VECO mgt prefers compulsory arbitration

CEBU, Philippines - The management of the Visayan Electric Company prefers compulsory arbitration as it firmly believes that conciliation and mediation outside the legal confines of compulsory arbitration would be unruly.

VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera said the environment in a compulsory arbitration process would be controlled under a legal process by trained and committed professionals in a tribunal environment where the parties cannot exert pressure, threaten and intimidate.

She said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz assumed the case because they failed to reach an agreement during the mediation and the union threatened to go on strike if their demands are not met. 

“By her assumption order, that threat has been removed.  The union can no longer threaten, harass and intimidate VECO or the public with a strike,” Natera said.

Baldoz has certified the ongoing labor dispute between the VECO management and its union, the Visayan Electric Company Employees’ Union-ALU (VECEU-ALU) for a compulsory arbitration.  

The union, in a resolution, has asked the management to agree for a dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable settlement and speedy resolution of their current labor dispute.

VECEU-ALU is the sole and exclusive bargaining agent representing the rank and file employees of the electric company.

The resolution reads that a labor dispute between the VECO management and the union has reached a critical point and is counter-productive in the long term.

“The Union is preferring for a peaceful settlement of the dispute through dialogue with the presence of any interested parties, (i.e. the Visayas Clergy Discernment Group (VCDG), Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF), DOLE, NCMB, etc.),” the union’s resolution stated. (FREEMAN)