Members of Kilusang Mayo Uno gather at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City on Friday morning, May 1, as they join Labor Day protest actions calling for higher wages and stronger job security. (Photo courtesy of Kilusang Mayo Uno/Facebook)
Various labor groups converged on Friday morning, May 1, at Welcome Rotonda, along the Quezon City-Manila boundary to stage Labor Day protests calling for higher wages and stronger job security.
The convergence was part of coordinated nationwide demonstrations marking the 124th Labor Day.
Workers from different sectors, including Kilusang Mayo Uno, Piston, and the BPO Industry Employees Network, held a program as participants continued to arrive throughout the morning, with organizers expecting the crowd to further swell before noon.
The groups reiterated long-standing demands such as a living wage, job regularization, and improved benefits, citing rising living costs and continued concerns over contractualization.
Protest leaders also raised issues on labor policies and called for stronger protection of workers’ rights across industries.
At around 8 a.m., some protesters began moving toward Mendiola, a traditional route and venue for major demonstrations.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) conducted an early morning accounting of its personnel starting 6 a.m. at the QCPD Grandstand before deploying units to key areas such as Welcome Rotonda, Petron Philcoa, and Aurora Boulevard (Westpoint Cubao) to ensure security, visibility, and immediate response.
The deployment underscored heightened police readiness to manage the expected influx of protesters and maintain peace and order throughout the activity.
Under full alert status, police forces maintained maximum readiness, with leaves suspended and personnel fully deployed to preserve order while supporting peaceful assemblies.
Traffic slowed along portions of Welcome Rotonda after protesters occupied one lane. Personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department were dispatched to manage the situation.
Authorities remained on site to maintain order and ensure the safety of both motorists and rally participants.
Similar protest actions were staged in other parts of the country as workers marked Labor Day with unified calls for higher wages, job security, and better working conditions.