On ‘dangerous precedents’ and onion skins
Engagement and pushback are normal and necessary elements of a mature, vigorous political debate, not signs of being “onion-skinned.”
With all due respect to my old friend, Sanlakas secretary general Aaron Pedrosa, airing views isn’t the same as being “onion-skinned.” While some may have reacted excessively, I’m not here to speak for them, nor am I here to defend Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co, who is more than capable of doing that herself.
Engagement and pushback are normal and necessary elements of a mature, vigorous political debate, not signs of being “onion-skinned.” To call any reaction “onion-skinned” is to minimize, trivialize and dismiss it. It’s a rhetorical move akin to saying, “They’re just being sensitive, so there’s no need to take that reaction seriously.”
Frankly, the post of Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) has made them a laughingstock, and it’s not hard to see why. While Spark supporters have the prerogative to dismiss the resulting criticisms as mere “onion-skinned” reactions, doing so is a missed opportunity for Spark to improve. I urge their political elders to encourage self-reflection.
My first criticism is that Spark’s post was politically unnecessary. What exactly was gained? In what way did it advance the minimum wage campaign? Strengthen cooperation among different organizations? Weaken the political influence of entrenched interests? Persuade policymakers to prioritize this issue on the legislative agenda? Elevate the political consciousness of workers and the masses?
Secondly, Spark’s post was a speculative exaggeration of Renee’s comment, taken entirely out of context. Only the politically naive would genuinely believe her comment sets a “dangerous precedent”; mere insistence on the claim doesn’t make it true. Moreover, the very use of the word “precedent” in this context lacked precision and care.
I don’t want to get bogged down in the minutiae of the history of legislators’ minimum wage (Who doesn’t love the Paris Commune?) or the specific mechanics of contemporary labor relations in the Philippines. Not being an expert in these fields, I’m happy to leave that with those who are. But I believe we can all agree that the current minimum wage is a grotesque insult against workers. The status quo is not acceptable and must be changed.
How to change the status quo is the far more productive question. As a trade unionist and workplace delegate, I believe legislated wage increases have their place. However, it is a strategic mistake to believe this is the only viable approach or to “put all our eggs in this one basket.” Historical examples abound (e.g., Australia, United States, United Kingdom) showing that legislated minimum wages consistently fail to keep wages at pace with inflation and the cost of living.
Here in Australia (where I reside), there’s a growing recognition in some parts of the labor movement of the limitations of an over-reliance on political strategy (lobbying) and a corresponding push for a revitalised industrial strategy (strikes). This shift is driven by the perceived failure of a primarily political approach (via the neoliberal Australian Labor Party) to halt the decline in union power, membership and workers’ share of national income over the past few decades.
Is there a corresponding trend in the Philippines? That’s an open question best left to experts. At any rate, the matter has less to do with partylist politicians and more to do with the trade unions themselves—and how they will adapt their goals, strategies and tactics to persistent and emerging challenges in the political economy of the Philippines.
Returning to Renee, it’s clear her statement was aimed at her colleagues in Congress. Her intention was to expose them by highlighting the contrast between their privileged lifestyles and her frugal approach—the whole point of saying she can live on a minimum wage. While her statement could be weaponized by opponents of the living wage concept to undermine reform, it is bizarre and disappointing that Spark is actively aiding this undermining by turning Renee’s comment into a cheap “gotcha” moment.
