Labor Day 2007 Message

BRO. DEMOCRITO T. MENDOZA
PRESIDENT, TUCP
01 MAY 2007
TANGHALANG FRANCISCO BALAGTAS

YOUR EXCELLENCY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

MABUHAY ANG OBRERO PILIPINO!
MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!

TODAY
WE HONOR
THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER
WHO WORK TO MAKE
THIS WORLD BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.

WE ARE HAPPY
ABOUT THE HONOR PART.
BUT WE PREFER
TANGIBLE SIGNS OF THIS HONOR.
IN RETURN FOR WHAT
WORKING MEN AND WOMEN
HAVE GIVEN
FOR JUSTICE, EQUITY AND DIGNITY!

THIS LABOR DAY,
WE IN TUCP
AND THE REST OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT
BELIEVE
THAT MORE THAN EVER
CHANGE,CHANGE, CHANGE,
HAVE BECOME MORE URGENT!

WE HAVE DONE MUCH,
AND CAN DO MORE, FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS.

BUT WHAT IS
IN IT FOR US?

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY
HAS BEEN GOOD FOR MANY YEARS.
BUT WHERE ARE THOSE YEARS OF GAINS?
A MAJORITY OF FILIPINOS
STILL REMAIN POOR, JOBLESS,
IN THANKLESS JOBS
OR WITH LOW WAGES.

WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE
TO GIVE WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
THEIR DUE, THEIR FAIR SHARE.

MADAME PRESIDENT
WE ASK THE REGIONAL WAGE BOARDS
TO EXPEDITE ACTIONS
ON THE TUCP PETITIONS FOR
ACROSS THE BOARD WAGE INCREASES.

75 PESOS IN METRO MANILA,
CENTRAL VISAYAS,
WESTERN VISAYAS,
NORTHERN MINDANAO AND
SOUTHERN MINDANAO.

SANA PAKINGGAN NYO KAMI
MAHAL NA PANGULO!

AS COMPANY FOR OUR DEMAND FOR
INCREASED WAGES,
AS OUR MANIFESTO HAS STRESSED,
WE CALL FOR
MORE JOBS,
CHEAPER FOOD AND GOODS,
BETTER SOCIAL SERVICES,
LIVABLE HOUSES AND DORMITORIES,
CHEAP HEALTH CARE, AND
QUALITY EDUCATION!

TO WORKERS,
THESE THINGS
NOT GDP OR GNP,
ARE THE ONLY REAL SIGNS
OF GENUINE ECONOMIC GROWTH!

EACH AND EVERY PINOY WORKER
FORMAL OR INFORMAL,
MAN OR WOMAN,
YOUNG OR OLD,
DESERVES DECENT WORK
AND DECENT LIFE!
UNIONS COULD ASSIST MORE
IN GETTING THESE THINGS!

BUT ANTI-UNION AND ANTI-WORKER FORCES
CONTINUE TO RESIST
PEACEFUL ATTEMPTS
TO BUILD
THE COLLECTIVE STRENGTH
OF WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONS.

RESTRICTIONS
ON THE FULL EXERCISE OF
THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY
ARE KILLING
EFFECTIVE AND
RESPONSIBLE UNIONISM.

NEW LABOR POLICIES,
CHANGES IN THE LABOR CODE,
SHOULD BE PASSED
TO CURB THE EXCESSES OF GLOBALIZATION!

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ORDER 18
SHOULD BE REPEALED!
IT CONTINUES TO KILL
REGULAR JOBS AND
UNION ORGANIZING.

MANY EMPLOYERS
CONTINUE TO MOUTH
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
WHILE VIOLATING
CORE LABOR STANDARDS.

THEY TRUMPET
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS
WHILE SHAMELESSLY
EXPLOITING WORKERS IN
THEIR ENTERPRISES.

WALANG HIYA TALAGA.

LIP SERVICE ABOUT CONCERN FOR
WORKERS AND UNIONS IS CHEAP!

WE DEMAND REAL COMMITMENT AND ACTION!

WE HAVE SUPPORTED
SOCIAL PARTNERSHIPS
FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND COMPETITIVENESS
FOR MANY YEARS.

WHERE HAVE THESE LED US?

EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT
HAVE FORGOTTEN
THE COMMON GOOD,
FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

WORKERS ARE THE
PRODUCTIVE
AND COMPETITIVE SECTOR IN THIS COUNTRY.
DESPITE ASSAULTS
ON BASIC RIGHTS,
INDECENT PAY,
NO JOB SECURITY AND
LIMITED SOCIAL PROTECTION.

EVEN IF WE ARE EXCLUDED
FROM SOCIAL DIALOGUE MECHANISMS,
INCLUDING IN ECONOMIC AND LABOR AGENCIES.

EVEN IF FORCES CONSPIRE
TO KEEP US
FROM OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE
IN CONGRESS!

GOVERNMENT AND EMPLOYERS
CHARGE LABOR
WITH LOW PRODUCTIVITY
TO GIVE THEM AN EXCUSE
TO FURTHER SQUEEZE US.

LEAVE US FREE TO ORGANIZE
OUR WORKERS AND UNIONS.

SO WE, OURSELVES,
CAN FIGHT THE
POLITICAL AND GLOBAL FORCES
THAT UNDERMINE PRODUCTIVITY AND COMPETITIVENESS.

WE CHALLENGE YOU!

THERE ARE OTHER SERIOUS ISSUES;
THE WISE USE OF
MIGRANT WORKER REMITTANCES.
TO REDUCE POVERTY!
NARROWING THE GENDER GAP
IN THE WORKPLACE.
STOPPING DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN WORKERS!
SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS
ENSURING DECENT WORK
FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH!

LET THIS LABOR DAY BE
THE BEGINNING OF
MORE STRENGTH AND POWER
FOR WORKERS.

STARTING TODAY,
GIVE US OUR JUST WAGES,
FORGIVE US OUR TAXES.
BUT WE WON’T FORGIVE
OUR UNION-BUSTING EMPLOYERS.
LEAD US NOT INTO PERDITION,
AND DELIVER US
FROM POLITICAL EXCESSES!

DEAR EMPLOYERS AND
GOVERNMENT,
SET OUR WORKERS FREE!!!

MABUHAY ANG OBRERO PILIPINO!
MABUHAYANG PILIPINAS!