Furniture company workers end strike

CEBU, Philippines - Striking workers of Giardini del Sole yesterday formally lifted their picket after they and the management agreed to settle their month-long labor dispute.

Over 240 terminated workers, 139 of whom are union members, have agreed to receive P5,000 financial assistance.

Aside from the assistance, they will also receive separation pay (13 days for every year in service), tax refund, and SSS and Pag-IBIG refund of their unremitted contributions.

The Mandaue City government will also grant P360,000 as employment assistant for its residents affected by the streamlining as well as capitalization for a furniture cooperative from the Department of Labor and Employment.

Giovanni Boschi, president and owner of Giardini del Sole, said as of yesterday, 20 terminated workers already received their separation pay.

Boschi said that he has three months to settle the separation pay of all their terminated workers.

The terminated workers launched a strike last February 3 and paralyzed the operations of the company for two days, prompting the management to return to the negotiating table.

Early December of last year, Giardini del Sole, said to be the biggest furniture company in the country, temporarily closed down its operations due to the global financial crisis since the United States, its number one client, has no orders for 2009.

Boschi said their local clients, majority of whom are rich Chinese, keep his company going in spite of the low orders from the international market.

"My local clients do not care about the labor dispute. All they care is the good quality of my products at a discounted price," Boschi said, adding that orders from the local market have tripled. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)