Thursday, May 01, 2008
FIRST OF MAY: LABOR DAY RALLY 2008
Labor Day rallies nationwide ‘peaceful’--police - Inquirer.net
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
*
posted by Señor Enrique at 10:37 PM
8 Comments:
-
Photo Cache said... i think the labor sector is really serious. they are using a lot of red in putting their messages across. nice shots senor. are all these from one location?
-
Panaderos said...
It's ok to fight for laborers' rights as long as the labor leaders don't lose sight of the fact that companies also have a need to stay competitive to survive. Both parties should be willing to compromise. Failure to do so would spell disaster for both parties.
I personally know many laborers who lost their jobs due to the KMU's militancy and unwillingness to compromise. It's the workers that the KMU supposedly protects that suffers in the process.
In the US, the UAW is also committing the same blunder. Some experts are now saying that if the UAW fails to agree to a compromise with the auto companies, there won't be any US-made cars left 5 years from now.-
Señor Enrique said...
Not sure if you were already in NYC back then, Panaderos, when then president Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers; declaring their strike a "peril to national safety."
The striking air traffic controllers were hoping that their action would paralyze the national airline system and thus, become a powerful bargaining tool. Reagan gave them 48 hours to return to work instead, or else face being discharged from their positions.
The militants who marched yesterday -- Kilusang Mayo Uno, specifically -- argued that workers' demand for Php125 wage hike is well justified especially since many consumer goods had skyrocketed.-
Señor Enrique said...
There were many marches that simultaneously occured all over the metropolitan area, Photo Cache, but they mostly converged at Liwasang Bonifacio in front of the post office. They then marched on to Mendiola.
I started to cover one group at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo as they waited for other groupds who marched from Quezon City's Mabuhay Rotunda. I then trailed them up Quezon Bridge to Liwasang Bonifacio. The very last photo was taken at Mendiola Brdige where everyone came together.
It was torturous because of the searing temperature. I was glad I had brought plenty of drinking water with me. I felt bad for the elderly folks who joined the march.-
nutart said...
When I would see photos of the elderly folks and handicapped joining rallies, I know how serious they are about their intent to help in the numbers game. My hats off to them. Some relatives might say even how stubborn they can get even.
Your photos of protest rallies, Eric, remind me of something like the rallies of communist China---lots of red banners---coupled with that unique Filipino festive touch.
With all these rallies...I can just imagine the ones in power really have thick-faces :-)...OR these rallies keep them hopping from one solution to the other. And a lot of explaining to do... Parang hit and miss ang nangyayari!-
said... Very nice capture there Eric! Shows how much the people are serious about getting their messages across.
:D-
Señor Enrique said...
Many local folks may find these rallies nothing more than a nuisance at some point, Bernadette, especially because of the traffic snarls they create, but these actions demonstrate a healthy democracy.
What amazed me at this rally was how people braved and endured the searing heat and marched on. I thought I was the only one due to advanced age, but friends from media organizations were also overwhelmed by the afternoon's hot temperatures.-
Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, Kyels!
