Biggest union seeks COMELEC accreditation for its labor-based national political party

By TUCP-NAGKAISA
September 1, 2015

QUEZON CITY – The largest and one of the oldest labor federation in the country the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) announced they have formed the country’s first ever union-based national political party called Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP) and have sought Commission on Elections (COMELEC) accreditation for it last week.

“Unionized and unionized members from different industries who are the core members of the party intends to field and endorse national and local candidates including sectoral representatives in the forthcoming presidential elections on May 2016 who will espouse and promote our party platforms and programs,” said Alan Tanjusay, policy advocacy officer of the ALU and chairman of the LPP.

Established on December 2014, the LPP aims to bring together members and supporters who share its values and principles to develop policies and to make communities stronger through collective action and support on issues relating to labor rights and labor standards, wider-sharing of the country’s prosperity, social welfare, promotion and protection of local industries and enterprises in the face of globalization, a strong and self-reliant defense force.

“Once we get Comelec accreditation, we expect the LPP to expand its membership with our partnership with other groups from labor, cooperatives, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, industry groups, peasant, women, fisherfolks, urban poor, indigenous peoples, handicapped, veterans, overseas Filipino workers, professionals, senior citizens, youth and environment,” Tanjusay said.