Labor row forces temporary shutdown of maternity hospital

A sign informing the public of the hospital’s temporary shut down of operations is posted at the gate of the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House. (CDN PHOTO/ MICHELLE JOY L. PADAYHAG)

Cebu Puericulture and Maternity House Inc., however, still offers outpatient services

A labor dispute has prompted the management of the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House  Inc. (CPCMHI) to temporarily cease hospital operations except for its outpatient services.

Even those who availed of its service packages have also been given reimbursement, said lawyer Cornelio Mercado, the hospital’s chief legal officer.

“Checks are already prepared at CPCMHI. We can’t continue the services  in a hostile environment,” Mercado told Cebu Daily News.

Local media were restricted from entering the hospital premises yesterday. There were several pregnant women getting in the building. Others were seen at the hospital’s billing section.

Outside the hospital, which is along B. Rodriguez St., Cebu City, a large tarpaulin was displayed at its parking area informing the public that “Effective January 28, CPCMHI will temporarily cease to operate  due to labor problems and an impending strike.”

The sign also said: “We will no longer accept admissions by said date for the safety of  our patients and employees.”

‘There is no specific date when we can resume the normal operations at CPCMHI. No one wants to take risks about this. We are talking about life and safety here,” Mercado added.

Mercado also raised concern that members of  the labor union federation who were not CPCMHI employees would also  join the protests.

Aside from the large tarpaulin, other banners and placards opposing the P13 daily wage increase were still displayed outside the building.

Mercado said  the management has decided not to remove those because they did not want to antagonize the employees.

“We are keeping silent about this. It is also their right to express (their sentiment). Sometimes one party should also cool down,” he added.

The Cebu Maternity Hospital Employees Union filed a notice of strike before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) on  Jan. 4, 2016.

The hospital employees labor union, which has 110 members, is affiliated with the Association of Democratic Labor Organization (ADLO), which is also under the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Edmundo Mirasol, director for NCMB-7, said that they would  initiate several conciliation meetings to resolve the labor dispute.

Mirasol said  the labor union asked for a P20 daily wage hike in 2015 and another P25  in 2016.

“The management has implemented the P13 wage increase effective October 2015,” said Miraso.

According to the CPCMHI, the monthly salary of nurses, midwives and medical technologists ranged from P10,000 to P12,000 while resident physicians received a monthly pay ranging from P9,000 to P10,000.