Coca-Cola unions renew CBA with management

CEBU, Philippines - The two employees union of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines have renewed their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the management with the new CBA promising more benefits and an increase of salary.

“You are so fortunate. While other companies, amidst the global financial crisis, continue to terminate its workers, you are renewing your CBA with an increase in your monthly salary,” says Arturo Kierulf, conciliator-mediator of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in his speech during the CBA signing last Saturday.

Mar Santiago, Coca-Cola Human Resource manager in the Visayas, said the signing of the CBA is a milestone of a harmonious relationship between the unions and the management, as well as amongst the two employees unions- the Supervisory Employees Union - All Workers Alliance Trade Union and the Cebu Royal Plant Employees Sales Force Union-AWATU.

Rone Rentoy, Coca-Cola corporate labor relations manager and workplace accountability manager, also said the new CBA signifies a “wonderful relationship” between the unions and management.

For CRESFU-AWATU, which is composed of sales personnel - regular route salesman and regular relief salesman, the first year implementation of the CBA stipulates an increase in their salary of P900 per month at a retroactive basis starting November 1, 2008.

In the second year of implementation, which starts on November 1, 2009, the employees shall receive another increase of P1,500 per month and still another P1,600 per month increase in the third year of implementation beginning November 1, 2010.

For the regular route drivers and regular route helpers, a total increase of P3,600 was also granted at a staggered basis in three years.

Meanwhile, the supervisory workers were also granted an increase of P2,400 per month, which will be implemented in three years. However, an increase in the next two years would be based on performance.

Aside from the salary increase, the employees are also entitled to receive P10,000 as calamity loan, medical assistance, and a monthly rice allowance, among others. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)