Not Another Ordinary Day...

ANTO COMETA

A statement we drafted (together with the Chair and Vice-chair) disseminated to all constituents of the college and forwarded to a major newspaper in the observance of Labor Day. Mabuhay ang uring manggagawa!


NOT ANOTHER ORDINARY DAY…

The SOLAIR Student Council joins the rest of the nation in the observance of Labor Day.

The salient labor concerns such as sluggish implementation of wage increases, debilitating work standards and conditions, among others have remained unresolved up to this time. And this year may not be significant, as workers are still at the brink of rising unemployment rates, poorer working conditions, higher prices of commodities and increasing contractualization of work.

The recent shortcomings of our agricultural prices strained many of our laborers to clamor for the expedient implementation of a rational wage increase to sustain their decent livelihood. We believe that the increase on the daily wages is not only timely as it has been long overdue. The Student Council sees this issue as an institutional dysfunction of the appropriate government agencies supposed to deliver the mandate for the conduct of wage reviews, whether in a state of unprecedented national crisis or not.

We call for the immediate resolution of this issue and we urge these agencies to immediately act and present a feasible wage increase structure. We clamor for a more transparent and consultative wage review process to include participation of the different sectors of the society, especially the working population. By exercising this mandate, we provide assurance for both workers and employers.

The UP SOLAIR Student Council believes that the appropriated non-wage benefits for this year’s observance of Labor Day is an insult to the ordinary workers. These token “gifts” are clear manifestations of the State’s lopsided policy towards Labor. These represent the State’s total disregard of the interests and overall well-being of the working class.

We demand for the relevant government agencies to deliver their mandate! We demand for transparent and accountable wage review process to include different sectors of the society, especially the working class! We demand for the expedient implementation of wage increase!

We call on the Arroyo Administration to act on these NOW!!!

UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations
Student Council AY 2008-2009
May 01, 2008