Central Visayas strike-free since January

Central Visayas and other regions in the country are strikes and lockout free since January this year except for Region IV-A and the National Capital Region.

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Labor and Employment only the two regions, IV-A and NCR has a record of actual strikes in the months of January and February this year.

As of March 8 this year, five actual strikes were recorded, three in February and two in January.

The said record exceeded three more compared to actual strikes recorded covering the same period last year.

The workers involved in these strikes totaled to 720 while last year there was only 528 affected.

Of the five cases declared, four or 80 percent involved unfair labor practices while one case raised deadlock in collective bargaining on economic issues. Last year, two cases involved unfair labor practices.

Notices of strike filed during the first two months of the year have reached 65, lower by 10 percent from the 72 cases filed last year. These covered a total of 15,534 workers as against 12,057 workers last year.

Of the cases filed this year, issues of alleged unfair labor practices were present in 47 cases while 13 where on grounds of deadlock in bargaining negotiations. Five cases raised both the issues of unfair labor practice and bargaining deadlock. Of the 72 cases filed last year, 54 involved unfair labor practice. Deadlock in collective bargaining were raised in 11 cases while seven raised both the issues of unfair labor practice and bargaining deadlock.

A settlement rate of 29 percent is registered this year benefiting 4,097 workers compared to 47 percent last year with 9,083 workers.

A total of 5.8M in monetary benefits, were granted to 343 workers in collective bargaining negotiation packages during the period covered and a separation pay of 25M where granted to 446 workers.

It took an average of 40 days to settle a strike/lockout notice this year, two days faster than the 42 days recorded last year.

Sixty-five notices of strike/lockout remain the subjects of on-going conciliation at the end of the reporting period.

Dole regional director Elias Cayanong said the said agency is doing everything to mediate and settle differences between employers and workers before resorting to strikes.