NCMB-DOLE
PRESS RELEASE
September 1, 2003
NCMB Acting Executive Director Reynaldo R. Ubaldo
announced today the settlement of the month-old strike at Canlubang Pulp
Manufacturing Corporation, Inc. in Canlubang, Laguna.
In his report to Labor Secretary
Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, Director Ubaldo said that the 223 workers affected by
the strike have agreed to lift their picket and are set to report to work
starting September 15, 2003. The company
is engaged in the manufacture of abaca pulp used in paper production.
The Canlubang Pulp Workers Union
filed a Notice of Strike on July 10, 2003 alleging management of unfair labor
practice acts, in addition to bargaining deadlock. Failing to secure an agreement, the union
struck on August 1, 2003, completely paralyzing the operations of the company.
Following several conciliation
conferences, settlement was reached on August 29, 2003. Under the terms of settlement, management
agreed to deposit P2.1M to cover accrued retirement and medical reimbursements
and to issue a postdated check to cover the balance of P2.1M, which check will
mature 14 days after the start of normal operations on September 15, 2003. Management will also allocate P290,000 for
retirement, P330,000 for medical reimbursement and P300,000 for hospitalization
every month. The parties further agreed
to discuss all unresolved issues at plant level.
Both parties also agreed that either party would take no retaliatory action because of the strike.