VECO management says Union head no longer an employee

CEBU, Philippines – The management of the Visayan Electric Company yesterday clarified that Casmero Mahilum, the head of the rank-and-file employees union, is no longer an employee of the company.

VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera said that Mahilum is now an ex-VECO employee and at the same time an ex-president of the VECO-Employees Union.

"He (now) cannot refer to himself as an employee of VECO. Wala na siyay legal personality to be the union president after his termination," Natera said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

Mahilum was terminated from service last October 28.

Natera said that Mahilum's reinstatement is only in the payroll while his case is still being heard by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.

"He is still terminated. He cannot even get inside any of our offices," Natera said.

But Mahilum, when sought for his comment, said he is still an employee of VECO and the president of the union.

"Wa pa maputol ang employee-employer relationship. I am still an employee of VECO and still the president of the union," Mahilum said.

The VECEU appealed to the public, local government officials and business groups to pressure the VECO management to hold a dialogue with the union.

Mahilum claimed that the continued defiance of the management of the order of the labor secretary and the continuing harassment and union-busting prompted the union to rethink of launching another protest action.

"The union deems that the moves of the management should be opposed through concerted actions in order to protect job security and union security," he said.

Meanwhile, priests and nuns belonging to the Task Force or Urban Conscientization asked the VECO management to settle the problem with the VECEU.

They said they are concerned that the alleged violations of the management of the DOLE order will push the workers to stage another strike.

In a December 1, 2010 letter addressed to Jaime Jose Aboitiz, VECO executive vice president and chief operations officer, the national and Cebu officers of TUFUC-ARMRSP said they are one in urging the VECO management to settle its differences with the union.

"TFUC-AMRSP officers are anxious of the welfare of the wife and children of Mahilum who are being deprived of daily sustenance due to this act," they said.

"We think that the DOLE's order to VECEU not to strike becomes morally untenable if VECO management continues to resist the call for amicable settlement through mediation," they added. - Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Mylen P. Manto/LPM (FREEMAN)