BPI management, union ink CBA

The Bank of Philippine Islands employees' union and the management made a historical move after signing their Collective Bargaining Agreement in just a short period of time and without the assistance of any lawyer.

BPI President Aurelio Montinola II, in his speech after the joint signing of the CBA with the different chapter presidents of the three employees' unions at the Casino Español yesterday, said the signing benefits not just the workers and the unions but also the management as well.

Emmanuel Herbosa, chairman of the management panel who negotiated with the Federation of Unions in BPI-Unibank said that the management is investing more on labor relations to attain a higher level of industrial peace.

"BPI consider its people as its asset and we have to actualize that in dealing with their own people. BPI has a good relationship with its clients and the more we should take care of our employees. We are so happy about this achievement," Herbosa said.

He added that that it only took them three meetings to agree on what is now being stipulated under the CBA, a sincere effort of both parties hence the agreement was signed after a short period of time.

BPI's union is divided in three, namely: the two independent unions in Metro Cebu and in Bicol and the FUBU, which is composed of their branches all over Luzon except Metro Manila.

BPI has 5,579 regular employees nationwide, all of them union members.

Under the newly-signed CBA, all employees will receive an increase of P1,250 per month on top of their current salary for the first year of the CBA implementation which retroactively took effect last April 1, 2006. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan