Youth Continue to Flock to Kowloon, But for a Different Reason

Published on November 10, 2008

Everyday, throngs of young people could be seen at Kowloon House West Avenue in Quezon City. However, this time, they are not there to eat. They are there to express their support to the workers of Kowloon who have been holding a picket for two months now.

BY JOAN GARCIA
Bulatlat

Last June 20 and 21, the workers of Kowloon House held a picket during their breaktime to demand for the implementation of Wage Order no.13, providing for a P12 increase in the minimum wage and a P50 emergency cost of living allowance (ECOLA).

On September 13, the workers were suddenly prevented from going to work and were informed by the security guard that the management has terminated their services.

The workers then decided to hold a picket around Kowloon House and since then, the youth never left their side.

According to Ken Ramos, National Chairperson of Anakbayan, the youth who support the workers at the picket help explain the plight of the workers to the costumers and help uplift the morale of the workers. They also go around and discuss with the workers and employees of establishments near Kowloon to get their support for the Kowloon workers.

Ramos also said that Anakbayan has adopted the picket as a “training center” for their members in line with the organizations’ comprehensive orientation of integrating with the basic masses. The picket also helped their members to learn about the system of organizing a union and to understand the value of collective leadership.

Juliet Avila, a Kowloon worker, said that their young companions helped her calm down during one confrontation with security guards. The workers, she said, were setting-up their bunkers during that time and were putting up banners when one security guard prevented them from doing so, reasoning that the banners would cover the Kowloon signage. The security guard added that the workers were to blame for the labor-management conflict.

This angered Nanay Juliet, as the youth call her, and she immediately confronted the security guard and lectured him about the hasty termination of the workers by the management. The youth then pulled her to one side and talked with her, with others massaging her hand and back because her blood pressure was shooting up.

Nanay Juliet has been with Kowloon for 31 years as a housekeeper. She said that her experience being with the youth in the picket made her realize that the youth is indeed the hope of the nation. The picket has also helped her understand that the children of workers also have rights and that the youth should continue with what they are doing so that society as a whole can be changed.

According to Edmond Navarosa, the Union President of Kowloon House, he could not enumerate all the things that the youth have done to support their picket. But he mentioned that the youth has helped in explaining to customers why they should boycott Kowloon. Navarosa also said that they helped in making banners and streamers, and even donate whatever money they have.

Navarosa said that an average of 80 youth per day join the Kowloon workers’ picket to show their support.

Students such as Shiela Ordiz of the City College of Manila go to the picket during her break time and after classes. Ordiz explained that she understands that the time will come when students will become workers and thus, she sees the need to integrate with workers and learn about their plight.

Ordiz also said that the workers’ picket is part of the reality that is happening in society, and students need to understand that. Students, she said, should look beyond the confines and sanitized environment of their schools, which only promote service to foreign companies.

For Ramos, Ordiz and the youth supporters of the workers of Kowloon, they are prepared to accompany the workers in the long struggle for their rights, until eventually, justice and victory will be claimed by Nanay Juliet, Navaroza and all their co-workers. (Bulatlat.com)