NEWS RELEASE
01 May 2008

For Reference: REP. LIZA MAZA 0920-9134540
REP. LUZ ILAGAN 0920-9213221
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0915-6463009

125 WAGE HIKE, REGULARIZATION TOP WOMEN WORKERS' DEMANDS ON LABOR DAY

"Women workers are in conditions so much worse today under the
administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The economic development
Mrs. Arroyo boasts of having brought our country into, has placed more
women workers in low-waged, low-productivity jobs, mostly in the
service sector and without any security of tenure."

This was the statement issued today by the militant women's partylist
Gabriela as they joined thousands in a rally commemorating Labor day.

"The current situation of Filipino women workers puts them in a
situation highly vulnerable to violence and abuse. The lack of
available jobs with decent wages and the widescale implementation of
contractualization forces women to live with and to a certain extent,
endure sexual harassment and other abuses, as well as unfair labor
practices in the workplace," explained Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza.

The International Labor Organization report issued in March 2008 cites
26.25% of employed women remain in low-paid, low-productivity jobs
compared to 10.94% for employed males in the Philippines.

Gabriela Reps. Maza and Luz Ilagan are among those who marched to
Liwasang Bonifacio calling for the immediate legislation of the P125
across the board wage increase. The Gabriela solons who co-author the
measure with Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran and Reps. Satur Ocampo and
Teddy Casino of Bayan Muna have likewise initiated House Resolution
552, Urging President Arroyo to Certify as Urgent HB1722 or An Act
Providing for a P125 Across the Board Wage Increase in order to Allow
employees and Workers to Cope with the Increasing Prices of Basic
Commodities and Services in the Country.

"The non-wage benefits and the measly increases in allowances that the
wage boards are preparing will not give the workers and their families
much needed relief."

Rep. Ilagan stressed on the need for a legislated wage increase and
not to rely solely on the regional wage boards saying that workers in
Mindanao continue to receive the lowest minimum wage rates.

"A family of six in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao needs
P1186.00 per day. Families in ARMM have the highest daily cost of
living requirement and yet workers in that same region receive the
lowest wages, with the current rate of P200.00 per day."#
 

■   Across-the-board wage hike urgent, doable -- Ibon

■   Employers can grant much-needed wage hike -- Ibon

■   Teachers call for big pay hike, join Labor Day commemoration

■   Youth group hits unemployment for new grads-Anakbayan

■   Statement of BAYAN USA on the Occasion of May Day 2008

     ■   May 1 rally: Pinoys, Fil-Ams in US call for immigration reforms

■   Filipinos in New York Join May Day Actions for Immigrant Rights

■   Southern California May Day 2008 statement

■   Workers stage noise barrage vs. hunger, poverty on Labor Day eve

■   May 1 protests to bolster anew Oust GMA movement

■   Gutom man at kapos sa sahod, tuloy ang protesta at martsa ng manggagawa at taumbayan patungong Mendiola sa Mayo Uno - KMU

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Masbate Chapter
BAYAN-Masbate
R2/F2 Espinosa Apt, Mabini St., Masbate City
calapayan@yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
May 1, 2008

More than 15,000 Masbateños from all walks of life participated in the commemoration of the 107th anniversary of International Day of Labor bannering the theme "Puspusang Itulak ang Paglaban sa Kahirapan, Kabulukan at Pasismo ng Estado! Wakasan ang labis na kinamumuhiang Rehimeng US-Arroyo.

Though organizers from anti-GMA alliance from Alyansa Masbateño: Bantay Korapsyon para sa Katotohanan or AMBAK KA and BAYAN-Masbate projected a much higher number, still the activity came to a big success with its intent of registering the condemnation of the people of Masbate to the wanton plunder and massive corruption, extrajudicial killings and other crimes of the Arroyo administration.

National Chairman Fernando Hicap of PAMALAKAYA graced the event with his share of disgust to the corruption and fascism perpetrated by the US-Arroyo regime.

About a third of the participants came from the two isands of Ticao and Burias which was seen to be a positive development among the organized peasant groups of the province of Masbate.

Aside from AMBAK KA and BAYAN-Masbate, organizations involved were MAPO, KMP-Masbate, CAFAS, TAPAS, Aspuma, Amihan-Masbate, UMATO CA, MTF-ACT, PAMALAKAYA-Masbate, Karemba, Manapas, APMA-Kadamay, Piston-Masbate, Anakbayan-Masbate, Anakpawis-Masbate, Gabriela-Masbate, Bayan Muna-Masbate, Karapatan-Masbate and others. xxx

Jess Santiago, poet and composer, sings "Halina"

Si Lina ay isang magandang dalaga

Panggabi sa isang pabrika ng tela

Sumali sa unyon, sumama sa welga

Biglang nagkagulo, nawala si Lina......

Halina, halina

Damitan ang bangkay at sa ating puso

Hayaang humimlay si Lina.

Migrante Melbourne, PASA and Gabriela Australia participated in
2008 Mayday activities

The Mayday activities in Melbourne, Australia started with a film showing and discussion on the evening of Tuesday, 29th April. The discussion centered on the imperialist aggression by United States and member countries of the “Coalition of the willing” on Iraq, after showing a documentary film entitled “The missing Iraqi billions”.

On Wednesday, 1st of May, the chairperson of Migrante Melbourne, George and the co-chairperson of Philippines Australia Solidarity Association, May were guests on a one hour radio program of 3CR especial Mayday broadcast. The whole one hour program was allocated on Philippine issues highlighting the ongoing political repression, human rights violation, workers situation including the continuous blocking of the P125.00 wage increase demand, the current economic and food crises, the situation of Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the massive graft and corruption, and a bit of Philippine geography and Philippine history.

After the radio program, there was a wreath laying ceremony commemorating the workers’ struggles in the past years. In the ceremony, the gains and wins of workers struggles as well as the pains and loses were mentioned.
 

On the evening of the same day, May 1 there was the traditional Mayday multicultural event where speeches and performances from different ethnic groups were featured. Migrante Melbourne men danced the “Maglalatik” a Filipino folkdance of tribal wars. A Lebanese traditional band played several songs and a Greek folksinger rendered various progressive songs. Anne Taylor, the President of Victorian Trades Hall council talked about the ongoing fight to repeal the work choices implemented by the past Howard government and pressure the new Labor government to meet its promises before the election. David Spratt of the Victorian Peace Network talked about the current environmental crises and the fast rate of global warming.
 

The highlight of the Mayday activities was the Mayday rally on Sunday, the 4th of May. In Melbourne, May 1 is not a holiday like in other Australian states and other countries. To enable workers to join the mayday march, the march is always held on the first Sunday of May. Different groups participated in the festivities which included displays and various stalls from different groups, a march, speeches, a mayday tea and a concert and community singing.

PASA and Migrante Melbourne put up a stall with various reports and reading materials including the report by Karapatan on the Human rights situation in the Philippines, the report by KMU on the recent Sigtur conference in India, the statement by Prof Jose Maria Sison on the 35th anniversary of the NDFP, the latest issue of Migrante Melbourne’s “Batingaw” and many others.

The whole day commemoration ended with the whole community singing “The International” led by the Tasmanian Trades Hall and the Victorian Trades Hall choirs.

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It was a hot summer day. Workers and their families and friends celebrating the International labor day found different ways to cool themselves.

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