PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS PROD CONGRESS ON PAY HIKE
MANILA, APRIL 28, 2008 (STAR) By Rainier Allan Ronda - The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) again called on Malacañang and Congress to speed up the enactment of a bill that seeks to increase the salaries of public school teachers amid talk of a wage increase for private sector workers.Benjo Basas, a Caloocan City teacher and national chairman of the TDC, said public school teachers should be given priority in any government move to increase the wages of workers since they have long been suffering from a low basic salary.
“The teachers are in the same condition as the private sector workers. We are both victimized by the rising prices of basic commodities with our meager salary,” Basas said in a statement.
Teachers earlier appealed to Malacañang and to legislators to immediately act on the proposed law granting them salary increase, a perennial proposal in both Houses of Congress since the 10th Congress.
“For nearly 20 years, this bill has been nothing but a tool of propaganda for so many politicians. We reiterate our appeal to all the honorable gentlemen and gentle ladies of both chambers to seriously act on this,” Basas said.
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Loren Legarda and Edgardo Angara have filed their versions of the bill in the Senate while Representatives Raul del Mar of Cebu, Mitch Cajayon of Caloocan City, Del de Guzman of Marikina, Mark Mendoza of Batangas, Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela City and Adelina Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga of Rizal have also filed their House bills regarding the matter.
“It is high time to tackle the teachers’ compensation, since we have been neglected by the government for the longest time,” Basas said.
Basas said the TDC has asked Speaker Prospero Nograles and Senate President Manuel Villar for a dialogue to discuss updates on the bill.
Meantime, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales threw his support to labor groups demanding an increase in their salaries.
Rosales told the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) News that it is the government’s “moral responsibility” to raise the workers’ minimum wages.
“We are one with them (workers) in appealing to the government for a wage hike,” he said, adding that asking for a pay hike is necessary to enable wage earners cope with increases in prices of commodities such as rice and fuel.
He called on the government to give in to the demands of the public and initiate measures toward achieving this target.
The Manila Archbishop’s appeal was also supported by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma who said that wage hike will help alleviate the problem of increasing prices of commodities.
Some labor groups are reportedly lobbying for a P60 to P80 a day wage hike, while militant workers are pushing for P125 across-the board increase.
Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Mallari of the Diocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, had proposed that the government can lower the expanded value added tax (EVAT) on the prices of basic commodities and medicines if a wage increase is not feasible at this point.
Mallari earlier said in an interview over Radio Veritas that reducing the EVAT on the prices of basic commodities and medicines is one way for minimum wage earners to cope with the rising cost of rice, electricity, gasoline, flour and canned goods.
Consuelo de bobo
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday reported that labor groups are seeking unemployment insurance as Labor Day gift for workers nationwide.
The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) meanwhile announced a Labor Day mass action dubbed as “Lakbayan Kontra Kagutuman at Kahirapan, Martsa para sa Murang Bigas at Dagdag Sahod” which will start on April 30.
Alex Aguilar, TUCP spokesman, said unemployment insurance is necessary as a precautionary measure to address possible increase in number of unemployed due to the current crisis.
“In anticipation of possible mass retrenchment due to the crisis, workers need temporary relief or some sort of financial assistance or pension while they are looking for a new job,” Aguilar explained.
Aguilar said the government could provide unemployment insurance through the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for government employees and Social Security System (SSS) for employees in private companies.
He said they would present their demand to President Arroyo during the Labor Day celebration on Thursday.
PM, on the other hand, denounced the non-wage benefits to be declared on May 1 as “mere tokens and consuelo de bobo. PM and the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) are demanding a legislated wage hike, tax exemptions for those earning below the cost of living, moratorium on demolitions, massive public employment program and re-channeling of debt payments to fund education, health, housing and social services.
Back to the streets
Kilusang Mayo Uno, for its part, denounced Malacañang’s announcement that no wage hike will be granted to workers before May 1 and promised to launch a massive nationwide protest to dramatize their position.
“This is already expected. President Gloria Arroyo is just staging a show in asking the regional wage boards to increase wages for she cannot dismiss anymore the crisis she has brought to the people,” said Prestoline Suyat, KMU spokesperson.
“The people have more reason to flock to the streets this coming May 1. It is payoff time for the regime who has continuously kept the nation in despair and scarcity.”
Suyat also slammed Mrs. Arroyo’s instruction for all regional wage boards to hold meetings on May 1 to discuss wages.
“Wage boards are only instruments to give meager, insignificant adjustment to workers. The NCR wage board, for example, only granted a P12 increase yearly on the average, and many of which are just cost of living allowances.
“Costs of goods are already rising even if workers do not receive wage hikes. This year, for example, the price of rice increased by 44 percent, fish by 14.3 percent, pork by 23 percent, chicken and vegetables by 20 percent, and fruits by 25 percent since April 2007 according to the Department of Trade and Industry itself.”
According to studies by IBON Foundation wages have only increased nominally by 18.6 percent since Mrs. Arroyo assumed office in 2001 through 2006, compared to the 37.9 percent increase in prices of basic goods in the same period.
While workers’ living conditions continue to plunge, profits of big companies in the Philippines have considerably risen.
“Income of top 1000 corporations in the country has risen by 327 percent. Manufacturing companies only spend 6.8 percent in labor cost. They can easily give a modest P125 wage adjustment and deduct this from their profits instead of increasing the price of their products.”
Suyat also called on “all congressman who still have their conscience, do something to legislate the P125 wage hike immediately. They should address the urgent and legitimate demand of their constituents.” – Mayen Jaymalin, Evelyn Macairan
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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