Solidarity with PAMANTIK-KMU
May 1, 2014
I heartily extend militant greetings of solidarity to the Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan [Workers’ Unity in Southern Tagalog]—Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK-KMU) in the celebration of the 111th anniversary of the International Labor Day on May 1 by the workers in Southern Tagalog and other regions.
It is an occasion to celebrate your victories from the founding of PAMANTIK- KMU in 1984. Your celebrations must be substantial, militant and joyful. Look back on the struggles, sacrifices and victories in education, organization and mobilization in connection with promoting, defending and advancing the rights and welfare of the working class.
I salute PAMANTIK-KMU for being the broadest alliance of trade unions, associations and federations. I commend your efforts at arousing, organizing and mobilizing the workers to advance the struggle for just wages, security of tenure, human and trade union rights. Let us give our highest respect and honor to our martyrs and heroes. They are our most powerful inspiration.
In the spirit of proletarian internationalism it is right for you to highlight the contributions of the five great teachers of the struggle of the worker’s movement in the country and the whole world. They shed light on the path of revolution led by the working class. You must place all your efforts and struggles within the framework of the new democratic revolution and the world proletarian-socialist revolution. It is not enough to confine yourselves to strive after economic benefits in the trade union movement. In the long-term, the proletarian class must seize political power and carry out continuing revolution.
You are once again faced by a regime that is an utter puppet of US imperialism, exploitative, corrupt, oppressive and deceitful. Again you have the determination to oust this regime. We recall and salute PAMANTIK-KMU for serving as the regional center for the worker’s movement in Southern Tagalog at the height of the repression during the time of the US-Marcos dictatorship. Again you will play an important role in isolating and defeating the current evil Aquino regime, which is the instrument of the US and big compradors and landlords.
I am certain that you will reap more and greater victories in the struggles ahead within the framework of the trade union movement, the new democratic revolution and in upholding the world proletarian-socialist revolution against imperialism, revisionism and reaction!
Long live PAMANTIK-KMU!
Long live the working class!
Long live the Filipino people!
