Breaking recent tradition of marching together with other Labor groups, the Federation of Free Workers marked Labor Day 2003 by holding a family affair.

Unions and sectoral organizations affiliated with the FFW converged at the Federation headquarters and held a peaceful rally along Taft Avenue (a major thoroughfare in Manila) before reaching Remedios Circle (near the historic Malate church) for an outdoor solidarity program.

This year’s theme revolved around the urgent call of the times “Strengthen the solidarity of unions and basic sectors; rise up to the challenge of Globalization!”

Some 5,000 FFW members including affiliate organizations of informal workers, farmers, youth, women and poor communities expressed their readiness to rise up to the challenges of the times in unity, as workers all over the country celebrated the centennial of the labor movement in the Philippines.

No to strike ban

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, keynote speaker of the program assured workers that it will shoot down any proposal to institutionalize moratoriums on CBAs and strikes.

“The Secretary’s pronouncement is a welcome development,” said Mr. Jabar who was elated over the announcement of the Labor Secretary.

“Significant strides have been made from the days of US colonial rule but workers today are directly being threatened by an unpatriotic business organization,” said Ramon Jabar, National President of the FFW.

A week ago, a group of Filipino-Chinese businessmen proposed a ban on strikes for ten years in exchange for jobs. “They are trying to hold hostage trade unions while blackmailing the government into agreeing to ban strikes,” Jabar said.

“Without the option to strike, the union’s greatest weapon against greedy capitalists, management can easily drag down wages and terminate workers at will” he added.

Aside from preserving the workers’ right to strike, FFW is pressing for job creation, speedy labor justice, promotion of women workers rights, elimination of child labor and genuine rural and urban land reform.

Overwhelming support

The outpouring of support for the FFW flattered National Vice President Allan Montaño. “It was a very pleasant surprise,” he said, noting the personalities who graced the exclusive FFW affair despite being an outdoor affair.

Aside from Sec. Sto. Tomas, also present were ILO Manila Director Werner Blenk; DepEd Undersecretary Chito Gascon, who also represented the multisectoral coalition, Bagong Bandila; the Office of the US Embassy and BATU Secretary-General Necie Lucero.

FFW leaders who have been appointed to government positions were also present. They include Mr. Fil Joson, former Undersecretary of Labor and Employment; and newly-appointed Commissioner Ernie Verceles of the National Labor Relations Commission. Atty. Sonny Matula, FFW Chief Legal Counsel who has just resigned from his post as Executive Director of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission was one of the masters of ceremonies.

FFW President Emeritus Johnny Tan, who could not make it to the activity for health reasons, reiterated the need for unity to defeat the ill effects of globalization.

Labor Code Amendments

Meanwhile, FFW leaders in the Visayas (central Philippines) celebrated Labor Day by “denouncing ambiguous and unjust proposals to amend the Labor Code”.

These provisions include: mandatory wage increase every six years covering employees in non-unionized firms; extension of CBAs from five to six years and the downgrading of management’s unfair labor practice from being a criminal offense to a mere administrative offense.

“What we need in this time of Globalization is criminalization and regulation of the contractualization scheme,” said Ms Grace Savella, FFW VP for Visayas in reference to the proposed legalization and deregulation of contractualization.

The FFW has been holding symposia and conferences related to amendments to the Labor Code, the latest of which was in February as one of the final activities of its Substantial Democracy Project.

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