Mark Cuizon, secretary of PAMCC-AGLO and Herbert Cabaluna, PAMCC-AGLO, vice president, announce the withdrawal of the Notice to Strike they issued after reaching an agreement with the management of Carmen Copper Corp.
THE labor dispute between the management and union of the Carmen Copper Corporation was settled after the intervention of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) last Wednesday.
In a press conference, the Panaghiusa sa Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper (PAMCC), announced that they have settled the issues with the management of Carmen Copper Corp. They are withdrawing their Notice of Strike.
“We welcome management’s willingness to meet union demands in order to avoid a costly strike. The judiciousness of our demands combined with the support of the entire union membership made this settlement with the management possible,” said PAMCC Vice President Herbert Cabaluna.
Last February 13, the union filed a Notice of Strike before the NCMB against Carmen Copper Corp. citing four grounds – violations of provisions in their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), illegal dismissal of 33 regular workers and PAMCC members, non-regularization of 250 casual employees and alleged interference of the management in union affairs.
After last Wednesday’s conciliation conference, three out of the four issues were settled.
According to Cabaluna, the management committed to regularize the 250 causal employees by March 8.
“Both the management and union agree to respect due process concerning the alleged infractions of 33 employees,” Cabaluna said.
The management has also committed to act on complaints of union interference and alleged unfair labor practices.
Both the union and management agreed to put the issue on preventive mediation.
A hearing has been set by NCMB on March 13 on the resolution of the remaining issue.
In their notice of strike, PAMCC said the next of kin, uniform, job classification, medicine allowance, and hiring of new workers provisions in their CBA were violated by Carmen Copper management.
“These are still big and critical issues remaining,” said PAMCC Secretary Mark Cuizon.
The union said they won’t hesitate to file anew a notice of strike against the company should they violate their commitments again and if they will not arrive at an acceptable resolution on the alleged violations on the provisions of their CBA.
An earlier conciliation conference was held on February 18 but no resolution was achieved.