AUGUST 4, 2004

Contact Nos.: 5273421/5279806

LABOR DISPUTE IN THREE BIG COMPANIES SETTLED

Three labor disputes in big companies in Metro Manila were settled during the last week of July 2004. Total economic package for the settlement of the three disputes amounted to more than P11.1 million pesos benefiting more or less 411 workers.

The labor dispute between Columbia Wire and Cable Corporation (CWCC) and Columbia Wire and Cable Chapter was settled on July 26, 2004.

The dispute stemmed from deadlock in collective bargaining on the last 2 years of the CBA for which the latter filed a notice of strike against the former on June 23, 2004.

In a report to DOLE Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Director Romeo A. Young said that the parties finally inked an agreement after several conciliation meetings. Secretary Sto. Tomas has earlier assumed jurisdiction over the labor dispute on July 23, 2004.

Notwithstanding the assumption order, the parties opted to maximize the conciliation-mediation services of the Board, which culminated in the execution of an agreement on July 26, 2004.

Director Young said that the agreement provided for a total CBA package of P7.7 million benefiting some 196 employees in the bargaining unit. Salient points in the agreement include, among others, wage increases equivalent to P25,000 lump sum inclusive of COLA and signing bonus on the 4^th CBA year and P15 basic wage plus P20 COLA on the 5^th CBA year.

The assistance of NCMB-NCR Officer-In-Charge, Leonida V. Romulo who facilitated the conclusion of their CBA paved the way to the settlement of the dispute

On another setting, Director Young also reported that the labor dispute at M. R. Knitwear Specialist, Inc. came to an end with the settlement of the notice of strike filed by the Ugnayang Manggagawa sa M.R. Knitwear on July 16, 2004. The dispute stemmed from deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations.

The parties finally reached an agreement on July 28, 2004 after conciliation conferences facilitated by Conciliator Walfredo D. Villazor. Director Young reported that the agreement provided for a 3-year CBA package of P2.3 million benefiting 78 employees in the bargaining unit. The Company agreed to grant on the 1^st CBA year P20 ECOLA across the board with management commitment not to file a petition for exemption on Wage Order #NCR-10; on the 2^nd CBA year, a wage increase of P3 per day; resignation pay; and signing bonus in the amount of P2,250 per member.

Another labor dispute involving deadlock in collective bargaining between the Metro Biscuit Corporation and the Kaisahan ng Manggagawa sa Metro Biscuit Corporation (KMMBC)-ANGLO-KMU was settled on July 29, 2004. The parties were negotiating for the last two years of their CBA, for which the KMMBC-ANGLO-KMU filed a notice of strike on July 20, 2004.

After conciliation efforts by the Board, the parties finally inked a Memorandum of Agreement on July 29, 2004. Under the agreement, signed before Conciliator Ma. Yolanda P. Minoria, the management of Metro Biscuit Corporation commits to pay a wage increase of P6 per day on the 4^th and 5^th CBA years, and a signing bonus of P750 per union member. The company will also grant an optional retirement benefit equivalent to 15 days per year of service for employees who have served the company for 15 year and above.

The total monetary benefits resulting in the settlement amounted to P1.1 million benefiting 137 employees in the bargaining unit.