20,000 protesters to join Bicol caravan on Labor Day

LEGAZPI CITY – Around 20,000 members of various militant groups are expected to stage protest actions in capital cities and towns of Bicol as the country observes Labor Day on Wednesday.

Dan Balucio, secretary general of Bayan Bicol, said Bayan Muna, together with Anak Pawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusan Magbubukid, AnakBayan, and Condor-Piston transport group, would call for the abolition of the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB), legislative wage increase, end of labor contractualization, and the elimination of excise tax on fuels.

He said aside from the caravans on Wednesday morning, rallies would also be held at the Cory Aquino Park in Daraga, Albay; Plaza Quezon in Naga City, Camarines Sur; Daet town Plaza, in Camarines Norte; Sorsogon Capitol grounds in Sorsogon City; Magallanes Plaza in Masbate City; and in Virac, Catanduanes.

Balucio said the group would press for an additional standard wage

increase of P750 and also the abolition of the RTWPB as this, according to

him, do not serve its purpose as they were employer biased.

“Bicol workers are clamoring for a standard wage and to address this problem we are calling on our lawmakers to pass a national legislative salary increase law,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday.

He said they would also demand for the end of contractualization in both private and public sectors and the scrapping of the excise tax on fuel. /jpv

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