| Press Statements |
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WORKERS OF HYATT REGENCY MANILA ON STRIKE! - May 10 Hyatt Hotel Harassed Its Own Employees Workers Calls for Congressional Inquiry into Maynilad's Abandonment of Obligation - 23 April 2002 Gma reveals contempt for 100 years of trade union struggle - 10 April 2002 |
5 April 2002 Meralco
a blackmailer! - APL “The MERALCO is blackmailing the people to undermine mounting public protest against its petition for power rate increase,” Daniel L. Edralin, Chairperson of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), declared in response to MERALCO’s statement printed in one of the major dailies quoting Rafael Andrada, the power company’s treasurer, that their services would “deteriorate” if it did not get a power rate increase. It is not surprising that in seeking for a power rate hike, the Lopez Group would use the same line of argument it used when it asked for water rate increase – that the country would experience utility service crisis once their demand for rate increase would not be granted. This manifests their inability and incompetence to provide effective utility service to the people. “Obviously, they don’t know how to run a business except under conditions of monopoly,” Daniel L. Edralin, APL Chairperson said. “Their expertise lies not in effective management but on how to rake in more billions by sucking up and bleeding dry their captive market – the working people,” he added. Unfortunately, even Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appears to have swallowed this argument hook line and sinker! Perhaps she wants to assure that the Lopezes would be on her side come 2004 national elections. It is obvious then whose interest she is truly protecting. The Lopez Group of Companies owns the Manila Electric Co. It also owns the Maynilad Water Service Inc. that supplies water from Manila and Quezon City to other lowland parts of Cavite. The water company, together with the Manila Water Co. (owned by the Ayala’s) increased water rates only last January despite increasing it three times last year. |
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Alliance of Progressive Labor
(APL) 2002 | |