AFTER a failed negotiation last Monday, members of the Korean Electric Power Cooperation (Kepco) union held their first protest rally in front of the power plant compound in the City of Naga yesterday morning.
About 100 people from the union and other labor groups joined the protest.
Dennis Darige of Partidong Mangagawa claimed that the management agreed to reinstate terminated supervisor Lowell Sanchez and conduct a reinvestigation.
“There is no assurance of that because it might just end up with the same investigation results just like before,” Darige said.
Darige said the union wants Sanchez to return to work.
Last May 1, the management agreed to conduct a re-investigation and reinstate Sanchez.
After a month, Sanchez was officially terminated after he was found guilty by the management for organizing a union.
Lawyer Alan Fontanoza said a work stoppage by the union would be illegal and those who participate risk dismissal.
Edmundo Mirasol, regional director for the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) was in Manila yesterday to ask for help from Labor secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.
Mirasol said the concerns of the union will be raised to the top management in Manila.
In a statement, the management of KEPCO SPC Power Corporation (KSPC) said the rally did not disrupt work.
The management said they would stand by its commitment to provide reliable and affordable power supply to the Visayas, specifically to its electric cooperative customers and distribution utilities in Cebu, Negros, Leyte and Bohol.