Workers, youth, other sectors march in thousands, slams Aquino's anti-labor policies
PH workers tell SoKor govt: Stop trade-union repression
December 26, 2013
An alliance of workers’ groups in the Philippines gathered at the Liwasang Bonifacio on the morning of Dec. 24 to show their solidarity with South Korean workers who they say are facing repression by the government of South Korea.
Workers’ alliance ACT2WIN! (Action agaisnt Contractualization and Towards Significant Wage Increase Now!) in a statement said they are supporting the strike launched by railway workers of South Korea. The strike opposing the privatization of Korean train systems is being led by Korean workers’ national labor center, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
Last Dec. 22, about 5,000 police forces, including 1,000 SWAT operatives, were reportedly deployed by South Korean government to the KCTU’s national office in order to arrest the strike leaders. The police forces reportedly used tear gas and violence against the labor center’s supporters. It arrested more than 100 from the workers’ ranks.
“Trade-union repression anywhere is an act of war against the working class. We Filipino trade unionists condemn the arrest of South Korean railway workers and the attack on the headquarters of the KCTU,” said Dave Diwa, president of the National Labor Union, an ACT2WIN! member.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) also condemned the siege, saying the South Korean government’s actions run contrary to the latter’s obligations to the International Labor Organization and to labor standards written in agreements with the United States and European Union.
“We are in solidarity with the South Korean trade-union movement which is now suffering from prosecution inflicted by the government. We call on the South Korean government to respect, uphold and protect trade-union and human rights in South Korea,” said Sonny Matula, national president of the Federation of Free Workers.
Matula said repression of trade-union rights is a blatant violation of the International Labor Organization Convention 87 on the workers’ right to self-organization.
“The South Korean railway workers have every right to hold a strike against privatization, which will surely adversely affect their wages, job security and trade-union rights. The violent repression of the railway workers’ strike and KCTU clearly show that neoliberal policies like privatization go hand-in-hand with fascist repression,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Source: http://bulatlat.com/main/2013/12/26/ph-workers-tell-sokor-govt-stop-trade-union-repression/
Photo courtesy of Act2Win, Dec 24, 2013
Workers’ alliance ACT2WIN! (Action agaisnt Contractualization and Towards Significant Wage Increase Now!) in a statement said they are supporting the strike launched by railway workers of South Korea. The strike opposing the privatization of Korean train systems is being led by Korean workers’ national labor center, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
Last Dec. 22, about 5,000 police forces, including 1,000 SWAT operatives, were reportedly deployed by South Korean government to the KCTU’s national office in order to arrest the strike leaders. The police forces reportedly used tear gas and violence against the labor center’s supporters. It arrested more than 100 from the workers’ ranks.
“Trade-union repression anywhere is an act of war against the working class. We Filipino trade unionists condemn the arrest of South Korean railway workers and the attack on the headquarters of the KCTU,” said Dave Diwa, president of the National Labor Union, an ACT2WIN! member.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) also condemned the siege, saying the South Korean government’s actions run contrary to the latter’s obligations to the International Labor Organization and to labor standards written in agreements with the United States and European Union.
“We are in solidarity with the South Korean trade-union movement which is now suffering from prosecution inflicted by the government. We call on the South Korean government to respect, uphold and protect trade-union and human rights in South Korea,” said Sonny Matula, national president of the Federation of Free Workers.
Matula said repression of trade-union rights is a blatant violation of the International Labor Organization Convention 87 on the workers’ right to self-organization.
“The South Korean railway workers have every right to hold a strike against privatization, which will surely adversely affect their wages, job security and trade-union rights. The violent repression of the railway workers’ strike and KCTU clearly show that neoliberal policies like privatization go hand-in-hand with fascist repression,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Source: http://bulatlat.com/main/2013/12/26/ph-workers-tell-sokor-govt-stop-trade-union-repression/
Photo courtesy of Act2Win, Dec 24, 2013
Tribute to Fr. JoeOn his 40th Presbyteral Anniversary
Dear Fr. Joe Dizon, I am very happy that in your 40th anniversary of priestly ordination, you adopted the words of Pope Francis as your theme: "How I would like a Church of the poor, for the poor." This occasion is an opportune time to articulate our dream of a renewed church. Let us call to mind the strong message of the First National Congress of the Philippine Clergy in 2004 that the renewal of the country can be possible “through a renewed Church by a renewed clergy.” These renewed clergy are what the Lord meant when He said, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart” (Jer. 3:15). Our Holy Father Pope Francis exhorted priests to “be shepherds with the smell of sheep”; to serve “the poor, prisoners, the sick, for those who are sorrowing and alone.” Pope Francis further reminded us that good shepherds must be “ready to walk amidst the flock: capable of hearing the silent story of those who suffer and of sustaining the steps of those who are afraid of not making it; careful to lift up, to reassure, and to inspire hope.” In the Philippines, these are articulated in the Updated Philippine Program of Priestly Formation (UPPPF): “The priest should take the initiative in a prophetic reaching out to the poor and victims of Philippine society and in dialogue with peoples of other Churches or faiths…The priest serves and leads the community by inspiring its members to lend their gifts for the service of the community and society” (UPPPF, 14). Indeed, we can say that in your 40 years as priest, you, Fr. Joe, have shown us how to live as a Priest of the Poor. We join you, Fr. Joe, in celebrating 40 years of service as a priest of God and the people. We wish you many more years of relevant and fruitful service. May the fire in your belly, the burning flames of the tongues of fire in Pentecost be kept alive. May you and all of us pastors be a light of hope for the Church of the Poor. Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D. Bishop-Elect, Diocese of San Carlos Chairperson of CWS CWS ActivitiesDialogue of Life among Church People and Workers in Cordillera
To give flesh to the commitment for a continued dialogue and strengthened solidarity between the church people and workers, the Church People-Workers Solidarity (CWS), Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), Cordillera Ecumenical Movement for Action and Transformation (CEMAT), and North Luzon Jurisdictional Area of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (NLJA-UCCP) joined hands to sponsor and facilitate a genuine dialogue between the church people and workers of Cordillera with the end view of coming-up with a plan of action that would respond to the needs and calls of the workers in Cordillera. After barely two months of preparation, the sponsor organizations held the Dialogue of Life among the Church People and Workers in Cordillera last Oct. 1, 2013 at the Little Flower Retreat House, #13 Villamor St. Luwalhati Barangay, Baguio City. It was attended by 65 people from different religious congregations, unions, and advocacy groups in the Cordillera region. The Dialogue of Life was notably the first of its kind held in the Cordillera region. Read more... |
Inquirer.netBulatlat.comOn World Day for Decent Work, Workers March to Mendiola vs. Contractualization
Stranded OFW Dies in Tent City Filipino migrants’ rights advocates join high level talks on migration MWAP Picket ProtestIn observance of the World Day for Decent Work, Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP ) held a picket protest in front of the main offices of the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) yesterday, Oct 7.
MWAP called on the Philippine government to walk its talk on decent work, by granting a living wage, ensuring regular jobs for the Filipino workers, an end to contractualization and to respect labour rights especially the right to unionize. A workshop on occupational health and safety was also held last Oct 6. |