APL and KONTRA said the government proved that it could do things if it chooses to and many were in fact impressed by the government’s determination to exact accountability from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when it pulled all the stops to prevent her from escaping and arrest her.

“Finally, his government is making good on one of his major campaign promises. But whatever happened to President Aquino’s other promises to his bosses – the masses? Where are the promised reforms that would benefit the masses? More than a year after being elected, all his campaign promises remain unfulfilled. Worse, instead of generating decent and secure jobs, the government is now supporting the destruction of regular jobs.,” said Josua Mata, APL Secretary General.

APL criticized PNoy for siding with the Lucio Tan in the labor problem of Philippine Airlines, saying this only reveals “PNoy’s loyalty to his own class – the oppressive class.”

“The President chose to coddle the tyrant Lucio Tan who is currently bullying its workers to accept the outsourcing of Philippine Airlines, even if it entails clear violations of its collective bargaining agreement. Left unchecked, this will open the floodgates for massive outsourcing and directly threaten the job security of the remaining regular workers around the country,” Mata explained.

In a statement released to the media today, APL also hit the President who they said, had no qualms praising investors such as Hanjin Heavy Industries in Subic where workers are prevented from forming their union. “The company, claiming that its more than 20,000 workers are all contractual employees, should be made liable for having shoddy health and safety safe operations that has resulted to successive deaths among its workers,” Mata added.

Around 10,000 workers will hold protest actions in Manila, Naga, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Cotabato, Cagayan De Oro and in other parts of the country on November 30.

 http://www.apl.org.ph/