By
Published: July 23, 2012

“Workers and poor people, rise up against the Aquino regime!”

This was the battlecry of militant workers under labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno as they joined tens of thousands of protesters in today’s SONAng Bayan rally, saying Pres. Noynoy Aquino is making life worse for workers and the poor.

“The Filipino workers and people are fed up with the illusion of change and rethorics of growth being promoted by Aquino. Our empty stomachs show the real state of the nation under his regime, a state of worsening hunger and poverty,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“This president failed to even mention either the word ‘workers’ or ‘manggagawa’ in his previous SONA. He does not care about the situation of workers, only about the situation of big capitalists,” he added.

KMU said the condition of workers and the poor has worsened under Aquino, with the real value of wages continuing to plunge and contractual labor continuing to become more rampant.

It cited independent think-tank Ibon Foundation’s research showing the minimum wage in the National Capital Region descending to a mere 44 per cent of the Family Living Wage from 53 per cent ten years ago.

“Rather than recognize and address the real state of the country’s workers, Pres. Aquino has been spreading lies. Being fed with lies about development and growth is even more revolting for poor people who have nothing to eat,” Labog said.

State of Revolt

The militant labor center presented what it calls the real state of Filipino workers – a state of revolt against the administration’s anti-worker and anti-people policies.

“Filipino workers are being severely oppressed and that’s why they are in a state of revolt. More and more workers are becoming determined to rise up against Aquino’s anti-worker and anti-people policies,” Labog said.

“More and more workers will be joining protests against the Aquino government’s policies in the coming months. We vow never to stop protesting until we get the change we have been fighting for and deserve,” he added.

KMU said policies as the Two-tiered Wage System and the K+12 education program are major moves that will further press down workers’ wages and promote contractual labor in the country.