By Viggo Sarmago*Bulatlat.com*

MANILA — On International Workers’ Day, multisectoral formations marched alongside workers from España Blvd to Mendiola, demanding higher wages, the removal of value added tax, justice for recent state-perpetrated killings, and an end to US imperialism.

Alliance of Concerned Teachers petitioned for a P50,000 (US$813) entry-level salary for all teachers in public and private institutions amid rising prices, dire working conditions and state neglect.

The transport sector meanwhile, strengthened long-standing demands to repeal the oil deregulation law and other regressive taxes that further strain workers and driver’s livelihoods.

Environmentalists have asserted that protecting worker’s rights is essential to just transition and condemned US wars for environmental plunder and the worsening conditions of workers brought by climate emergency.

Youth and rights groups joined the workers’ calls to end US imperialism and the Marcos administration’s negligence, citing these as causes of the continued exploitation of workers and state-sponsored killings.

“The only way to resist these brutal and concerted attacks is for the working people in the Philippines and worldwide to forge ranks to expose and oppose imperialist aggression and intervention, and defeat tyrannical puppet regimes like that of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that do the bidding of US imperialism,” Karapatan said in a statement.

Groups continued the program in Kalaw Ave. and headed toward the US Embassy. (CAM, RVO)

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