95% OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO BE PARALYZED
Two major public transport groups in Mindanao are linking arms for Monday’s nationwide transport strike, in a first-ever unified stand expected to ensure total paralysis in public transport in the Davao Region.
The strike comes on the heels of skyrocketing oil prices, unresolved demand for higher fares, a call for subsidy for transport workers. The strike would be supported by other sectors, with labor pressing government to grant its long-pending request for a P125 across-the-board increase in wages.
With the transport sector united in the coming strike, organizers said from 90 to 95 percent of public transport would stay off the route.
“Any strike today, whoever leads, we will support,” said Maning Duran, chair of the moderate Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative (SEMDDOC).
The militant Transmission-Piston yesterday announced in a press conference in Davao City the holding of the 24-hour strike to start midnight of Sunday. Militant groups like KMU, Bayan and Bayan Muna said they would mobilize their own forces in support of the strike, the second this year.
Previous transport strikes here—the last spearheaded in January by the National Transport Organization (NTO) and Transmission-Piston—had fizzled out primarily due to lack of support by SEMDDOC.
Joel Virador, Bayan Muna regional chairman, said strikers would also demand that the government buy back Petron, repeal the Oil deregulation law and grant workers’ demand for a P125 wage increase.
Edil Gonzaga, Transmission spokesman, said rising oil prices and basic commodities leave public transport drivers with no option but go into mass action for government to act.
Filed under: Transport strike, davao city, labor | Tagged: bayan, kmu, maning duran, semddoc, transmission, Transport strike
