Workers: Alta Mode's financial statement doesn't prove losses

CEBU, Philippines - The protesting workers of Alta Mode Inc., a garments factory at the Mactan Economic Zone II and subcontractor for global brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, say that the financial statement submitted by the company to the Department of Labor and Employment does not prove its claims of losses. 

Renante Pelino, president of Alta Mode Workers Union (AMWU), in a press statement sent to The FREEMAN, said that Alta Mode is lying and its own financial statement exposes its lies.

“Alta Mode’s books are in the black not in the red. Thus, union busting is the real reason for the planned closure,” he stressed.

AMWU’s legal counsel, Atty. Edgar Griño, said that AMI has no long-term liabilities and its total liabilities comprise solely of trade and other payable in the amount of P 21,045,866.98 which is less than its total assets of P 27,853,090.91.

In effect, AMWU’s statement said that AMI’s total equity is positive and not negative and that AMI is financially “very healthy and robust” and has no reason therefore to close its operations.

 The union has presented its findings to the mediation hearing called yesterday by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.

 AMWU is demanding that the workers be allowed to return to work, arguing that the planned closure should be declared an unfair labor practice and thus, illegal.

Labor party-list Partido ng Manggagawa-Cebu spokesman Dennis Derige said that sending written notices about the impending closure on March 15, Alta Mode management reportedly has refused to meet with the workers.

Derige added that none of the 91 members of AMWU accepted the separation package being disbursed by Alta Mode management at the DOLE office.

Only 15 contractual workers and office employees of Alta Mode, none of whom were union members, took the package.

 Since Monday, February 15, AMWU has protested outside the main gates of the MEZ II after workers were reportedly refused entry and not allowed to go to work. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/WAB    (FREEMAN NEWS)