Labor groups to mark Labor Day with rallies

 Various labor groups are bracing themselves for the Labor Day celebration today as they clamor for wage increase amid the rising cost of rice, fuel, and other basic commodities.

The Solidarity of Cebu Workers, an alliance of 25 unions, labor federations and workers federation of Cebu Province will also hold a rally today as a counter-activity of the Tripartite Industrialized Peace Council in Lapu-Lapu City.

The Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno and Alliance of Progressive Labor will also have their own separate rallies.

Wenceslao Badayos of AMS-KMU said that they expect 1,000 people from different groups to join their rally from Fuente Osmeña to Colon Street in front of the Gaisano Metro.

One of the KMU’s demands is to push the P125 across-the-board wage increase and another increase of about P3,000 for the government employees.

Badayos added that the group also calls for the abolition of the Oil Deregulation Law, the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board and contractualization of workers, eradication of the trade liberalization, and the demand for a fare hike.

On the other hand, APL will have its own rally which will start from Plaza Independencia going to Gaisano Metro.

APL chairman Joe Tomongha said that they expect 2,000 members to join the rally.

Just like KMU, the APL also calls for the RTWPB abolition as well as contractualization.

The Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the country’s biggest labor union, has opted to be off the street and urged its members to keep the celebration solemn and family-oriented.

ALU-TUCP spokesperson Joy Lim said that they will have a Holy Mass early this morning and will proceed to Nalusuan Island for a family get-together.

She said that they opted to wait for the decision of the RTWPB on their wage hike petition.

ALU-TUCP already filed a P150 across-the-board wage hike petition for Central Visayas last month.

Lim added that they will just ask for divine intervention to aid the workers in their struggle for higher wages and protection of the workers’ rights.

The government, however, already said the pay adjustment will not be announced today, but sometime in June or July.

On the other hand, the entire police force in the cities of Mandaue, Cebu and Lapu-Lapu are all set for today’s rallies.

Lapu-Lapu Police chief Louie Oppus said that as to the planned rally in his area, they are all prepared to disperse pickets if there would be implausible actions among the rallyists.

Cebu City Police director Patrocinio Comendador said that they too are highly prepared for this day and ready to deal with demonstrators should they turn violent.

Comendador also said that police officers have undergone Civil Disturbance Management Training and are all equipped to respond in case of disturbance. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon with reports from CNU interns Jo-ana Marie Desuyo, Queenie Chariz Dayanan and Princess Mondejar and UP intern Trex Eden Ignacio/MEEV