Different labor groups opted to protest along Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City on Labor day after they were blocked by policemen from marching to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
The groups called for a P100 daily wage subsidy, P10,000 cash assistance for workers who lost their jobs and for the poor.
“Ngunit sa araw na ito pinaglalaban natin bilang pambansang pagkilos ang pagkakamit ng sampung libong ayuda sapagkat ang isang libo, apat na libo ay di sapat ((But today we are fighting as a national movement to get ten thousand aid because one thousand, four thousand is not enough),” Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairperson Elmer Labog said.
“Sampung libo dapat labing limang libo sa mga kasamahan natin sa sektor at agrikultura (should be fifteen thousand to our colleagues in the sector and agriculture),” he added.
The protest led by KMU was originally planned to be conducted at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila but policemen were deployed early and prevented them from going further.
"Labor Day should honor workers but the PNP is insulting us by depriving us of our right to air out legimitate grievances. Liwasang Bonifacio is a freedom park and the police should back off. The protests will push through despite this harassment,” said Labog.
Policemen also barred the Pagkakaisa ng Uring Mangagawa from organizing a mass protest in Mendiola in Manila.