Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno hailed today the just-concluded national conference of church people and workers where the situation of Filipino workers was tackled and the church’s commitment to workers’ rights was affirmed, laying the basis for a partnership on workers’ issues.
The Church People-Workers Conference was held last Sept. 12-15, in Cebu City with the theme “Church People and Workers, Unite! Reclaim the Dignity of Labor!” Over a thousand church people and workers attended its public opening.
The conference coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Laborem Exercens, a social teaching of the Roman Catholic Church crafted under Pope John Paul II which stipulates the Church’s active defense of workers’ rights and labor’s priority over capital and of workers’ rights over profits.
Church, labor attendees
Most Rev. Jose Palma, Archbishop of Cebu and incoming chairperson of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines or CBCP, gave the opening remarks while Most Rev. Angel Lagdameo, former CBCP chairperson, gave the keynote address.
Lagdameo said the local church cannot remain neutral amidst the present plight of Filipino workers. He urged church people to listen to the voice of workers.
Among the attendees were head of the Convenors and Head of the Transitional leadership Group the Most Rev. Gerardo Alminaza, Msgr. Rommel Kintanar, and leaders of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.
The Most Rev. Ephraim Fajutagana, Obispo Maximo of the IFI, and Most. Rev. Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, sent their respective solidarity messages.
Labor, on the other hand, was represented by KMU, led by its chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog, independent unions, federations and various labor institutions.
Migrant rights and issues including the commodification of OFWs, was discussed by Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.
Historic, valuable
The participants were moved to tears by testimonies of workers detailing slave-level wages, violations of the right to strike and form unions, contractualization, violations of health and safety in the workplace, and massive dismissals.
The conference ended with a solidarity walk from the Plaza Independencia to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral attended by about 2,000 church people, workers and labor advocates. A mass was held at the cathedral, with Most Rev. Palma serving as main celebrant.
The conference’s Covenant Statement reflected unity on “four priority concerns of Filipino workers – contractualization, unjust wages, violation of the workers’ right to organize and forced migration.”
“This conference is not only historic, but very valuable for Filipino workers. We are very glad for having this opportunity to present our issues and calls before church people and for winning an important partner in our fights as a result,” Labog said.
“We are very pleased to see leaders of the church renewing their pro-worker vow and taking concrete steps to really help us workers defend and uphold our rights,” he added. Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson
