Running time: 2 mins 27 secs
Over 30,000 workers marched in the Philippines in Manila on Mayday, organised by militant trade union centre the KMU. It was a huge show of strength uniting around two key demands: an end to the illegal US/Israel war of aggression in the Middle East, and a decent living wage to combat the growing crisis in the country as a result of the war.
Prominent in the demo was a huge contingent of jeepney drivers (public transport workers) organised in KMU affiliated union Piston. They have already had a two day national strike over spiralling fuel costs which have left them barely making a living at all, and are demanding a scrapping of VAT and excise taxes to make fuel affordable.
The KMU then led a march on the U.S. embassy which culminated in an incredible 10,000 workers and students attempting to break through police lines surrounding the building. The fact that they were not able to is down to the fact that 130,000 police officers were mobilised in Manila on the day – half of the entire police force of the Philippines.
The fact that this was one of the largest and most militant demonstrations in the world this Mayday is remarkable considering the Philippines ranks as one of the top 10 most dangerous countries in the world to be a trade unionist. 105 activists have been assassinated in the last 10 years, with many more detained, harassed, and accused of terrorism, amidst widespread union busting and the denial of the right to free assembly.
But the suffering caused by the war is leading to an increased politicisation – and everywhere we’ve been this week, people have been telling us that they are not scared anymore. On the other hand, the amount of police deployed is showing how scared the government is of an increasingly powerful movement.
With less than six weeks’ supply of fuel left in Europe, our task now surely is to learn from the Filipino people, build our mass movements and make our governments as scared of us.
