NCMB-DOLE
MARCH 4, 2003
The month long strike at Mitsuboshi Belting Phil. Corp. is finally over
after its management and union inked an agreement on February 28, 2003. In a report to Secretary Patricia A. Sto.
Tomas, National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Executive Director
Rolando Rico C. Olalia said that the parties finally reached settlement of
their differences.
The strike stemmed from alleged
unfair labor practice acts of management for which the union filed a notice of
strike on December 20, 2002.
The highlight of
the settlement is the return to work of more or less 261 workers on or before
March 16, 2003 with the union lifting their picket and cleaning the picket
lines with all strike paraphernalia and for management to accept them back
under the same terms and conditions prior to the strike, and the execution of
the new CBA before the resumption of operations.
Among
the economic benefits included in the MOA are 1) wage increase of P14 per day
for the first year, P15 per day for the second year and P15 per day for the
third year; 2) one-half sack of rice to
each employee to be given every December; and 3) severance pay equivalent to 17
days for employees with 10-15 years of service and 19 days for employees whose
service is above 15 years.
The assistance of Director Leopoldo B. de Jesus and Conciliator Edgar Ancheta paved the way in the settlement of the labor dispute.