More than 30 regular employees of Cenapro Chemicals, a manufacturing plant in barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City, went on strike Saturday afternoon with a union official claiming that the move has paralyzed 99 percent of its operations.
No one from Cenapro’s management could be reached to have the union’s claim validated.
Carlo Jugalbot, vice-president of the Cenapro Chemicals Employees Association (CCEA), said they decided to stage a strike because they could no longer tolerate the abuses made by the company on regular employees and contractual workers.
He said forced overtime imposed by the company would make them work up to 16 hours a day. Also, the president and the vice president of the workers’ union were accused of insubordination which is a ground for termination.
He also cited what they believe was the illegal suspension of employees because the guidelines in their collective bargaining agreement were not followed.
They also complained that their company has stopped the regularization of employees.
Jugalbot admits that they are giving compensation or overtime pay but forcing them to work overtime “is another issue.”
“Dili na sad na makatawhanon kay nagkinahanglan sab gud mi og pahuway, patay atong lawas ana,” he said. (We also need to rest, forcing us to work is inhuman.)
As for the accusation of insubordination, Jugalbot said that there was a time when the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) called him and Arle Tigley, union president, for a hearing so they filed for a leave but this was disapproved by the management.
They accused the management of union busting.
Jugalbot added that their strike was peaceful. They did not block the company’s entrance gate and allowed the company’s trucks and other vehicles to go in and out of the premises.
They, however, placed streamers and placards to air their sentiments.
He said they will continue with the strike even if it has to run for several months.
Cenapro’s management refused to issue a statement.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
