2011 poised to be most
peaceful in the country’s industrial relations history
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has said that the industrial
relations climate in 2011 is poised to become the most peaceful in the country’s
history.
Citing a report from the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB),
Baldoz said that only two work stoppages occurred during the first nine and a
half months of 2011, down by a substantial 71% from seven strikes recorded
during the same period in 2010.
“The two work stoppages are five cases fewer than those declared during the same
period last year, and comprise only 0.9% of the 220 notices of strike/lockout
handled during the period,” she said.
The
first strike, declared by the union of Supreme Steel Corporation in Region 3
occurred in January. It lasted only one day as it was immediately certified to
the NLRC for compulsory arbitration.
“The situation in the labor front was generally peaceful for eight continuous
months after that,” she said. “All the while, we were hopeful and thinking that
the stable industrial climate would persist. But then came the PALEA strike in
the later part of September, which nobody expected anyway as it was not covered
by a strike notice.”
“Be
that as it may, we are optimistic that no additional strike will be added to our
statistics, especially since the holidays are just around the corner. We
observed that unions are less likely to call a strike during the Christmas
season,” she said further.
“But if ever the worst thing happens, we can rely on the NCMB to be on top of
the situation,” she said.
She
said the Board’s conciliation-mediation services have proven effective in
resolving labor disputes and in keeping the incidence of work stoppages at the
minimum.
She cited the consistently high settlement rates obtained by the Board in its
conciliation-mediation efforts, noting that overall settlement rates always
exceeded 70% in any given year.
“NCMB’s efforts to attend to labor disputes have also resulted in faster
disposition,” the labor chief noted.
She
said the Board needed just 41 days to settle notices of strike/lockout during
the period, 14 days faster than it took to settle NS/L cases in 2010, and
disposed PM cases in 33 days, three days faster than the 36 days it took to
settle PM cases last year.
Benefits of successful
conciliation
“The
highly successful and effective conciliation-mediation efforts of the NCMB has
resulted in the facilitation of P4.1 B in CBA package, separation pay and other
restitution benefits for some 11,484 workers,” Baldoz further disclosed.
“Just in
September, NCMB reported settlement of P2.8 B in a single case involving the
parties at the International Wiring Systems Philippines Corporation, a locator
at the Luisita Industrial Park, to date the single biggest settlement package in
a conciliation case,” Baldoz said.
“Our
conciliator-mediators at the NCMB continue to exert efforts in exploring every
possible means to effect amicable settlement in every case they handle,” she
said.
“This they do by balancing the rights of workers to just and equitable share in
the fruits of production and the right of the employers to a fair return of
their investments,” she added.
Less
government intervention in labor disputes
Baldoz also revealed that cases subjected to her intervention continue to
decline.
Citing a report from Usec Cacdac, she said that only 15 cases were subjected to
her intervention from January to October 15, 2011.
The
15 cases, she said, make up a paltry 2.21% of the 680 cases handled by the Board
during the period as the Office of the Secretary continues to exercise prudence
in the use of its power to intervene in labor disputes.
“This is three cases or .45% lower than the 18 cases subjected to government
intervention out of 676 cases handled in similar period last year,” she said.
END
|
HOTLINES
