PASAR CASE AMICABLY SETTLED THROUGH RCMB 8 ASSISTANCE

by: Paps O. Macayan and Pamela R. Babalcon

TACLOBAN CITY – The two-month long dispute involving Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) and the Concerned Organization of PASAR Progressive Employees for Reform (COPPER), PASAR’s exclusive bargaining agent, ended on June 23, 2010, after the parties signed a compromise agreement during plant-level negotiations.

The compromise agreement was formalized into a joint manifestation that was submitted during the preliminary hearing of the case on June 25, 2010.

The parties earlier sought the assistance of RCMB 8 after plant-level negotiations for the last two years of their CBA ended in a deadlock.

Then Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque assumed jurisdiction over the dispute after the parties remained steadfast in their positions despite efforts by the NCMB to find a mutually beneficial solution to the impasse.

The compromise agreement thus, rendered moot and academic the assumption order issued by the Secretary. On July 2, 2010, representatives of the union and management formally signed the agreement covering the remaining two years of their CBA.

The agreement was reached through the assistance of Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch VIII (RCMB 8) upon the request of both parties and was finalized two days before they were set to meet with then Undersecretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz for a conference.

RCMB 8 Director Juanito B. Geonzon acknowledged the full support of NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo R. Ubaldo who, during mandatory conciliation conferences, formulated a “conciliator’s proposal” which helped the parties reach a conclusive and mutually satisfactory agreement.

Director Geonzon expressed elation at the latest development, and said he wanted “to see PASAR and COPPER ink an agreement without resort to the filing of a notice of strike or petition for assumption of jurisdiction.” He encouraged the parties to conclude their next CBA negotiation without NCMB intervention.

Conciliator-Mediator Tomas B. Biboso also lauded the parties and called them “blessed children of God” who made peace in settling the labor dispute.

PASAR’s President/CEO Louis Hosea Els thanked the union for not staging a strike, citing the importance of cooperation, hard work and a peaceful working environment in the success of the company. He hinted that about twelve (12) foreign investors will be coming in next year to supply raw materials for the company’s copper smelting and refining industry. “This would mean growth and more benefits for all employees in the near future,” he said.

Union President Juanito P. Pontañeles, meanwhile, commended his fellow union members for exercising sobriety despite overwhelming clamor for better terms. “Our proposals for the CBA were realistic and based on real needs of the union members,” he added.

Director Geonzon and Conciliator Biboso managed to induce the parties to limit the impasse to the most important ones. “The tenured employees focused on a higher retirement package while the younger ones preferred bigger wages,” Director Geonzon observed. “The negotiations then focused on the four main issues of salary increase, signing bonus, retirement pay and housing allowance,” he added.

The resolution of the dispute benefits some 708 union members with around P65M in CBA package.

The CBA signing spared not only the 1,048 regular employees of the company from the adverse effect of the labor dispute but also the more than 5,000 employees of its several suppliers of services and materials.

PASAR owns and operates the only copper smelter and refinery in the Philippines. It is located in LIDE, Isabel, Leyte.