Aquino-Lim a dangerous combination

PRESS RELEASE

December 2, 2010

Aquino-Lim a dangerous combination

Condemnation statement on the violent dispersal of the “kuliglig” protest in Manila

The Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT) strongly condemns the violent dispersal by Manila policemen of the “kuliglig” driver’s protest action yesterday at the Manila City Hall.

Our brothers and sisters who live on driving motorized pedicabs or “kuligligs” were demanding the scrapping of Executive Orders (EO) 16 and 17 when anti-riot policemen charged at them. Firemen trained water cannons on them while policemen used truncheons and shields to knock heads and smash bodies in complete disregard. Tear gas was also used to subdue protesters. A police truck rammed through pedicab barriers destroying them. Around 20 drivers were hurt and hauled off to prison.

EO 16 and 17, which was passed without consultation, deprives thousands of “kuliglig” drivers in Manila of decent livelihood as the twin orders totally banned motorized pedicabs and limited the use of all three-wheeled vehicles in the streets of Manila. These orders come as harsh and brutal Christmas gifts for three-wheel drivers in Manila which robs them of their already meager earnings.

This incident is reminiscent of the brutal and fatal dispersal of marching farmers in streets leading to Malacanang 23 years ago, now popularly known as the Mendiola Massacre. Farmers were demanding from the newly installed Cory Aquino government to implement genuine land reform when state security forces, led by then Western Police District Chief Alfredo Lim, opened fire. Thirteen perished while hundreds were hurt.

Now, we have her son, Noynoy Aquino, as the newly installed president and Lim as the Mayor of Manila. The Aquino-Lim tandem may again prove to be a dangerous, explosive and repressive combination.

The PMT vows to support the fight for the right to decent work and livelihood of all three-wheel drivers in Manila. We will launch mass actions to call for the scrapping of the oppressive measures of the Manila City government. If the Aquino-Lim government responds to our just demand with force, transport workers will answer with more militant actions. More and more of our brothers and sisters from across the country will join the fight for social justice and transformation.

We call on all workers to unite. Fight Mayor Lim’s fascist ways. Fight for our right to decent work and livelihood.

Workers Unite!

Junk Manila’s Executive Order 16 and 17!

Fight Fascism!

Fight for our Right to Decent Work and Livelihood!

Resolution at the ICLS Conference on PAL Dispute

November 19, 2010

Resolution Calling on President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines to Reverse the Ruling of his Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary on the Philippine Airlines Labor Dispute

We, the participants of the 6th International Center for Labor Solidarity (ICLS) Conference held on November 18-19, 2010 in Taipei, Taiwan, express our strongest solidarity to our embattled worker brothers and sisters from the Philippine Airlines,

We, workers and union activists coming from Australia, Burma, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand, believe that the recent decision of DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to allow Philippine Airlines' management to outsource so-called non-core sections of its business and lay-off 2,600 regular employees would set a dangerous trend for capitalists to replace regular jobs with irregular workers,

We believe that such a decision infringes on workers' and union rights,

We believe that such a decision would spell the death of job security in Philippine Airlines and the whole country,

We, therefore, call on President Benigno Aquino III to reverse this anti-worker and anti-union decision in the interest of upholding workers rights and decent jobs,

Be it resolved,

International Center for Labor Solidarity (ICLS)
Taiwan Conference 2010

Introduced by:
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)
Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT)
Bagong Kapisanan ng Manggagawa - Philippine National Railways (BKM-PNR)

Phase-out ng kuliglig sa Maynila, Hindi Makatarungan, Labanan!

Phase-out ng kuliglig sa Maynila
Hindi Makatarungan, Labanan!

Isang mahigpit na pakikiisa ang ipinaabot ng Pagkakakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon sa hanay ng mga pumapasada ng kuliglig sa lungsod ng Maynila. Sama-sama nating haharapin ang unos na nagbabadyang umatake sa inyong hanay.

Sa darating na Disyembre 1, 2010 pamamaskuhan ni Mayor Alfredo Lim ang mga kapatid na manggagawa na pumapasada ng kuliglig sa buong Maynila. Sa bisa ng Executive Order #17, na ipinalabas ng tanggapan ng punong lungsod, ay tuluyan nang tatanggalin sa mga lansangan ng Maynila ang mga kuliglig. Isang pasko at bagong taong walang katarungan ang dala ng hindi makataong kautusan na ito.

Sinasabi ng kautusan ni Mayor Lim na bawal ang pagkakabit ng motor sa mga ating mga kuliglig dahil dapat ay rehistrado ang mga ito sa Land Transportation Office. Bakit hindi natin iparehistro? Kung mga bangkang pangisda na halos parehong motor ang gamit ay napaparehistro sa mga munisipyo, bakit hindi tayo? Hindi solusyon ang tuluyang pagbabawal sa atin. Tayong mga umaasa lamang sa pagpapasada ng kuliglig ay saan pupunta?

Tinuturo ring dahilan ng kautusan ang pagiging sagabal natin sa kalsada. Totoong may ilan sa ating walang disiplina sa daan, ngunit hindi iyan totoo para sa lahat. Dapat maintindihan ng pamahalaan na ito ang ating kabuhayan, sa pagsisikip ng lansangan kasama ang ating kabuhayan sa naapektuhan. Hindi tayo tututol sa pag-aayos ng mga daloy ng trapiko sa Maynila. Hindi tayo tututol, bagkus ay makikipagtulungan sa pagsasaayos ng ating hanay upang hindi maging sagabal. Hindi solusyon ang pagtatanggal sa atin sa kalsada. Tayong mga umaasa lamang sa pagpapasada ng kuliglig ay saan pupulutin?

