| 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 |
1 May 2002 Thousands Marched to
Celebrate the Labor Centennial and to demand the country’s withdrawal from
the WTO! GMA hounded by
protesters in Cebu and Davao! Workers vow to fight
water and power rate increases, oil price hikes and added taxes! Tens of thousands of
workers belonging to the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) today poured
into the streets of Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao and Cagayan de Oro to
commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the Philippine labor movement,
press for the strengthening of workers’ and trade union rights and called
for the country’s withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (WTO). “Massive unemployment,
contractualization, low wages, skyrocketing water and electricity rates,
oil price hikes and added taxes… is this the government’s nasty way of
thanking the labor movement after a 100 years of struggles?,” Daniel L.
Edralin, APL chairperson, sarcastically said. Ironically, while the
government is bent on fast tracking trade liberalization in the country,
countries of the North have increasingly resorted to protectionist
measures in violation of WTO rules just so they can save their workers’
jobs. For the first quarter of 2002, 500 local firms were forced to shut
down displacing more than 10,000 workers. “This situation is a complete
reversal of what the government promised us before joining the WTO in
1995,” Edralin said. “The WTO benefits the rich countries, while leaving
the poor countries devastated. Thus we see no reason for us to stay in the
WTO any minute longer,” he added. In Manila alone, 15,000
workers converged in Welcome Rotonda and marched to Mehan Garden.
Representatives Etta Rosales (Akbayan party list) and Del de Guzman
(Marikina, lone district) and a number of activist delegates from the
International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) from Asia and Pacific joined
the marchers in protesting the evils of capitalist globalization.
Similar mobilizations
were simultaneously held in other key cities. In Cebu, UP President
Francisco Nemenzo joined 3,000 workers who marched from Fuente Osmeña to
Gaisano South. In Davao, 5,000 workers marched around the city. The Cebu
and Davao marchers also picketed President Arroyo’s visit in the two
cities. At least 2,000 marchers joined the APL-led rally in Cagayan de
Oro. |
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Alliance of Progressive Labor
(APL) 2002 | |