MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 14, 2011) – The Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) expressed their outrage Monday over the huge oil price hike implemented by several oil firms, some by as much as P1.90/liter for diesel.
The national center of the country’s 1.4 million government employees is now demanding an increase in wages.
According to the Department of Energy, oil company Total’s price hikes included P1.90/liter for diesel; .65 centavos/liter for unleaded gas, and .90 centavos/liter for regular gas, while Chevron implemented a P1.90/liter hike for diesel; .65 centavos/liter hike for unleaded; .90 centavos/liter hike for regular gas, and P1.60/liter hike for kerosene.
It said Shell also hiked it fuel prices – P1.90/liter for diesel, and .70 centavos/liter for gas.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the blatant ploy of the oil companies to extort the consumers by imposing overpriced petroleum products on the market. Given the starvation wages received by workers and employees, even slight price increases are inevitably burdensome to us, that is why we are one with the people in calling a halt to oil overpricing,” Ferdinand Gaite, COURAGE National President, said.
He said the Aquino administration is skirting the issue by invoking the Oil Deregulation Law., however, he added that it is apparent that the government is in collusion with the oil cartel – Petron, Chevron and Shell – despite widespread public clamor for the repeal of the law and the regressive Value Added Tax Reform Law.
“We challenge Aquino to heed the demands of the people by immediately providing a substantial wage hike for workers and employees who will help them cope with the soaring prices of commodities and services.”
“We stand by our demand for a P6,000 increase to the minimum pay of government employees and a P125 across-the-board wage hike for workers in the private sector. At the time when our wages are pegged at near-starvation levels, we don’t need dole-outs, subsidies or excuses; we demand a substantial wage hike now,” Gaite said.
