Philippines: Women workers call for system change

Thousands of union members at Fortune Tobacco Corporation in Marikina and members of the Labour Party (PM) celebrated International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8 with a demonstation from their factory gate to the town plaza. Marilyn Calilap, the Fortune Tobacco Labor Union women's committee director said that: "Our mobilisation is in solidarity with the rest of the women's movement and we support the call for system change not just regime change. Replacing the evil president with just another reactionary with no pro-labour and pro-women track record will be a betrayal of the people's quest for genuine change."

The march had a festive mood, despite the seriousness of its call for system change. In their placards were demands fora bigger education budget, healthcare for women and childcare support.

In the morning, women workers and urban poor led by the PM commemorated IWD with a mobilisation that denounced corruption in government and called for change in the system.

From GLW issue 744