Media Release August 15, 2000 STATE WORKERS WHACK MEDALLA'S IT’S an affront to the toiling workers who keep the wheels of the economy rolling. This is what best describes the proposal of Director-General Felipe Medalla of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), for a P11 to a maximum of P14 wage hike for workers in the private sector. Not only is the amount insignificant but also way below the worker’s demand for a P125 across the board increase. COURAGE is supporting KMU’s (Kilusang Mayo Uno) demand and is steadfast on its campaign for a P3,000 across the board salary hike for workers in the public sector. COURAGE also believed that Medalla does not only speak his own mind but merely echoes the position of the Estrada Administration regarding wage and salary adjustments. This P11 to P14 increase for the private sector workers concretely translates the earlier Malacaņang-proposed 5% salary increase for government employees next year. Five percent of an average salary of a state worker is equivalent to P200/month or P10 to 12 /day increase. A token offer, which COURAGE flatly rejected. Contrary to Medalla’s claim that any wage hike bigger than P14 will further inflation and therefore inimical to the economy, a substantial wage/salary adjustment will benefit even "pump prime" our crisis-laden economy. Boosting the purchasing power of our workers will spur greater demand for goods and will then require more production. Moreover, it is unfair to attribute inflation and price increases to wage/salary adjustments. It is a fact, that even without wage or salary increases, inflation has consistently surged. The government is putting the blame on us workers while on the other hand it is always on its knees with the oil cartels. For this reason, government must brace itself for bigger, widespread and intensified protest actions both from the public and private sector workers. We have already consolidated our positions and anytime now can replicate, even double the protest actions we did last year in support of our campaign for P3,000 across the board increase for government employees and P125 for workers in the private sector. # |
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