Manggagawa, Nagrali Laban sa ChaCha ni Belmonte

MANGGAGAWA, NAGRALI LABAN SA CHACHA NI BELMONTE

News from Manila Bulletin

Group slams solons pushing Cha-cha

by Chito A. Chavez

March 12, 2014

A group of militant workers promoting human rights staged a rally in front of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City questioning the ulterior motive of the lawmakers pushing for charter change.

Earlier, several members of the House of Representatives claimed that the main objective of charter change is to attract foreign investors.

Gie Relova, leader of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), slammed the country’s leaders for allegedly lobbying interest on foreign companies.

Last week, the House Committee on Constitutional Reform led by Davao Representative Mylene Garcia-Albano approved House Resolution 1 which seeks to amend the Philippine Constitution.

The resolution also seeks to add the phrase “unless otherwise amended by law” to articles in the Constitution that specify 40 percent limits to foreign ownership of land and businesses, including management of media, franchises to public utilities, and ownership of educational institutions.

The resolution also seeks to augment participation of foreign corporations in developing, exploring, and utilizing lands of public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources.

“We will support Belmonte’s move only if the Speaker and his cohorts will take into account proposals which that will also improve our conditions since undeniably, we are the most productive sector in the economy,” Relova said.

Among the labor sector’s pressing issues include the erroneous wage fixing mechanisms in the form of the regional wage boards, the menace of contractualization which cheapen labor and denies workers job security and the increasing number of unemployed.

“If the only vision of these congressmen is simply to liberalize the economy further without strengthening labor protectionist provisions, this will easily translate to more labor rights violations, more miserable working conditions and more depressing wages. Without winking an eye, labor will be the most organized and staunchest opposition to their plans of selling-out our interests and our families’ lifelines,” Relova added.

News from InterAksyon (ABC 5)

Charter change should also favor workers, not only foreign investors - labor group

By: InterAksyon.com

March 12, 2014

MANILA - House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte’s initiative to amend the Constitution is for foreign investments to come in by relaxing the limits on foreign ownership of land and businesses, but labor groups said any Charter change should also favor workers.

In a statement, Gie Relova, leader of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino said: “The workers are agonizing that our country’s officials are unashamed in their aggressive lobbying for the interests of foreign companies, but what about us? What about our rights? If they plan to amend the Charter, they might as well enhance the labor protection and welfare provisions. Our livelihood and our children’s future are at stake here too.”

Last week, the House Committee on Constitutional Reform led by Davao Representative  Mylene Garcia-Albano approved House Resolution 1 which seeks to add the phrase "unless otherwise amended by law" to articles in the Constitution that specify 40-percent limits to foreign ownership of land and businesses, including management of media, franchises to public utilities, and ownership of educational institutions.

The resolution also seeks to augment participation of foreign corporations in developing, exploring, and utilizing lands of public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources.

‘Right to live decently’

While the present charter “gives equal premium to the ‘right to property’ of the minority capitalists and the majority workers’ ‘right to live decently,’” the accumulation of incredible wealth in the hands of a few “is also the primary hindrance for the millions of workers to live decently,” Relova said.

He was also quick to add that, “We will support Belmonte’s move only if the Speaker and his cohorts will take into account proposals which that will also improve our conditions since undeniably, we are the most productive sector in the economy.”

Among their demands: to fix the erroneous wage fixing mechanisms in the form of the regional wage boards, and to do away with the “menace of contractualization which cheapen labor and denies workers job security and the increasing number of unemployed.”

“Liberalizing the economy further without strengthening labor protectionist provisions will easily translate to more labor rights violations, more miserable working conditions, and more depressing wages,” Relova said.

Media Advisory: On Belmonte's Charter Change, workers ask, "Whose Development?"

Maikling Kwento sa Buhay at Pakikibaka ni Ka Romy Castillo

Maikling Kwento sa Buhay

at Pakikibaka ni Ka Romy Castillo

Mga kasama at Kapatid sa Paggawa,

Si Ka Romy Castillo, 62 taong gulang, biyudo (ang asawa’y pumanaw noong Disyembre 2012) at may 2 anak (isang babae at isang lalaki), taga-Escalante, Negros Occidental, ang kasalukuyang secretary general ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). Noong 1987, naging manggagawa siya ng Philippine Blooming Mills Inc. na matatagpuan sa Brgy. Rosario, Pasig, Metro Manila. Noong 1979, naging bise president ng Philippine Blooming Mills Employees Union - National Federation of Labor Unions (PBMEU-NAFLU). Isa sa tagapagtatag ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) ang kanyang unyong pinamumunuan na may 2,600 kasapian noong Mayo Uno 1980 sa Araneta Coliseum. Nang taon ding iyon, naging chairman siya ng KMU Area 2 na sumasaklaw sa Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina at Rizal.

