Satur hits Malacañang for moving Labor Day celeb to May 3

Bayan Muna Rep. Saturnino “Satur" Ocampo on Thursday scored Malacañang's decision to move the observance of Labor Day to May 3, when it is traditionally celebrated worldwide on May 1. “Malacanang has no right to do this. May 1 is International Labor Day—It’s a sacred day for workers all over the world and even the merest suggestion of changing the date for its celebration is sacrilege," Ocampo said in a press statement. Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza signed on Wednesday on behalf of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Proclamation No. 2043 declaring May 3 a non-working holiday to commemorate Labor Day which falls on a Saturday. (See: Palace declares May 3 a non-working holiday) In recent years, the Arroyo government has increasingly followed the practice of moving traditional holidays, when they fall on a weekend, to the nearest Monday or Friday in order to create a longer weekend, reportedly in the hope of encouraging consumer spending. This practice has been tagged as the so-called “policy on holiday economics." "Then again, it’s not surprising that President Arroyo does not respect what May 1 stands for. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration has done nothing good for Filipino workers," he said. The lawmaker said the economic welfare of workers has greatly deteriorated under the present government. "This latest insult is only one among so many others this government has already made." Despite the change of date for observing Labor Day, Ocampo said workers will push through with their protest actions on Saturday. “There is no stopping workers from taking to the streets on May 1. This is the day in the year wherein all workers declare their unity and show their strength as a class powerful enough to change society," he added. Ocampo, who is running for Senate under the Nacionalista Party, said that if he wins in the senatorial race on May 10, he will fight for the abolition of the so-called “wage rationalization" policy and push for the abolition of the regional wage boards. He said the country must return to the system of a unified, across-the-board wage standard for workers nationwide. "Rationalization has kept wages down despite continued and increasing workers’ productivity. This has denied workers their just yearly wage adjustments," he said.—JV, GMANews.TV