Militant trade union center Kilusang Mayo Uno protested at the Pasig Regional Trial Court for its issuance of a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order on the implementation of the PHP85 wage increase provided by Wage Order No. 27.
KMU demanded that the 20-day TRO be lifted and the petition filed by R-II Builders and Readycon Trading and Construction be junked. KMU warned that this might set a precedent for other wage increases in other regions.
“Higit na mas naging matimbang dapat ang epekto ng krisis sa mga manggagawa, sa halip na sa iilang negosyong milyun-milyon naman ang kinikita. Buhay ng milyong manggagawa sa NCR at kanilang mga pamilya ang nakataya.” said KMU Chairperson Jerome Adonis.
(Workers should never be the ones left to absorb the brunt of this crisis — not when it’s businesses raking in millions that can actually afford to. Millions of workers in the NCR, and their families, have their lives on the line here)
The group condemned R-II Builders and Readycon for refusing to take a cut off their profits, pointing out that the meager PHP85 wage increase is already insufficient amid rising cost-of-living expenses.
“Gahaman lang talaga sa tubo ang mga kapitalista na kinakatawan ng R-II at Readycon. Gustong solohin ang yamang nililikha ng manggagawa, na kahit kapiranggot ipagdadamot pa.” Adonis said.
“Nakapagtataka nga namang sa mga government contractor pa talaga manggagaling ang ganitong petisyon. Kulang pa ba ang nakuha mula sa mga kontrata sa gubyerno?” Adonis added.
(“These capitalists behind R-II and Readycon are just plain greedy. They want to hoard every peso of wealth that workers create, and they won’t let go of even the smallest crumb of it”
“And it’s baffling that this petition is even coming from government contractors, of all people. Haven’t they already made enough off government contracts?”)
KMU reiterated its position to abolish the Regional Wage Boards, calling it a “lame duck” amid its incompetence in implementing its own Wage Order. The group also lambasted DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino for his inaction and mere weak statement regarding the PHP85 increase.
“Ano Tol, nalungkot ka lang? Magpapakalugmok ka na lang diyan, tapos wala ka namang gagawin? Makakain ba namin ang lungkot mo? Mababayad ba ‘yan sa Meralco, o maipapambaon sa mga anak?” Adonis questioned.
(“So what, Tol — you’re just going to feel sorry about it? Just sit there moping and not lift a finger? Does your sympathy put food on our table? Does it pay our Meralco [electricity] bill, or send our kids to school?”)
KMU called on fellow workers to unite, launch protests in their workplaces, and take to the streets asssert their right to a living wage.
“Bongbong, bistado ka na sa pagpapapogi mo. Wala pang isang linggo mula SONA, hinubad mo na agad ang maskara. Kaya mga ka-manggagawa, lakasan pa natin ang ating protesta. Tuluy-tuloy tayong mangalampag, mag-ingay, mag-welga hanggang makamtan ang PHP1200 nakabubuhay na sahod para sa lahat!” Adonis ended.
(“Bongbong, we see right through your act now. Not even a week after your SONA, and the mask is already off. So to our fellow workers — let’s push our protests even harder. We keep marching, we keep making noise, we keep striking, until we win that PHP1200 living wage for every worker!”)
