Salcon Workers mulling strike

CEBU, Philippines - Salcon Power Independent Union may file a notice of strike against the management for the latter’s continued refusal to grant the “equal work, equal pay” demand of the workers.

SPIU president Guadioso Iso told The FREEMAN yesterday that the union will have a general meeting this week to discuss the probability of filing a notice of strike.

The union staged a peaceful picket at Salcon plant in Naga City as their negotiations with the management resumed last Thursday.

Both the union and the management had a two-day negotiation to discuss the economic benefits of the workers including the “equal work, equal pay” demand.

But Iso said only one of the several economic provisions was agreed upon.

“Usa ra ang ge-agreehan sa economic provision pero gahi ang management sa equal work, equal pay,” Iso said.

Iso said what was agreed was the standard government’s across the board wage increase that has still to be declared by the management.

It can be recalled that SPIU filed a notice of strike with the NCMB last March 14, 2008 because Salcon refused to recognize their union.

The National Conciliation and Mediation Board mediated the labor problem as a strike against Salcon Power Corporation may threaten the already lacking power supply of Cebu. The union averted then their planned strike that would have paralyzed Cebu’s power supply after the management recognized their union and their security of tenure.  — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (THE FREEMAN)