Two nurses pass outside the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House Inc., which has been cleared of tarpaulins and streamers posted by employees. (CDN PHOTO/Lito Tecson)
More than two months after it closed due to labor issues, the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House Inc. (CPCMHI) resumed its operations yesterday.
Lawyer Cornelio Mercado, the hospital’s chief legal officer, confirmed in a phone interview that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued an order to CPCMHI last week to resume its operations.
“Everything was smooth yesterday as we resumed the operations,” Mercado said.
Last Saturday, the hospital employees who are members of the Cebu Maternity Hospital Employees Union helped remove the banners and tarpaulins posted outside the hospital.
The employees also held a hunger strike, eating only one meal during duty hours.
“For operations, it’s like starting anew. I hope that everyone will cooperate and get things back to normal,” Mercado said.
The management and the union will sign a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) tomorrow, said Gemma Poloyapoy, officer-in-charge of the regional office of National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).
“I hope there would be no more conflict. Once they sign the CBA, then it’s resolved,” Poloyapoy said.
The DOLE order also included the P4 wage hike approved last year and another P4 wage hike this year.
“I am very positive that the management will be compliant about the wage hike,” Poloyapoy said.