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Posted on 09:17 PM, November 28, 2010
CEBU CITY -- A work stoppage has been ruled out at the Visayan Electric Co., Inc. (VECO) after the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) intervened and certified the labor dispute for compulsory arbitration.
A POSSIBLE work stoppage at the Visayan Electric Co., Inc. (VECO) was averted after the Department of Labor and Employment intervened and ordered the reinstatement of the dismissed union president of the company. -- www.veco.com.ph
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz also instructed VECO to reinstate Casmero A. Mahilum, president of the VECO Employees Union, in its payroll.
Mr. Mahilum was dismissed in late October, prompting the union to file a strike notice over alleged union busting by management.
VECO legal counsel Deolito L. Alvarez said the management issued last week a check for almost P20,000 in compliance with the DoLE order, and requested that it be allowed to deposit the check with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) regional office pending the resolution of the case. The amount represents Mr. Mahilum’s basic salary for November.
The commission has yet to schedule a hearing, Mr. Alvarez said.
“We’re still waiting for the NLRC to call us to a hearing. But in the meantime, VECO intends to deposit Mahilum’s basic salary monthly with the NLRC,” Mr. Alvarez said.
The union had accused management of union busting, refusal to bargain collectively and non-observance of the grievance procedure provided in the collective bargaining agreement.
Mr. Alvarez, however, clarified that the company has not been targeting union members. Disciplinary actions are meted to any of the 425 employees who violate company rules and regulations.
More than half, or 239, of the employees are members of the union.
Earlier, VECO corporate communications manager Ethel T. Natera assured that services would not be disrupted even if union members stage a strike.
The nonunion employees and accredited service contractors will ensure continuous service, she added.
VECO is the second-largest power distribution utility in the country. It serves over 300,000 customers in Metro Cebu and neighboring municipalities.
The labor dispute was forwarded to the NLRC for arbitration after mediation failed between VECO management and the union early this month. -- Marites S. Villamor
Mr. Mahilum was dismissed in late October, prompting the union to file a strike notice over alleged union busting by management.
VECO legal counsel Deolito L. Alvarez said the management issued last week a check for almost P20,000 in compliance with the DoLE order, and requested that it be allowed to deposit the check with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) regional office pending the resolution of the case. The amount represents Mr. Mahilum’s basic salary for November.
The commission has yet to schedule a hearing, Mr. Alvarez said.
“We’re still waiting for the NLRC to call us to a hearing. But in the meantime, VECO intends to deposit Mahilum’s basic salary monthly with the NLRC,” Mr. Alvarez said.
The union had accused management of union busting, refusal to bargain collectively and non-observance of the grievance procedure provided in the collective bargaining agreement.
Mr. Alvarez, however, clarified that the company has not been targeting union members. Disciplinary actions are meted to any of the 425 employees who violate company rules and regulations.
More than half, or 239, of the employees are members of the union.
Earlier, VECO corporate communications manager Ethel T. Natera assured that services would not be disrupted even if union members stage a strike.
The nonunion employees and accredited service contractors will ensure continuous service, she added.
VECO is the second-largest power distribution utility in the country. It serves over 300,000 customers in Metro Cebu and neighboring municipalities.
The labor dispute was forwarded to the NLRC for arbitration after mediation failed between VECO management and the union early this month. -- Marites S. Villamor
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