Isa siya sa 34 na mga opisyales at lider ng PBMEU na nagpasyang kumilos ng buong panahon sa Kilusang Paggawa nang ganap na magsara ang kanilang pabrika noong 1981. Aktibo niyang kinondena ang Arrest and Search Order (ASO), Preventive Detention Action (PDA) at crackdown ng pasistang diktadurang rehimen ni Marcos sa KMU noong Agosto 13, 1983.

Isa siya sa maraming lider-manggagawa na inaresto, kinulong ng pasistang rehimen ni Marcos noong Hulyo 1984. Siya at apat pang kasama (Antipolo 5) ay isa't kalahating taong ikinulong ng militar sa Camp Bagong Diwa matapos ang nakaririmarim na tortyur sa kanila. Sa loob ng piitan ay nakaranas siya ng iba’t ibang uri ng tortyur, tulad ng water cure, electric shock, at pagkuryente mismo sa kanyang ari na muntik na niyang ikabaog.

Nakalaya siya matapos ang EDSA People’s Power Uprising noong Pebrero 1986. Paglaya ay agad na siyang kumilos at natalaga bilang organisador at lider-manggagawa at ipinadala sa iba't ibang bansa, tulad ng Japan, Germany at Netherlands sa Europa para sa gawaing pakikipagkapatiran sa mga manggagawa / organisasyon ng mga manggagawa sa iba’t ibang bansa sa Europa.

Pagbalik niya sa Pilipinas ay aktibong kumilos bilang kasapi ng KMU Central Committee. At noong 1989 ay nahalal siya bilang chairman ng KMU National Capital Region (KMU-NCR) chapter.

Noong 1992-93, sa panahon ng panloob na tunggaliang pang-organisasyon sa KMU na humantong sa split ng KMU-NCR chapter sa KMU-national ay tumindig siya sa tama at totoo! At nanawagan siya ng pagtatakwil sa mga Maoista at Stalinista. Naging Founding Chairman siya ng BMP sa Konggreso ng Pagtatatag nito noong Setyembre 14, 1993 sa Ultra, sa Lungsod ng Pasig. Nanungkulan siya bilang Chairman ng Bukluran ng Manggagawa para sa Pagbabago (ang dating ibig sabihin ng BMP) hanggang 1996.

Muli siyang natalaga sa Labor International Work para ilinaw sa mga organisasyon ng mga manggagawa sa iba’t ibang bansa ang Kritik sa Globalisasyon at paninindigan ng BMP laban sa Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) at Globalisasyon (ang patakarang liberalisasyon, deregulasyon, pribatisasyon at labor flexibility) at panawagang SLAM APEC. Depensahan ang Uri, Ipaglaban ang Bayan! Ang Laban ng Bayan ay Laban ng Uri! No to Agression in East Timor! Peace, Not War!

Aktibo din siya sa kampanya at pakikibaka para sa dagdag sahod ng mga manggagawa at pagtatayo ng Lawin-35, Kilusang Roll Back (KRB) at electoral na mga pakikibaka at pagtatayo ng Partido ng Manggagawa (PM). Kampanya laban sa dayaan, pagpapatalsik kay GMA, at panukalang pagtatayo ng transitional government noong 1998-2006. Pakikibaka ng mga manggagawa ng TEMIC, BLTB, PALEA at MERALCO. Nanawagan ng hustisya laban sa patraydor na pagpaslang sa chairman ng BMP na si Ka Popoy Lagman matapos ang EDSA Dos o kudeta ni GMA kay Erap at kasagsagan ng paghahanda ng Kongreso ng PM noong Pebrero 12, 2001. Nahalal siya rito na myembro ng Central Committee ng PM.

Hunyo 2011 nang magtungo si Ka Romy sa Malaysia bilang bisita ng Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM). Naging kinatawan siya roon bilang secretary general ng Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM).  Pauwi na siya sa Pilipinas noong Hunyo 30 nang siya ay kinuha sa airport at ikinulong ng ilang araw ng Malaysian Government kasama ang 30 pang aktibistang Malaysian. Napalaya siya noong Hulyo 7, 2011 at agad na pinabalik sa Pilipinas.

