Labor groups to hold Bonifacio Day protest on Nov. 30

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 28) — Despite moving the commemoration of Bonifacio Day to Nov. 27, labor groups said they will still troop to Malacañang during the birth anniversary of national hero Andres Bonifacio on Nov. 30 to raise labor issues.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Alliance of Genuine Labor Organizations (AGLO), National Confederation of Labor (NCL) and the All Workers Unity (AWU) are expected to join the protest on Thursday.

They will march from the gates of Malacañang in Mendiola to assemble on Kalaw Avenue.

«Masama ang loob natin kasi binago ng Malacañang ang ika-160 (taon) na kaarawan ni Andres Bonifacio,» AGLO General Secretary Ed Laurencio said.

[Translation: We feel bad because Malacañang changed the 160th (year) birthday of Andres Bonifacio.]

«Hindi tayo papayag na si Bongbong Marcos ay balahurain nya yung araw ni Andres Bonifacio,» BMP's Luke Espiritu added. «Kaya dalawa ang mobilisasyon ng mga grupo ng manggagawa, ngayong (Nov.) 27 at meron sa Nov. 30.»

[Translation: We will not allow Bongbong Marcos to spoil Andres Bonifacio's day. So there are two mobilizations of labor groups, today (Nov.) 27 and there will be another one on Nov. 30.]

The groups said they will continue to assert calls to increase take-home pay, family living wage, and reestablishment of a national minimum wage.

Bonifacio's fight, they said, is the fight of the working class against what they claim are repressive laws, contractualization, low wages, and high prices of goods.

«Mahalaga na itaas ang sahod ng lahat ng manggagawang Pilipino regardless kung siya ay kontraktwal o regular,» KMU Secretary General Jerome Adonis stressed.

[Translation: It is important to raise the wages of all Filipino workers whether they are contractual or regular.]

CNN Philippines' senior correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.