Ka Oris: Still Alive and Kicking
Contrary to the statements of the miitary, Jorge Madlos, known popularly as Ka Oris, is alive and well. In a statement, he denounced the military for their "lies." Related to…
In Banana Plantations, Soldiers Bust Unions, Harass Workers
An international fact-finding mission says the military is being used by plantations in Southern Mindanao to harass and intimidate workers from forming or joining unions.
DAVAO CITY (davaotoday.com) ? A fact-finding mission composed of delegates from several countries questioned on Friday the Philippine military?s participation in union-busting and intimidation of workers in plantations in Southern Mindanao.
The delegates, who completed on Friday a four-day fact-finding mission in a banana plantation in Compostela Valley province, said the military is being used by plantations to harass workers, particularly when the workers? union is engaged in campaigns to improve wages and work conditions.
?We?ve heard complaints by the workers about soldiers present during union negotiations,? said Holly Patterson, a delegate from Australia. At one point, she told reporters in a press conference on Friday, soldiers confiscated the original copy of the union?s collective bargaining agreement.
Arroyo, the press and international pressure
The killings of journalists have long been the focus of attention of international media groups. But instead of responding positively, this regime has done nothing but deny, deny, deny the fact that the Philippines is the second-most dangerous country in the world for journalists, next to Iraq. ?
A bit of good news today: the US Senate has put more pressure on the Arroyo regime regarding the killings of journalists. In an inquiry, U.S. senators expressed their concern about the deteriorating press-freedom situation in the Philippines.
?Democracy depends on the free flow of information to the public, which depends on a press free to do its work without government intimidation,? said Richard Lugar, the chairman of the foreign-relations committee, as quoted by the Inquirer.
Thousands March for Better Wages, Arroyo’s Ouster
Thousands of workers and activists took to the streets on Monday, Labor Day, to demand better wages and the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The massive protest rally was led…
Duterte Urges Congress to Pass Wage-Hike Law, Denounces Abusive Companies
?There could never be any peace if the people are hungry,? Duterte told thousands of workers at Labor Day rally
Related stories:
* Arroyo Backs Reasonable Wage Increase
* Destabilization Plots, 1017 Threat Meant to Undermine Wage Demands: KMU
By Germelina A. Lacorte
davaotoday.com
DAVAO CITY — An agitated Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took centerstage at the Labor Day rally here today, Monday, and called on Congress to legislate the long-awaited demand by workers for a 125-peso across-the-board wage increase.
?I understand how hard it is for workers to survive at this very difficult time,? Duterte said. ?If companies try to scare us with closures once we increase the workers’ wages, then let them close! If they want to get out of the country, then let them get out!? the mayor said, to the delight of the crowd at the Rizal park composed mostly of workers.