Tinataya ng pamahalaang lungsod na luluwag na ang mga lansangan ng Maynila sa pagtatanggal sa atin. Maaring totoo, pero paano naman tayo? Saan tayo kukuha para sa pangangailangang pang-araw-araw? Saan tayo kukuha ng pampaaral sa ating mga anak? Sadya bang wala na tayong karapatan sa disenteng buhay?

Malinaw sa ganitong pagkakataon na ligaw talaga ang pamahalaan sa paghahanap ng solusyon sa mga suliranin ng mamamayan. Tayong mga maliliit na manggagawa unang isasakripisyo para tugunan ang mga problema.

Pumalpak na si Mayor Lim sa hostage crisis noon. Huwag na siyang magkamali muli sa usapin ng kuliglig ngayon. Hindi ito ang pagbabagong ipinangako nila ni Noynoy noong kampanya.

Lumahok sa tigil pasada at martsa patungong Manila City Hall sa darating na Lunes, Nobyembre 15, 2010 sa ganap na alas-sais ng umaga (6am).

Ibasura ang Executive Order 17!
Labanan ang phase-out ng kuliglig!
Ipaglaban ang ating karapatan at kabuhayan!
Pamahalaan magsilbi sa manggagawa’t mamamayan!

Militant transport workers’ group unites with PAL workers

November 8, 2010
Press Release

Militant transport workers’ group
unites with PAL workers

The labor row at the country’s biggest airline is far from over.

In a press conference held in Quezon City Monday morning, various labor organizations extended solidarity to the embattled workers of the Philippine Airlines (PAL). They vowed to support PAL employees as they stand up against the apparent conspiracy between PAL management and the Aquino administration. They also declared to forge ahead in the struggle for job security of workers in the country.

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT) President Victor Gonzales said “The catastrophe that has hit the ground crew of the PAL has plagued workers for a long time. The outsourcing and restructuring scheme of PAL management is designed to extract greater profits prompted by increasing competition today. This is the devastation of workers that we call labor flexibilization or contractualization.”

“The troubles that beset our worker brothers and sisters in the PAL are borne out of the greed of its owner. It is not true when management says it is for the survival of the company. PAL is willing to cough up 2.4 billion pesos not because they care for their workers but because they know this scheme of theirs will earn for them a lot more.” added Gonzales.

PAL management earlier said that they will agree to cover the increased costs in separation benefits as ordered by the decision of DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz by securing loans from local banks and company creditors. PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna also shrugged off a second notice of strike from the workers’ union as mere “delaying tactics” and warned that any more delays to the spinoff would adversely affects workers’ benefits for the holiday season.

“PMT can see through this PAL plan and is ready to go all out in support of the PAL workers. We are set to mobilize our members all over the country for paralyzing protest actions. The PAL workers struggle is a fight for job security. This is now the battle of the working class against insatiable capitalists and their dogs in government.” explained Roger Javinal, PMT spokesperson.

“It was not so long ago when the same workers faced the collusion of Lucio Tan and then-president Erap Estrada resulting in a decade-long moratorium of the PAL workers’ right to collectively bargain. Such had contributed significantly in emboldening capitalists to blatantly trample upon workers’ rights and welfare, a condition that persists until today. Now, Mr. Tan has found another popular president as his sidekick. Like Erap, Aquino has exposed himself to be a fraud – an anti-worker and capitalist minion masquerading as the agent of change.”

“We call on Filipino workers not to let history repeat itself. Let us now unite to be able to hit them hard. Our future is in our hands. The end to our miseries can only be brought about by our own struggle to change this way of life.” concluded Javinal. #

Militant Transport Group Slams SC Decision on Toll Hikes

October 22, 2010
Press Release

Militant Transport Group
Slams SC Decision on Toll Hikes

Militant transport group Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT) slammed the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to uphold the legality of agreements between the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and tollways operators.

“The recent SC decision allows the unconscionable increase of toll fees not only in the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) but also other tollways in the country. The decision of the justices was in complete disregard of the adverse effects of such hikes to the Filipino people.” PMT said in a press statement.

PMT President Victor Gonzales said that “the decision affirmed the constitutionality of the “highway robbery” being done to the Filipino people by foreign capitalists and their accomplices in government. They had ruled on the legitimacy of guarantee and toll price-fixing provisions in BOT contracts.”

Government has had the policy of guaranteeing “no-loss” and handsome investment returns for foreign investors in the country.

“But this fight is far from over.” Gonzales declared.

PMT spokesperson Larry Pascua said that “if the Aquino administration takes its cue from the SC and decides to push through with the plan to increase toll prices in the SLEX by two hundred fifty percent (250%), we can assure them that they will face a tough challenge from transport workers. Such move only benefits capitalists, foreign at that, and unduly burdens our already suffering people. We are prepared to go all-out just to block such plans.”

“Aquino had promised a review of onerous contracts entered into by past administrations but, after more than a hundred days in office, nothing has been done. His campaign promise of change was a charade. He is no different and may even be worse.” Pascua added.

Class 1 motorists will have to shell out P77 from the current P22, class 2 P155 from P43 and class 3 P232 from P65 once rate increases are implemented.

“Increase in toll fees will surely bring about hikes in prices of basic and other commodities as transport costs will definitely increase. Now who do we think will carry this burden? Not these foreign investors or people in government who have enough money to absorb such increases. Not local capitalists who will simply pass it on to consumers. Who else, but us workers whose income or salaries are not even enough to address our basic needs” Pascua explained.

Local governments, small businessmen and other militant groups have expressed opposition to the planned increase of toll fares in the SLEX.