Si Ka Romy ay magaling na tagapagsalita sa entablado, magaling tumangan ng pulong, hindi diktador, tinitiyak niya na nakakapagsalita ang lahat ng panid, at pinakamahalaga ay ang pagtitiyakniya na ang demokrasya ang nangingibabaw, hindi ang brasuhan, palakasan ng boses (literal) at panggagapang sa mga decision maker. Tunay siyang maginoo at magaling na lider.

Nang buhayin at paaktibuhin ng DOLE ang Tripartismo noong 2007 at nang magpasya ang BMP na magpadalo ng kinatawan dito, siya ang itinalagang opisyal na kinatawan ng BMP sa NTIPC hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Hindi na nga lamang siya nakakadalo sa mga patawag na meeting ng NTIPC dahil sa kanyang karamdaman sa kasalukuyan.

Nahalal si Ka Romy bilang secretary general ng BMP sa ginanap na ika-6 na Kongreso nito noong Nobyembre 26-27 2011 sa Calamba, Laguna.

Si Ka Romy ay dinapuan ng kanser sa baga. Nang madiskubre ay Stage 4 na. Nagpapa-chemo theraphy siya ngunit magastos. Baka sakaling siya'y mailigtas. Kaya kailangan niya ng tulong ng sinuman.

Ang BMP ay maglulunsad ng Benefit Concert para sa kanya sa Marso 9, 2014 sa General Trias, Cavite at sa Marso 17, 2014 sa Homer's Restaurant sa Lungsod Quezon. Sa mga nagnanais tumulong at makakuha ng tiket para sa konsyerto, mangyaring kontakin si Tina sa BMP ofc sa hatinig blg. 436-4307.

(Ito'y pinagsamang detalye mula kina Ka Ronnie Luna, Ka Gem de Guzman at Greg Bituin Jr.)

Piket sa Embahada ng Malaysia, Isinagawa ng mga Manggagawa

PIKET SA EMBAHADA NG MALAYSIA, ISINAGAWA NG MGA MANGGAGAWA

Naglunsad kanina ng piket sa harapan ng Malaysian Embassy ang grupong BMP, kasama ang mga grupong Socialista, Kasama at Katipunan bilang protesta sa umano'y panggigipit sa NUBE (National Union of Bank Employees) sa Malaysia. Nanawagan sila sa Prime Minister ng Malaysia na igalang ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa, lalo na ang mga kasapi ng NUBE. Ang BMP, Socialista, Kasama at Katipunan ay pawang mga kasapi sa WFTU (World Federation of Trade Unions). (Ulat at litrato ni Greg Bituin Jr.)

BMP at NAGKAISA, Nagpiket sa ERC

BMP AT NAGKAISA, NAGPIKET SA ERC

Marso 4, 2014, Martes - Nagpiket ang iba't ibang grupo ng manggagawa sa ilalim ng koalisyong NAGKAISA sa harapan ng tanggapan ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) upang iprotesta ang dagdag na namang singil sa kuryente. Nagprotesta ang grupong BMP, APL, SENTRO, PM, PALEA, KPML, PLM, GPNAI at iba pa upang ipakita ang galit ng manggagawa at maralita sa panibago na namang pahirap sa masa. Dumating din doon si Akbayan Party list rep. Walden Bello. Bago matapos ang piket ay nagsagawa sila ng die in o paghiga sa kalsada habang kanilang isinisigaw na ibaba na ang presyo ng kuryente at baguhin na ang pamamalakad sa ERC. (Ulat at litrato ni Greg Bituin Jr.)

BMP joins PMT to picket LTFRB Hearing on Bontoc Bus Tragedy

PMT calling for reforms in the transport industry in the light of the recent Bontoc and Skyway tragedies

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT)
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

MEDIA ADVISORY:
February 18, 2014

Transport Group, Militant Labor to Picket LTFRB Hearing on Bontoc Bus Tragedy Tomorrow

What: Picket for Regulation of Transport Industry and Reorganization of LTFRB

When: February 19, Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.

Where: Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office at East Avenue in Quezon City

The Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT) and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) will organize a picket in front of the LTFRB office in Quezon City tomorrow, February 19. The protest coincides with the regulatory agency's first hearing on the Bontoc bus tragedy that claimed lives of 14 passengers including cultural activist and comedian Tado Jimenez.

Larry Pascua, PMT secretary-general said, "We are calling for reforms in the transport industry in the light of the recent Bontoc and Skyway tragedies, involving the Florida and Don Mariano Marcos bus lines. Strict government regulation must be placed to ensure the safety of the commuting public, who must not fall prey to unscrupulous methods of profiteering".

Pascua added, "In developed countries, safety measures are strictly enforced both in state-owned and privatized mass transportation systems. Vehicles, machines and instruments used in public transport should conform to government standards. More so, transport workers must enjoy sufficient wages and benefits, shorter working hours and humane conditions of work. They do not hesitate to invest on safety because life is more precious than property".

"Unfortunately, in our country, regulation of mass transport to ensure public safety is almost non-existent. Government intervention is exacting only on franchising issues as it is more concerned with collecting various fees from capitalists in the transport industry. The LTFRB and LTO, both widely recognized to be among the most corrupt and bureaucratic agencies in government, should be reorganized and reformed," he added.

At the protest, transport workers, cause-oriented groups and supporters of the late Tado Jimenez carried placards that read: "Regulasyon, hindi korapsyon sa transport industry", "Kaligtasan muna bago tubo ng kapitalista", "Hustisya para kay Tado at lahat ng biktima".

To conclude, Ronnie Luna, vice-president of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) asked, "How many more innocent lives have to be lost to a poorly-regulated, profit oriented transport system? How long will we endure badly-maintained vehicles that continue to threaten the lives of the people? The rightful answers to these questions are not terms of money, sales and costs. It is a question of life-and-death. People before profit"!

The transport group PMT is an affiliate of the socialist BMP.

--------------------------
Contact Persons:
Larry Pascua, PMT Secretary-General 09052050031
Ronnie Luna, BMP Vice President 09088957307

Workers picketed ERC

PRESS RELEASE
January 27, 2014

Workers say resignation of ERC Chair Ducut is not enough:

No real regulation unless EPIRA is repealed
and energy regulating body is reorganized and democratized

MEMBERS of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) picketed the offices of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in Pasig City this morning. The protesters are calling for the reorganization of the ERC, not just the resignation of its chair, Zenaida Ducut, a former representative of Pampanga and believed to be an ally of the Arroyos.

BMP National President Leody de Guzman said, "The removal of Ducut from the ERC is not enough. It will not reduce even a single centavo from extremely costly power rates now plaguing the Filipino people. Meralco's $0.25/kwh is now the fifth highest in the world”.

He added, “The problem of spiraling electricity rates stems from the twin policies of privatization and deregulation, not from the personal character of the ERC chair, however repulsive she may be to this yellow administration. This dilemma started with the passage of the Electricity Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), which fully opened the doors of the power industry to the richest oligarchs in the land: Lopez, Aboitiz, Cojuangco/Ang, Ayala, George Ty, Alcantara, Manny Pangilinan, Henry Sy and Gokongwei”.

De Guzman clarified, “In a privatized industry under EPIRA, the ERC became a useless ornament to rein in power rates. In actuality, it was an Energy DEREGULATION Commission that could not perform its supposed mandate as a regulatory body. It became an accomplice and ally of corporate interests”.

At the picket, protesters mimicked Makapili traitors by wearing straw bags (bayong) with the slogans “ERC: Tuta ng Kapitalista!” and “ERC: Kasabwat sa Mahal na Kuryente!”. According to De Guzman, the BMP intended to expose the treachery of ERC commissioners who have sacrificed their countrymen to the altars of corporate profit.

“Even if we appoint a saint to replace the much-despised Ducut, government would be virtually powerless to the oligarchs in the power industry as long as EPIRA remains enforced and the ERC is not reformed,” he explained.

The labor leader proposed that the majority of the ERC Board should come from people's organizations, from representatives from workers, farmers, urban poor, professionals, academe, entrepreneurs and other basic sectors. He concluded, “The underlying motive beneath the clamor for the resignation of Ducut is the people’s rage against excessive power rates. It is driven by justice not by simple bloodlust against a perceived incompetent public official. The most fitting conclusion to this controversy is for the Aquino administration to initiate the first steps towards regulating and controlling the power industry, not just to replace a pro-Gloria bureaucrat with a lackey of the Liberal Party”. #