Solidarity message to BMP - from ICLS

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE FROM ICLS

From Saturo Yamada, General Secretary of ICLS (International Center for Labor Solidarity)

Good morning. 

I attended the 5th BMP congress as well as the PMT Congress held in Baguio, January 2011. Today, I feel very fortunate to be able to attend this BMP congress again. So I thank you for your invitation.

I want to thank Mr. Leody and BMP members as a General Secretary of ICLS. ICLS holds a labor forum once a year. Last year, ICLs holds the labor forum in Manila, and sisters and brothers in BMP helped us prepare and operate the forum including the opening presentation by young workers of BMP. And not just the presentation and operational work, but the Filipino comrades actively engaged in discussions as well as submitting a motion about the issues covering the economy and earthly environment. Thank you so much for making the forum even more meaningful.

A prior to the forum, BMP members took forum attendees to the picket line, which BMP members working at a glass bottle factory had been fighting. And there the president gave us a report on their struggles.

Last time too, when I was invited to the BMP and PMT Congresses, the workers took me to frontline of workers' struggles. I listened to the stories of those comrades who were fighting with their families living in the tent set up in front of the factory.

I also went to the shop operated by workers. I was very touched by the ways of your struggles using creative mind and more than anything else fighting with such positive attitude even though you are oppressed by capitalists.

With this lesson learned from the Filipino Comrades in my heart, I am working on Internationality movement as well as domestic movement in Japan.

Oppressive actions taken by capitalist have spread the economical gap and poverty not only in the Philippines but also in countries all over the world which led to many serious problems.

In Japan, too, we have faced attacks including unfair arrests of union members made up by the police and dismissals, yet protect the union and continue fighting. BMP take support action for us many times. Thank you for your support.

Capitalist only acts for endless profits seeking and competition. Our strongest weapon against such capitalists is us being able to fight towards common goals unified, solidified, learned from each other, discussed among ourselves, and sometimes even shared the differences in opinions among us including printing out the mistakes made by our comrades. ICLS is the organization with such strength and translates an idea into action.

As economy is now global, problems workers face are also global. Now more than ever, workers around the world need to learn from each other's experiences in order to use the lesson for our own struggle. The world calls for true international solidarity.

I wish you all the success of the Congress by establishing BMP's policy and formation for upcoming struggles. And please continue to share your success and agenda with ICLS family and the workers of the world!

Let's fight together!

This solidarity message was read during the second day of the 7th BMP Regular Congress at Skyrise Hotel in Baguio City, January 24-25, 2015.

Solidarity message to BMP - from Venezuelan Embassy

Embajada de la Republica Bolivariana
    de Venezuela de Filipinas

MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY

The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela would like to express its fecilitations to the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Solidarity of Filipino Workers) on its 7th National Congress.

This Mission shares the solidarity of the Bolivarian ideology of modern socialism to the Filipinos specially the working class to uphold and keep equality and brotherhood amongst our people.

As the Venezuelan people fought for its freedom against the capitalist form of agression, you too shall prevail trials of hard work and struggle. Your solidarity and deep sense of nationalism shall put you to the beacon of happiness and forefront of success.

As our beloved Simon Bolivar once said, "Para el logro del triunfo siempre ha sido indispendable pasar por la senda de los sacrificios." (To achieve the victory has always been essential to move along the path of sacrifice.) With these, Venezuela stands before you... Independencia y Patria Socialista! Independence and Socialist Homeland!

Chavez vive, la lucha sigue!! Chavez lives, the struggle continues!!

In solidarity,

(with seal of Embajada de la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela de Filipinas)

This solidarity message was read during the second day of the 7th BMP Regular Congress at Skyrise Hotel in Baguio City, January 24-25, 2015.

Solidarity Message to BMP - from SENTRO

Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO)
LEARN Workers' House, 94 Scout Delgado St., Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City
www.sentro.org

23 January 2015

Comrades in BMP,

Militante at maka-sosyalistang pagbati mula sa Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa para sa Kongreso ngayong Enero 24-25 ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino!

SENTRO warmly congratulates the members and leaders of the BMP for your Congress today, which signifies another milestone and advance for your organization and the broad labor and social movement inside and outside the country.

Since BMP's Founding Congress in 1993, your organization has shown its wavering commitment to defend and promote workers' and trade union rights, to press forward the welfare of the masses, to boost labor and multisectoral solidarity, to uphold non-parochial nationalist ideals, and to propagate and enrich a socialism that is not Stalinist and not reformist. These, in turn, have prompted the APL, and later SENTRO, to forge linkages with BMP - from the initial issue-based cooperation to relatively loose collaboration in the labor coalition NAGKAISA! and to a more cohesive BMP-SENTRO partnership in various labor and social advocacies and campaigns.

In this regard, SENTRO lauds and fully appreciates your Congress theme "Palawakin at Palalimin ang Sosyalistang Kilusan sa Hanay ng mga Manggagawa!" There is indeed a need to reassert and reinvigorate the historical, ideologial and even "symbiotic" relationship between socialist and trade union movements. Socialist trade unionists must strive to end the "separation" or the dilution of the close connection in the past between socialism and trade unionism due to relentless capitalist suppression and co-optation or divide-and-rule tactics. We should also intensify our struggle against the current global neoliberalism for it has further widened the divide between the great and noble socialist and trade union principles and aspirations.

