Union alliance formed to back P125 wage hike

Militant labor unions formed an alliance over the weekend, an alliance meant to address rising costs of living by pushing for a P125 daily wage hike. The alliance, called “Unity for P125," is seeking the passage of House Bill 3475 to benefit minimum wage earners. “(Filipino) workers and their families need to cope ... with the deepening poverty caused by high prices in the country. Such coping mechanisms must be initiated by our government, (this is) its moral and social obligation," group spokesman Larry Jaca said in an article posted Saturday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. He said workers can no longer wait for President Benigno Aquino III's condition that another round of wage hikes be considered once inflation hits five percent. Militants initially pushed for a P125 hike in daily wages in 1999, when the Asian financial crisis was still felt. The "Unity for P125" claims to have as members trade unions in Metro Manila. These trade unions include:

• University of the Philippines Hotel Workers Union (UHWU);
• Pepsi Cola Labor Unity (PCLU);
• Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa South Supermarket (SMSSM);
• Comfoods Employees Labor Association (CELA);
• Bleustar Workers Labor Union (BWLU);
• Journal Employees Union (JEU);
• Aksyon Manggagawa;
• Kilusang Mayo Uno National Capital Region (KMU-NCR);
• Koalisyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Komunidad (KMK);
• Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap – NCR (Kadamay-NCR);
• Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon (SMK);
• ANGLO-NCR;
• Wage Hike Network;
• Bagong Alyansang Makabayan National Capital Region (Bayan-NCR);
• Gabriela NCR; and
• Sining Bugkos.

Jaca said the group will launch different activities to gather more support for their cause. — AYA/TJD, GMA News