- KMU was outraged by presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s speech against labor unions
- Duterte, in his speech, threatened to kill members of KMU who will participate in active labor fronts during his administration
- KMU said Duterte is making a joke of himself by making these anti-labor statements
MANILA – Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) was evidently shocked, dismayed and outraged by Rodrigo Duterte’s statements against labor unions during one of his speeches on the first day of the campaign period.
The independent labor center released a statement asking whether Duterte was joking when he made the speech which involved threats against the lives of KMU members.
The presidential candidate from Davao City made the controversial speech before supporters in Tondo, Manila where he said labor fronts that threaten his administration will be killed, according to a story by Rosette Adel of PhilStar.
“Wag ninyong gawin ‘yan kasi sisirain ninyo ang administrasyon. Pag ginawa ninyo ‘yan patayin ko kayong lahat [Do not do that because you will ruin my administration. If you do it, I will kill all of you],” Duterte said.
Duterte in his speech also claimed to share KMU’s ideology but asked the militant labor group to “give the Philippines respect for about ten years.”
KMU responded by saying that Duterte’s speech is tantamount to a declaration of war against unions, KMU, and all workers on the first day of his campaign, ironically, in the birthplace of working-class hero Andres Bonifacio.
According to KMU, Duterte “showed no respect for workers, who belong to the majority of Filipinos, in the name of an abstract ‘Philippines,’ which can only mean big foreign and local capitalists.”
The labor group also said that the plight of workers will not improve without their own action and organization, and without pro-worker unions.
They also refuted allegations that workers, unions, and KMU cause companies to close down. According to them the accusation is just a scare tactic to make workers accept low wages, contractual employment, and repression.
KMU also pointed out that the number of unions in the country has been in decline for years, yet the condition of workers has only worsen and small Filipino businesses have continued to close down.
The labor group also insinuated that Duterte made the statement against labor unions to court the support of big capitalists.
KMU also recalled how they hailed Duterte’s statements against labor contractualization and said that they are giving him the opportunity to “change his mind, reverse his statement, and stand against greedy capitalists, not workers’ unions.”
KMU lambasted Duterte’s speech; saying that he is making a big joke of himself with these anti-worker statements.
“Is Mayor Duterte joking? He cannot make progressive statements on other issues and then make this horrid mistake on the issue of workers – directly addressing the KMU and threatening the lives of unionists – and still expect people to believe him. He is making a big joke of himself with this statement,” KMU said.
Read the complete KMU statement posted on their official Facebook page, and watch the YouTube clip of the controversial speech below:
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