Foods firm workers fight reduction of workweek

CEBU - Workers of the Lami Foods Corporation yesterday held a protest against the company’s latest policy to reduce the workweek from six days to four.

The labor union of Lami Foods in Mandaue City vowed to stage daily protests at the factory gates starting yesterday afternoon and will file on Monday an unfair labor practice case at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board regional office.

Workers Organization of Lami Foods President Desiderio Lastimoso said that they were surprised by a memorandum released by the management last January 15 about the implementation of reduced work days starting on February 16.

He said this is a violation of their collective bargaining agreement that stipulates that workers must be informed and consulted of any work arrangements.

Lastimoso said that after he refused to sign the memorandum, the management reportedly tried to convince workers directly but to no avail.

The workers are demanding that the management withdraw the workweek reduction scheme and to comply with the CBA provision on consulting the union.

“The two-day reduction in the workweek means a 33-percent reduction in workers pay. It is a sacrifice that workers cannot afford given the hard times. The company on the other hand is not affected by the global crisis since it produces for the local market,” Lastimoso said.

He said that the company is profiting since it recently introduced new machines that resulted in an overstock of products that management is now using as an argument for the reduction in working days.

The Lami Foods workers also called on the support of fellow workers in Cebu and said they expect labor unions in the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu to send delegations to their daily protests similar to what was given to the workers of furniture firm Giardini del Sole.

Lami Foods processes meat products like hotdogs, hams and canned goods for the Visayas and Mindanao market. There are around 75 regular workers and more than a hundred contractual workers. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)