Renewing calls for change of leadership in the national government and immediate implementation of P125 wage increase, about 4,000 members of various labor organizations in Negros Occidental held separate protest actions yesterday to mark International Labor Day.

Joining the rally spearheaded by the Kilusang Mayo Uno at the Bacolod City Public Plaza, members of the Confederation for the Unity and Recognition of Government Employees criticized the 10 percent salary increase for government workers and non-wage benefits promised by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, calling it an insult to the workers.

COURAGE-Negros secretary-general Dan Alcoriza said the government has miserably failed to address the worsening economic crisis in the country and the 10 percent pay hike is a pittance of what the employees actually need.

Ronald Ian Evidente of KMU said they are demanding for a legislated P125 across-the-board salary increase, the establishment of a price control system to mitigate the spiraling increase in the prices of goods, and justice for members of the National Federation of Sugarworkers who were victims of political killings in the country.

Also calling for the P125 wage increase were members of the Partido ng Mangagawa and the Labor Power Council who staged their rally yesterday at corner Araneta-Gatuslao streets in Bacolod City. The groups blamed the government for the continued suffering of the Filipino people and criticized the Arroyo administration for favoring the interests of capitalists instead of prioritizing the needs of the poor.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Association of Labor Organization who converged in front of the Fountain of Justice, demanded for the immediate implementation of P50 across-the-board wage increase which is now pending with the wage board.

DALO chairman Allan Gozon yesterday said they are not amenable to the implementation of non-wage increase since it will not benefit the workers. He said they are also pushing for social services and amelioration bonuses of sugar workers. This should be given directly to the workers and not through the planters, he added.

Gozon said they are also asking the government to hasten the implementation of the peace agreement it had entered into with the Revolutionary Ploretarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade. They have not seen any significant impact since it was signed eight years ago, he said.

Lumaya Ka secretary general Ben Solilapsi, meanwhile, said May 1 should be declared a “national day of protest” of the labor force in the country. The workers have nothing to celebrate because of the worsening poverty they are suffering, he said, adding that they should protest so they can demand for what is due them.

In Iloilo City, around 3,000 protesters led by BAYAN and KMU assembled at the public plaza of Molo and Jaro Districts to demand for higher wages to help them cope with the higher prices of commodities.

Around 800 members of labor groups in Roxas City in Capiz also marched in the city’s main streets before holding a rally at the Roxas City Band Stand.

In Kalibo, Aklan, BAYAN and Bayan Muna led around 400 protesters in a symbolic “lunch of the poor” in front of the provincial capitol after marching in the main streets.

The protesters ate shrimp paste, dried fish and chopped broiled jackfruit vegetables to dramatize the worsening plight of the poor.*CGS/NAB/NPB

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