Likewise, it is truly timely to revitalize socialism among the workers. After all, the capitalist system - in its rehashed neoliberal face - has never been exposed as it is now. But workers need a clearer alternative or understanding of socialism. Hence, the need for strenthening and developing socialist education, action and unity within the labor movement - without both the Stalinist and reformist errors of the past. BMP, SENTRO and many other workers' organizations could very well work together in this effort.

Mabuhay ang BMP!
Mabuhay ang NAGKAISA!
Mabuhay ang kilusang paggawa!
Mabuhay ang sosyalistang kaisipan!

This solidarity message was read during the second day of the 7th BMP Regular Congress at Skyrise Hotel in Baguio City, January 24-25, 2015.

Solidarity Message to BMP - from Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)

FREEDOM FROM DEBT COALITION
11 Matimpiin St., Brgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100
Tel.: +63-2-9211985; Telefax: +63-2-9246399

Enero 24, 2015

PAHAYAG NG PAKIKIISA AT PAGBATI MULA SA FDC

Isang mainit na pagbati at taas-kamaong pagpupugay ang ipinaaabot ng Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) sa matagumpay na Kongreso ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). Kaisa ninyo ang FDC sa mga laban at adhikain ng manggagawa at ng sambayanan.

Ang BMP ay mahigpit na kapitbisig ng FDC sa mga pakikibaka para sa hustisyang pang-ekonomiya, kalayaan at kaunlaran ng sambayanan, at hindi ng iilan. Sa loob ng mahigit 25 taon sama-sama tayo, sampu ng iba pang kasapi at kaugnayan ng FDC sa paglaban at pagsagka sa mga kontra-mamamayan at dagdag na pahirap na mga polisiya at programa ng mga nagdaang mga rehimen matapos maibagsak ang diktadurang Marcos - hanggang sa pamamahalang lubak at baluktot na daan ng gobyernong Aquino. Isa sa mga nanguna at nangahas manawagan ng pagtakwil at paglitis sa kurap, elitista at kontra-mamamayang gobyernong ito - ang BMP, at kasama nito sa kalaunan, ang FDC - sa harap ng pagpatumpik-tumpik at pag-aalanganin ng ilang mga "progresibo" kunong mga organisasyon at grupo.

Laging kasama ng FDC ang BMP sa parlamentaryo ng lansangan at naging mahigpit na kasama sa mga laban sa paglalansag ng neoliberal at elitistang polisiya at adyenda na sinusulong ng bulok na sistema at naghaharing iilan, at patuloy na nambubusabos at naglugmok sa papatinding kahirapan at pang-aapi sa sanlaksang manggagawa at mga anakpawis ng bayan.

Hindi matatawaran ang ambag ng BMP para sa pagsusulong ng malawak at pambansang kilusan para sa kalayaan, kaginhawaan at kaunlaran na nakabatay sa hustisya at pagkakapantay-pantay. Ang mahigpit na samahan natin ay napapanday at patuloy na pinatitibay ng mga pagsubok, tagumpay at mga aral na nagsisilbing tanglaw at inspirasyon natin na patuloy na magsikhay sa ibayong pagsulong hanggang tagumpay.

Hangad namin ang tagumpay ng inyong pambansang kongreso. Hangad din namin ang mas matibay na samahan natin at higit na sama-samang pagsulong at mas malaking tagumpay. Kapitbisig tayo para sa mas ibayong laban tungo sa pambansa at panlipunang paglaya. Hanggang sa makamit natin ang lipunang wala nang pagsasamantala at pang-aapi ng iilan sa kapwa, at lubusang lumaya ang mga anakpawis at uring manggagawa mula sa tanikala ng pagkaalipin.

Asahan ninyo na lagi kaming kasama sa inyong laban, pagsubok at tagumpay!

Mabuhay ang uring manggagawa! Mabuhay ang Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino!


(nilagdaan)
Sammy Gamboa
Pangkalahatang Kalihim, Freedom from Debt Coalition

This solidarity message was read during the second day of the 7th BMP Regular Congress at Skyrise Hotel in Baguio City, January 24-25, 2015.

Workers to hug ‘invisible trees’ to protest SM’s profit-driven destruction of nature in Baguio

PRESS RELEASE

January 25, 2015

Workers to hug ‘invisible trees’ to protest SM’s profit-driven destruction of nature in Baguio

Around 100 members of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, a socialist labor center composed of trade unions and other workers’ groups, will march up to SM Baguio today to hug the trees cut down by SM’s owners last week.

The protest action seeks to dramatize the groups’ opposition to what they called the “profit-driven destruction of nature” in the City of Pines.

“What we’re seeing here today is just the latest incident of the escalating violence that large capitalist oligarchs like the Sys have been perpetrating against Nature in pursuit of profit,” said Leody de Guzman, president of BMP.

