More than 200 workers of Carmen Copper Corp. in Toledo City rallied in front of the regional Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) office yesterday to air their grievances over the company’s alleged abuses committed against them.
The Panaghiusa sa Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper (PAMCC) also filed a Notice of Strike at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) after 79 workers were given termination notices on the evening of April 4.
PAMCC Vice President Herbert Cabaluna said the company committed unfair labor practices and violations of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) when they dismissed the 79 workers the day after they received their notices.
He said the Bureau of Labor Relations stated that the notice of dismissal should be given to the employee 30 days prior to the date of termination.
Bernard Villaver, one of the 79 dismissed workers and father to a family of five, worked as a welder in the company for one year and five months.
“Unsa may pamugas namo, wa na man mi trabaho (Where will we get our food when we don’t have jobs anymore),” he said. The PAMCC, with its 2,900 members, earlier threatened to hold a strike last February but eventually called it off when the management met most of their demands.