Bills" the civil
and political rights, not only of the working class and the masses
but the society in general, are being undermined by the state. Liberties
that we have won through our collective struggle are being subjected
to the whims of the manic state. Our legitimate struggle for social
reform and equity could be under-cut by this bill which the state
shamelessly rams through the legislature.
In the past century, the struggle of the working class has been an
unwavering one. A hundred years ago, the battle cry was freedom. A
hundred years later, freedom is still the clamor of the men and women
laborers, peasants, fisherfolk, the urban poor, gays and lesbians
and OFWs. So many administrations have come and gone, and yet, the
working class remains marginalized. Our rights and welfare are at
a constant threat by a system that perpetuates inequality among classes.
Constantly, our hard-earned victories are being undermined.
In the light of the systemic problems and conditions plaguing the
working class, WE, in the Task Force May 1 shall continue to defend
and advance our rights and our freedom. As we commemorate a century
of May 1 demonstrations, WE demand the following:
Fisherfolk: Enact a law for the delineation of municipal waters for
the welfare of small fisherfolk (DAO 17)! Protect small fisherfolks
from the excesses of local and foreign commercial fishers!
Gays and Lesbians: End discrimination against gays and lesbians in
the workplace! Pass the Anti-Discrimination Bill!
Human Rights Groups: Respect the dignity and rights of every Filipino!
Laborers: Provide solid guarantee for workers' and trade union rights!
Reject the ten-year moratorium on labor strikes!
OFWs: Stop the deregulation of the overseas labor industry! Reassert
government's primordial role in the protection and promotion of the
rights and welfare of OFWs and their families!
Peasants: Guarantee security of land ownership, safe and sufficient
supply of food and security of income and protection from both foreign
and local capitalist control over the agricultural sector!
Public Sector: Stop the massive re-organization of workers in the
public sector, junk the "Omnibus Rules on the Prohibition of
Concerted Mass Actions!"
Urban Poor: Stop demolitions! Provide humane housing conditions for
the urban poor!
Women: Protect workers in the informal sector! Hold the US and Macapagal
accountable for the impacts of war in Mindanao!
Youth and Students: Provide accessible, relevant and quality education
for all! Sustainable Employment and Job Opportunity to the Youth!
Amnesty International-Pilipinas
AKBAY MARALITA
AKBAYAN Citizens' Action Party
ALYANSA ng Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Kabataan
AMEND
Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
BALIKATAN
Bukluran sa Ikauunlad ng Sosyalistang Isip at Gawa (BISIG)
Center for Agrarian Reform, Empowerment and Transformation (CARET)
Coalition Against Trafficking of Women (CATW)
Center for Migrant Advocacy-Phil.
Confederation of Independent Unions in the Public Sector (CIU)
Center for Popular Empowerment (CPE)
Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
Institute of Politics and Governance (IPG)
LAGABLAB
LAbor RIghts and DEmocracy (LARIDE)
Manggagawang Kababaihan Mithi'y Paglaya (MAKALAYA)
Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (MASP)
NTU
NUBC
National Union of Workers in the Hotel, Restaurant and Allied Industry
(NUWHRAIN)
PADAYON
PAKISAMA
PANDAYAN para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas
Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Services (PARRDS)
PEACE
KASAPI Congress-Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK)
SARILAYA
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)
Tala Estate Settlers' Federation (TESEF)
Task Force Pride (TFP)
Ugnayan ng mga Nagsasariling Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (UNORKA)
---------------
