VECO union claims management trying to break them up

CEBU, Philippines - Visayan Electric Company Employees Union entered their fourth day of protests outside the Visayan Electric Company compound in Banilad, Cebu City yesterday with the union president accusing the company of trying to “brainwash” them.

“Members are all wearing their black t-shirts symbolizing grief and condemning the unfair labor practice of their management,” said Casimero Mahilum, president of VECEU.

He added that eight members of their union were suspended without passing the grievance committee in their Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Two of them face a 30-day suspension while the other six got five-day suspensions.

Meanwhile one union member was dismissed after he alleged stole wires.

“There should be first a joint investigation by the union and the management,” Mahilum said.

Yesterday, all employees were called for the meeting wherein they are divided into three batches.

Mahilum said that they were threatened by the management to be terminated because of what was published in the newspaper.

“Gi-condition na ang mga union members’ aron nga dili na mosalig sa mga opisyal sa union og dili na mo-apil sa mga ipahigayon nga mga pag-protesta,” Mahilum added.

“Kagahapon atol sa meeting gi-brainwash ang among mga meyembro, aron nga mawagtangan og pagsalig og mabungkag ang maong union”, Mahilum said. 

The protest caravan they had planned for today is also cancelled.

Instead VECEU will be conducting a special general membership meeting today at 5 p.m. to discuss the appropriate case that they plan to file this Monday before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board. — Johanna T. Natavio/BRP (THE FREEMAN)