At least 16 unions held collective actions in their respective workplaces last week to express their rage at the exposed corruption and anomalies in the government. They are prepared to join the protest in Luneta on September 21. They called it WORKERS’ DAY OFF PROTEST and vowed to bring their families. Their chant: MARCOS COMMANDER-IN-THIEF, MAKE HIM ACCOUNTABLE!

Responding to the call of Kilusang Mayo Uno, they wore red shirts and carried anti-corruption placards during their lunch breaks and at the end of their shifts.

Among those who held a lunchbreak protest were the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-Janitorial at the PUP main campus on September 13. On the same day, the Manila Bay Thread Corp. workers in Marikina City launched a protest at the end of their shift.

On two consecutive days, September 13 and 14, and again on September 19, the Pambato Cargo Forwarder workers at the Manila pier launched after-work and lunchbreak protests. On September 14, the Philippine Span Asia Carrier workers also held an protest at the end their shift at the same port.

In Negros Occidental, the Victorias Milling Company workers staged a lunchbreak protest on September 15. At the same time, the Bacolod City Slaughterhouse workers held a similar protest.

In Laguna, the Nexperia Philippines workers held protests during lunchbreak and at end-of-shift, and also conducted a protest zumba, on September 17.

On September 19, as part of the Black Friday Protest, the workers of Puregold (South Supermarket), Regan Industrial, Fujiweld, Vanson Paper, Kawasaki Motors (Kawasaki United Labor Union), Universal Robina Corp. (Robina Farms), Optodev, Daiwa Seiko Philippines Corp, YYD Interior Systems Inc Unimagna Workers Union, Kaisahan ng Manggagawa sa Himmel, and Globesco held protests during lunchbreak and at the end of their shift.

On the eve of September 21, the Unimagna (Unimagna Workers Union) and Italit (Italit Workers Union) launched similar protests.

The workers of Philfoods Fresh-Baked Products also staged a protest. They condemned the Wage Board’s recently announced ₱30 wage increase in CALABARZON, which falls far short of the needs of a 5-member family.

The University Hotel Workers’ Union-KMU-NCR expressed solidarity with the calls. Its members will also join the protest in Luneta.

In Cebu, AMA-Sugbo-KMU called on workers to gather at Fuente Osmeña at 9 a.m. on September 21. The Mehitabel Furniture Workers’ Union, which held a lunchbreak protest on September 20, will surely respond.

The workers led by KMU-Southern Mindanao in Davao City are also preparing to take action on September 21 at Freedom Park.