This book consists of the writings of Jose Maria Sison on the workers movement from 1966 to 2022. The first article “The Labor Movement: Labor and the Philippine Revolution” was delivered at the 64th anniversary of Union Impresores de Filipinas on February 6, 1966 and again another article at its 100th anniversary in 2022. The first article makes a review of the trade union movement and its connection with the national-democratic movement and concludes with the tasks of building up a proletarian party to provide leadership in the struggle for national democracy, without which this cannot be won. The second honors the founders and all trade unionists of the UODF as pioneers of the modern trade union federation. Their pioneering example and their achievements are a necessary part of the history of the labor movement in the Philippines that brought about the emergence of the revolutionary party of the proletariat.

The founders of the UODF continue to inspire the Filipino working class to develop the trade union movement and the revolutionary party of the proletariat, advance the people’s struggle for national and social liberation, win total victory until the socialist revolution can commence and contribute to the resurgence of the proletarian-socialist revolution.

Important are Joma’s articles, interviews, messages, and statements marking the founding or the anniversaries, the conferences and May Day statements celebrating the victories of the workers movement.

The growing imperialist turmoil in the world capitalist system makes socialism a clear prospect to the broad masses of the people. This necessitates the study of the historical background and the analysis of the current concrete conditions of the workers’ movement in the Philippines and all over the world.

Joma’s firm wish was always for the proletariat and peoples of the world to dismantle the monopoly capitalist system and replace it with a just, democratic and peaceful new world in which socialism prevails.

Julieta de Lima
Utrecht, The Netherlands
May 22, 2023