Salute to workers of KMU for their successful 13th National Congress! Further advance the militant struggle for working women!

The International Women's Alliance congratulates Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on its 13th National Congress! Under the theme of "Mangahas! Maggaagwa, Mag-Organisa! Manggagawa, Makibaka!" translating to "Dare! Workers, Organize! Workers, Fight!", the congress carried the fighting spirit of the successful 13th National Congress held from June 27-30, 2025. The gathering was attended by over 300 workers from various unions, federations and mass organizations across the country marking their readiness to unite the workers movement while strengthening the unity with other oppressed classes and sectors, and taking on the leading role as the working class in the Philippine national-democratic struggle.

This Congress, being held for the first time since 2018, follows an intense period of successive fascist attacks, creeping neoliberal policies that have eroded at workers rights, and the pandemic lockdowns where workplace violations heightened from employers and compradors. For nine consecutive years, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has included the Philippines in its 10 worst countries for workers. Workers and unions in the Philippines remain to be victims of red-tagging, violence, abductions, and arbitrary arrests perpetuated by the US-Marcos Regime. While the Marcos dynasty has allowed for these conditions to worsen, the country has a history of neglect from bureaucrat capitalists prioritizing the needs of imperialist allies over their people.

Despite all the attacks and challenges, KMU has remained committed to Filipino workers and their livelihood. Demonstrated through the successful Piston jeepney driver strikes and the monumental Nexperia campaign, together KMU has fought for a living wage, the reinstatement of a national minimum wage, against contractualization, and for the right to unionize amidst widespread fascist attacks. In their Congress, they were able outline a 3 year General Plan of Action, reaffirm their dedication to defend the LGBTQ+ community, and pass resolutions from broadening the wage campaign to exposing state-sponsored deceptive worker formations that are meant to undermine genuine militant workers' organizations.

We congratulate KMU on their successful Congress! The International Women's Alliance is confident that under the newly elected leadership, KMU will continue to fight for a genuine workers movement that is in the forefront of their national-democratic struggle. This Congress has shown that workers are not only committed to fighting and winning their demands for better wages and working conditions but a better society that does not reap the ills of exploitation and class oppression. Women have been indispensable in this struggle, continuing to fight on the front lines, defending their rights in the workplace and livelihoods while being confronted with ongoing sexual and physical violence in their communities. From Palestine to the Phiippines, women are fighting back for a better world! Let us continue the legacy of those women before us who have given their lives to advance the rights of workers and all oppressed people. Salute to workers of the Philippines for their successful 13th Congress! Salute to all workers from all countries! Further advance the militant struggle for working women! Mangahas! Maggaagwa, Mag-Organisa! Manggagawa, Makibaka!