Despite efforts to sabotage and downplay

Nation-wide transport strike of drivers and the people successful – KMU

 

Kilusang Mayo Uno declared the success of the nation-wide transport strike of the drivers and various sectors today.


“We congratulate the people and the drivers for the successful strike,” said Elmer Labog, KMU Chairperson.


Undisputed success

“The Arroyo regime tried to belittle the effects of the strike, sabotage it through crafted stories, and violently disperse the protesters. But only to its failure.


“No matter what she does, Arroyo cannot dismiss the legitimate bases for holding such a strike. She cannot cloud the real issue of her accountability to the spate of oil price hikes the people endure.”


Labog cited reports of PISTON (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide), that 70% or more of Metro Manila jeeps participated in the strike. In provinces like Cagayan De Oro, Gen. Santos, Bukidnon, Davao, Kidapawan, Iligan, Bacolod, Naga, Legaspi, and Sorsogon, as early as seven in the morning, 95-100% of jeeps were already on strike.


“The government now seems to rush the implementation of its bogus programs such as the P2 fuel subsidy for drivers, the cash assistance program, and the wage adjustment through the wage boards.


“They would not resort to these deceiving acts if not for the people's collective and militant action,” Labog said.

 

Causing the crisis

But Labog said that these are not the rightful solutions for the people.

 

“The strike has imparted widely to the people that the government can do something concretely, and we do not have to endure the crisis. Like removing the VAT from petroleum products, scrapping the Oil Deregulation Law, and imposing a price control on oil.

 

“The Anakpawis partylist and allied lawmakers have already filed the necessary bills to effect the removal of VAT on oil, and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law. Why can't Arroyo certify these as urgent bills?

 

“On the other hand, Arroyo easily yields to the demands of the big capitalists. She already serves as the spokesperson of the big oil companies with their excuses – that they cannot do anything because they just conform to world oil prices and they need to catch up with their losses.”

 

But Labog contested that the oil cartel controls majority of the world's oil supply and distribution, so they can easily dictate the price of oil in the world and in many countries, for the sake of their superprofits that grow by billions each year.

 

P125 wage hike

“With the steady skyrocketing of the price of oil and primary commodities today, the people suffer more and more.

 

“In the midst of this crisis, we need more than ever a P125 across-the-board wage increase.”###