“The trees that were felled down and that we will be hugging here in memory are just the latest victims of a system that is driven to constantly and systematically exploit not just people but also nature,” de Guzman added.

The BMP called for an immediate investigation of the tree-killings and for the resignation of government officials who allowed the killings to happen.

It also called on workers around the country to rally behind the Baguio community, and other communities being attacked by profit-driven natural destruction.#

Militants hit gov’t plan for consumers to bear Napocor settlement

Press Release

06 December 2014

Militants hit gov’t plan for consumers to bear Napocor settlement

“TOTALLY unacceptable!,” this was the reaction of militant labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) to the government’s plan to let the consumers bear the brunt of the Supreme Court-sanctioned  60.2 billion peso labor dispute settlement between Napocor and labor union, Napocor Drivers and Mechanics Association (NPC-DAMA).

Facing the Senate Committee on Energy the other day, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima proposed that the consumers will be the ones to pay the illegally dismissed workers their back wages.

In an emailed statement to the media, BMP accused Petilla of trying to hit two birds with one stone. First, he tries to blame the labor union for the power hike if ever the garnishment of Napocor assets will proceed and second for passing the workers’ claim to the consumers coupled with his patented blackmails of power outages. At both instances, Petilla is evading the issue of his liability and his  incompetence.

The labor group cited that Petilla’s incompetence streak was first manifested in the simultaneous maintenance shutdown of power plants causing a spike in electricity prices, the failed promise to electrify Tacloban before Christmas last year and just recently for his alarming statements that a power supply crisis is to take place next year and now with his proposal to implement grossly unjust policy. 

“Petiilla and Purisima have no sense of fairness or even logic to implement an unjust imposition. Firstly, the consumers had no participation whatsoever in the mismanagement of the Napocor assets for them to pass it on to the consumers? Moreover, there is no connection legal or otherwise between the consumers and the labor case of NPC- DAMA,” said Gie Relova of BMP.

“With the privatization of Napocor assets almost complete, the debt stock of Government has not been dented, it remains to be standing at 16 billion US Dollars from 2001 up to today, if that is not mismanagement then I don’t know what is,” he added.

The militants say that such a proposal may constitute as grave abuse of authority and will be consulting lawyers on its legality as well as the accountability of the PSALM officials.

“By all means, the dismissed workers must receive what is rightfully theirs. Same as us, they are but victims to the privatization schemes this government has been peddling for the past two decades but this must not be the burden of ordinary electricity consumers but by those accountable for such mismanagement, Relova clarified.

The BMP likewise echoed the call of the Freedom from Debt Coalition that those who benefitted from the EPIRA Law must be the ones that must shoulder the burden of compensating the claims of the workers and not the ordinary consumers who have long been bled dry by the deregulation of the power industry.

EPIRA to blame

“Time and again, this present dilemma can be easily rooted to the EPIRA. This is but another manifestation of the colossal failure of the EPIRA and the people shall continuously be haunted by until it is repealed,” Relova asserted. 

“To begin with, ordinary wage-earners were the most defiant opposition to the EPIRA law and the consequential privatization of the Napocor assets because we always knew that retrenchment was next step once it was enacted. Lo and behold, we were right. The oppositionists to EPIRA have been vindicated, the labor leader explained.

The BMP has long called for the junking of EPIRA and the nationalization of the power industry to veer away from the profit orientation it has taken.#

Militants welcome Ombudsman decision against corrupt labor arbiter, calls for "lifestyle checks" and "thorough cleansing" in NLRC

PRESS RELEASE

December 4, 2014

Militants welcome Ombudsman decision against corrupt labor arbiter, calls for "lifestyle checks" and "thorough cleansing" in NLRC

Socialist labor center Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), as part of the broad labor coalition Koalisyon Kontra Korupsyon (KKK), welcomes the indictment of labor arbiter Jesus Orlando Quinones by the Office of the Ombudsman for violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

According to the Ombudsman, “Records show that Quinones offered to facilitate the reversal of a decision rendered by the NLRC in a labor dispute in exchange for P2 million.”

Quinones’ act of “soliciting a fee in exchange for assistance in obtaining a reversal of a decision was unquestionably intimately connected with his official functions since he himself was its author.”

Ombudsman’s findings proved and verified KKK’s long-time campaign that indeed, corruption exists in the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and true enough, corruption involves millions of pesos.

KKK has previously exposed the NLRC as a “millionaires' club” after the release of their 2013 Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), which show that all labor commissioners and arbiters have wealth accumulated wealth more than what they can accumulate based on their salaries.

Leody de Guzman, BMP president said, "The Ombudsman decision exposes the well-established modus operandi of unscrupulous arbiters at our labor courts. They act as devious fixers, auctioning their decisions to the highest bidder. Aggrieved workers, thus, suffer a double whammy of injustice - at the workplace and at the NLRC. Worse, the salaries of corrupt labor officials come from withholding taxes and value added taxes borne by salaried employees".

"The BMP is calling for lifestyle checks of NLRC arbiters and commissioners. A thorough cleansing is imperative if the commission wants to regain the trust and confidence of distressed workers, who regard the labor courts as the last resort against maltreatment from abusive employers," he concluded. #