New alliance unites
Philippine labor
By TUCP
April
23, 2012
QUEZON CITY – A new
alliance of some 40 major trade unions and labor federations have
united to advance trade union and workers’ rights in the Philippines.
Aptly called NAGKAISA
(united), the newly-established network of labor organizations vowed
to fight labor contractualization, advocate for security of tenure and
fight for an across-the-board increase in workers’ pay.
“After a series of
in-depth discussions, we, the leaders and members of major labor and
trade unions and workers' organizations in the country have mutually
decided to be united by embracing our diversity,” said the group in a
statement during a media conference in
Manila
today.
Philippine labor has
been generally regarded as fragmented, but NAGKAISA is bent on
changing that impression and ushering in a new era in Philippine
labor.
“In the face of the
prevalent anti-worker environment and given our diverse ideologies,
methodologies and approaches, our unions have continued to champion
workers’ right to organize, to collectively bargain, to hold strikes
and to engage government in social dialogue, but with limited success.
We believe that the Filipino workers can be empowered again by, first
and foremost, united action among unions and workers' organizations.”
NAGKAISA said.
“We are forming the
coalition called NAGKAISA, which will consistently and passionately
work towards restoring the right to full protection and the chance to
live a decent and dignified life for all Filipino working men and
women – whether formal or informal, private or public, here or
abroad,” the group added.
NAGKAISA is
challenging deregulation and other policies that lead to perpetual
increases of oil prices and cost of food, electricity and other
utilities and basic services such as education, in order to provide
immediate relief to the economic burden of workers.
“Workers’ struggle for
decent work is being defeated by greedy employers’ blatant assault on
their rights. Their chances to it are being deprived by the Philippine
government’s labor, social and economic policies that always function
in favor of local and foreign businesses,” NAGKAISA said.
The group is also
pressing for the ratification of ILO Convention 189 or the Decent Work
for Domestic Workers Convention.
NAGKAISA, as one voice
of labor, will actively engage industry and all branches of government
at all levels in meaningful and progressive social dialogue to improve
the plight of workers.
“If necessary,
NAGKAISA will be holding decisive mass actions to bring these issues
closer to and wield support from the people,” the group said. NAGKAISA
will hold a rally on Labor Day in Manila, where it plans to mobilize
some 40,000 workers.