MARCH 5, 2003
NCMB-DOLE
ESAMELCO
OPERATIONS BACK TO NORMAL
NCMB Exec. Director Rolando Rico C. Olalia announced today the resolution of the labor dispute at Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO), Borongan, Eastern Samar.
The Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative Employees’ Labor union (ESECELU) went on strike on February 24, 2003 over CBA deadlock.
In his report to Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Olalia said that the parties finally came to terms on the major issues of their collective bargaining negotiation, paving the way for the resolution of their dispute.
Salient features of the agreement include the grant of P13 per day salary increase retroactive October 1, 2001, Olalia disclosed.
The parties also agreed to exclude from the coverage of the CBA the Voluntary Arbitration case pending at the Court of Appeals.
In addition, the parties agreed on a “no work-no pay principle,” Olalia further said, adding that both parties committed to refrain from taking any retaliatory action against each other by reason of the strike.
NCMB RB VIII facilitated the settlement of the dispute in close coordination with the governor of Eastern Samar, the National Electrification Administration General Manager and the Board of Directors of the electric cooperative, Olalia added, saying the ESAMELCO operation is now completely normal.