NCMB-NCR Settled Two Labor Disputes

 

            NCMB Executive Director Hans Leo J. Cacdac, in his report to DOLE Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas said that two labor disputes involving deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations were settled by the conciliator-mediators of NCMB-NCR Branch when parties finally inked an agreement.  

 

The notice of strike filed by the members of Miescor Builders, Inc. Employees Union-PTGWO against Miescor Builders, Inc. in Quezon City was  amicably settled when management and its union reached an agreement on August 30, 2005. 

 

            Director Cacdac said that the agreement provided for the across-the-board implementation of NCR Wage Order No. 11 at P25.00 per day effective June 16, 2005 plus a retroactive pay of P1,000 for NCR union members and across-the-board implementation of NCR Wage Order No. 10 at P22.00 per day effective June 16, 2005 for all union members outside NCR.  The agreement likewise allowed the NCR employees assigned outside the NCR region to continue receiving the NCR rate.

 

Management also granted all covered union members the amount of P1,500 each as incentive or variable pay to be paid before December 25, 2005 in lieu of the agreed variable pay in consideration of the impact of the wage increase on the financial condition of the company.  Should the company realizes a net income of P4.5 million, the company will give an additional incentive in lieu of the variable pay.

 

In a related development, the labor dispute at Filipino Pipe and Foundry Corporation was also settled on August 24, 2005 that led to the signing of its CBA on September 7, 2005 at the Philippine Columbian in Paco, Manila

 

The parties finally reached an agreement after a series of conferences.   Among the salient features of the agreement included that of a birthday leave such that when it falls on a non-working day, the leave automatically becomes a birthday gift equivalent to 1 day basic pay.  In the implementation of the company rules and regulations, the parties agreed that henceforth, management shall exhaust all administrative and other processes before any sanction shall be implemented.  Parties further agreed that their grievance machinery and LMC shall be reactivated and made functional in the company.

 

The assistance of Conciliator Mediators Florante M. Dimaandal and Hacelfeo Cuares at Miescor Builders, Inc. and Conciliator Mediators Edgar M. Ancheta and Amorsolo Aglibut at Filipino Pipe and Foundry Corporation, who facilitated the conclusion of the 2 CBAs paved the way to the settlement of the disputes.