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State workers say no to Cha-Cha, enough of Gloria
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 06:30.
Makati City, December 12, 2008—State workers under the banner of the militant center for government employees, Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) joined the thousands of protesters against the proposed change in the Charter, today, saying that it will endanger the nation’s public service sector. They added that the government employees will not be a party to prolong the administration of Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo.
Ferdinand R. Gaite, COURAGE’s national president, said that Charter Change (Cha-Cha) will speed-up the privatization of the key government agencies that bring essential and basic services to the Filipino people.
“Foreign companies are salivating on the prospects of entering, owning and controlling strategic and basic services and utilities through the change in our Charter that will allowing them to do so. Aside from the already existing structures and facilities, they are assured of a captive market and thus super profits. They’re now starting in the agriculture and housing sector: National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration, and other food-related agencies, National Housing Authority and other shelter agencies. They want these all privatized and be sold to transnational and multinational corporations. Even the social welfare and health services are being targeted. If this will be the case, expect much higher prices and more inaccessible services,” he said.
Gaite added that the government workers have had enough of the administration of president Arroyo and would not allow another term extension. “It would mean more years of salary freeze, unjust working conditions and violations of our rights as workers. We have had enough of extra judicial killings which have claimed the lives of our union leaders and members”.
The leader stressed “We called on our members nationwide to join the anti-charter change protests in key cities like Iloilo, Baguio, Bacolod City, Davao, etc…”
At the rally in Makati, among those who joined the rally were employees from the National food Authority; Philippine Fisheries Development Authority; MMDA; the Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Labor, Social welfare and Development, trade and industry, agrarian reform and Finance; Sandiganbayan; Makati City Hall, Quezon City Hall, National Housing Authority, National Printing Office, Intramuros Administration, NPDC and the employees of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. (Press Release)
Ferdinand R. Gaite, COURAGE’s national president, said that Charter Change (Cha-Cha) will speed-up the privatization of the key government agencies that bring essential and basic services to the Filipino people.
“Foreign companies are salivating on the prospects of entering, owning and controlling strategic and basic services and utilities through the change in our Charter that will allowing them to do so. Aside from the already existing structures and facilities, they are assured of a captive market and thus super profits. They’re now starting in the agriculture and housing sector: National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration, and other food-related agencies, National Housing Authority and other shelter agencies. They want these all privatized and be sold to transnational and multinational corporations. Even the social welfare and health services are being targeted. If this will be the case, expect much higher prices and more inaccessible services,” he said.
Gaite added that the government workers have had enough of the administration of president Arroyo and would not allow another term extension. “It would mean more years of salary freeze, unjust working conditions and violations of our rights as workers. We have had enough of extra judicial killings which have claimed the lives of our union leaders and members”.
The leader stressed “We called on our members nationwide to join the anti-charter change protests in key cities like Iloilo, Baguio, Bacolod City, Davao, etc…”
At the rally in Makati, among those who joined the rally were employees from the National food Authority; Philippine Fisheries Development Authority; MMDA; the Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Labor, Social welfare and Development, trade and industry, agrarian reform and Finance; Sandiganbayan; Makati City Hall, Quezon City Hall, National Housing Authority, National Printing Office, Intramuros Administration, NPDC and the employees of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. (Press Release)