Saturday, April 29, 2006
Labor Day rally seen to draw 10T workers
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
DAVAO CITY -- Various labor groups will stage mass protests on Monday to mark the 104th Labor Day celebration in spite of Malacañang's pronouncements that workers should not expect any proclamation of a salary adjustment.
Protest organizers expressed optimism that this year's Labor Day mass rally would be the biggest, so far.
KMU Southern Mindanao secretary general Omar Bantayan said they are expecting some 10,000 workers, belonging to progressive groups KMU, Samahan ng mga Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (Samakana), Anakpawis, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), among others, to join the mass protest that will be staged in three different areas in Davao City and culminate at the Rizal Park.
Bantayan said rallyists would reiterate their call, not only for a P125 across-the-board wage increase, job security, democratic rights, but also for the ouster of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo.
"May 1, 2006 will hopefully, be the biggest mobilization. We will try to gather representatives from all sectors to show President Arroyo that we are not afraid," Bantayan said in a press conference Friday.
He said it has already been six years since they asked for a P125 across-the-board wage increase for workers both in private and public sectors, but the government did not hear them.
Bantayan said as long as Arroyo remains the President of the country, the P125 across-the-board wage increase would be impossible.
"Until now, it (the increase) is not granted. This is the reason why our political call is to oust Arroyo," he said.
According to Bantayan, the daily cost of living for a six-member family in the Southern Mindanao region is now pegged at P571.
"But our wage here in Davao is P224. Instead Arroyo would help us, she is slowly killing us," he said.
Bantayan said they are not discarding the possibility of a military infiltration during Monday's rally.
He said it is the character of the Arroyo regime to monitor all forms of civilian dissent, mass movements, and protest action.
Bantayan, however, assured the City Government of a peaceful protest activity.
He added that they have already assigned some members of their group to police their ranks. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(April 29, 2006 issue)
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