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MAY DAY STATEMENT
May 1, 2008
Assert Workers' Rights
and Advance the Workers' Global Resistance
In commemoration of the International Labour Day, we salute Filipino and
all workers around the world. We also salute Filipino migrant workers and
other migrant workers from other countries.
Labour Day is a day that symbolizes all the victories of workers' struggle
against capitalist domination, exploitation and oppression.
Many workers in capitalist countries are migrant workers from maldeveloped
countries. These migrants left their home countries in the hope of finding
a better life for their family. Many are trapped in the global market
structure where low-wage jobs are offered in exchange for the migrant
workers' very survival.
There are close to half a million Filipinos living and working in Canada,
making them the third largest visible minority group. Since the 1960s,
Filipinos have migrated to Canada to fill its need for cheap labour to
build and sustain its expanding economy. Over 100,000 Filipinos have come
through the federal government Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) in the last
two and a half decades. In the last eight years alone, 95% who came under
the LCP were Filipino women.
Despite being one of the most highly educated and highly skilled,
Filipinos are among Canada's lowest paid workers. Their skills and
education are not recognized, forcing them into low-paid, difficult and
dangerous jobs that no Canadian wants.
Now, with the global economic crisis, Filipino migrant workers in Canada
are being battered with lay-offs, contractualization and other forms of
exploitation. At the root of their oppression is the worsening economic
and political crisis wracking the Philippines. The effect of the "rice
crisis" at home brings an added burden to Filipino workers abroad. They
have to work harder to earn more for their families back home. Prices of
basic commodities continue to rise, but, because of its subservience to
the interests of big corporations and traders, the government rejects the
demand of millions of Filipino workers for P125 wage increase.
The working class becomes more oppressed than ever under the mantra of
economic practices such as privatization, deregulation, trade
liberalization and contractualization imposed by global corporate rulers.
Using the ploy of corporate efficiency, the capitalists have been trying
to reduce, if not eliminate labour rights such as collective bargaining,
minimum wage, right to unionize, benefits and safe working environment.
Employers don corporate façades such as "equal opportunity" or profit
sharing to attract workers. But Filipino migrants cannot practice their
professions unless they "upgrade" through various private agencies. As a
result, they are forced into odd jobs where discrimination is practiced
against people of colour.
Meanwhile, the U.S. "war on terror" intensifies racist attacks and
discriminatory measures against migrant and immigrant workers. Migrant
workers have been illegally arrested and deported, without due process, on
the grounds that they are a threat to national security.
Workers worldwide must forge a stronger and broader unity against all
exploiters around the world. We must advance the struggle against
oppressive labour practices, resist the creation of anti-labour laws and
demand for increase in our wages and the improvement of our quality of
life. We must continue to forge links with trade unions and workers of
colour around the world. We must strengthen our ranks and remember that
the struggle can be won through persistent and determined action and the
collective will of the working people.
Assert Workers' Rights and Advance the Global Workers' Resistance! Long
live International Solidarity!
MIGRANTE-Ontario member organizations: Filipino Migrant Workers Movement (FMWM),
AWARE, Philippine Advocacy Through Arts and Culture (PATAC), Pilipinong
Migrante sa Canada (PMSC)-Ottawa, Damayan, Migrante Youth Collective,
Migrant Workers Family Resource Center – Hamilton
visit our album:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/migrante.ontario/MAYDAY2008
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MAY
DAY OF ACTION: STATUS FOR ALL!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Christie Pits Park (at Christie subway station)
12 Noon
Millions across North America have taken to the streets in the last two
years demanding Status for All! In Toronto, workers, students, trade
unionists, activists and community members have led passionate
demonstrations calling for justice and dignity for immigrants and
refugees.
The last year has seen unprecedented targeting of refugees in Sanctuary.
Asylum seekers have been arrested from schools, workplaces and even
hospital beds. Families have been torn apart. Over 12,000 friends, family,
and community members have been deported.
On March 14th 2008, the Conservative government introduced a series of
amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), buried in
Bill c-50, a 136-page "budget implementation bill". If passed, the
Minister will have the discretion to refuse applications even where the
applicants meet the elitist and racist criteria for permanent residence,
to refuse to even examine humanitarian applications filed from abroad, and
to arbitrarily set quotas on the "category" of person that can enter
Canada – including quotas based on country of origin.
In the face of this intimidation and fear, our communities have refused to
be silenced. Together, we have forced immigration enforcement out of
Toronto District schools. Inspired frontline community workers
have taken up the struggle for Access Without Fear.
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We have fought against, and
stopped the deportations of allies and friends.
But the fight is not over.
There are over 500,000 undocumented people living and working across
Canada, over 200,000 in Toronto alone. They are forced to live in daily
fear of jailing and deportation, without access to
essential services. Bill C-50 would create even more categories of
"temporary foreign workers" without full status and without rights. These
workers will be exploited as cheap labour, as mere commodities, used and
then removed. We will not stand for this.
On May 3rd, as part of the National Days of Action for Status for All, we
will take to the streets. We demand an end to detentions and deportations.
We demand access without fear to essential services. We demand an end to
security certificates and secret trials. We demand a full and inclusive
regularization program. We demand justice, dignity and respect!
JOIN US!
The March will be followed by a community fair featuring music,
performers, food, childrens activities and visual art displays.
For more information about how you can support the march
or get involved:
Email:
nooneisillegal@riseup.net
Website:
www.nooneisillegal.org
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