From Labor Party-Philippines: May Day solidarity greetings to the UID-DER

The Partido Manggagawa or Labor Party-Philippines extends its warm greetings of solidarity to UID-DER and the working class of Turkey as it commemorates May Day this year.

We are aware of the extreme challenges that confront workers in Turkey today as national elections for the president and parliament are due just days after May Day. Much is at stake as the results of elections will determine the political situation for the coming years, including the prospects of the struggle for democracy and socialism.

The working-class movement in the Philippines faced a similar situation last year that ended unfortunately with the victory of the son of the former dictator Marcos. Today, we face grave threats to civil liberties and workers’ rights with the consolidation of the turn to authoritarianism. The derogation of political rights combines with the deterioration of economic conditions for workers and the poor due to the cost of living crisis

Thus, we hope for the best in the participation of the UID-DER in the elections and its support for the Labor and Freedom Alliance. The parliamentary struggle should be an extension of the mass struggle of workers. An electoral breakthrough for the left and progressive forces will ensure the widening of political spaces for the working-class movement. We know this is difficult given the attacks by the Erdogan regime but we place our hopes on the vibrant militancy of the workers of Turkey as shown in numerous strikes and protests.

Struggle for democracy and socialism on May Day and beyond!

Partido Manggagawa National Executive Committee