Labor Day protesters gather in Manila-Quezon City landmark

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

Labor groups led by Kilosang Mayo Uno call for a P125 wage hike at Welcome Rotonda. The Manila-Quezon City landmark was one of the assembly areas for the protests. The rallyists marched to Liwasang Bonifacio before noon and later headed to Liwasang Bonifacio then later to Mendiola. Video by Jean Kyle Kelly

MANILA, Philippines – Militants started gathering at Welcome Rotonda on Thursday for Labor Day protests.

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno expects thousands of workers and advocates of labor rights from various sectors of society to join the protests in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country.

Welcome Rotonda is one of the areas of convergence. Others will also gather in Monumento, Quirino, Stop N Shop, and Plaza Hernandez in the morning and then march to Liwasang Bonifacio and then to Mendiola in the afternoon.

Photo by FRANCES MANGOSING/INQUIRER.net

Protests were also set in Ilocos,Cordillera, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Panay Islands, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Western Mindanao, far south Mindanao and Eastern Mindanao.

The labor groups will protest the administration’s failure to raise workers’ wages, signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and Charter change. This year’s theme is:“Pahirap, Korap, Tuta ng Kano: Labanan at Gapiin ang Rehimeng US-Aquino!”

“Workers and advocates of workers’ rights have every reason to join this year’s Labor Day protests. Aquino has been pressing down wages, has just signed the EDCA and is pushing for Cha-cha, showing the world just who his real ‘bosses’ are,” said Roger Soluta, KMU secretary-general.

Renowned theater actress and activist Monique Wilson and international delegates to the KMU’s International Solidarity Affair, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, will also join the Labor Day protest in Manila.