Veco strike notice up for hearing

CEBU, Philippines - Both the  union and the management of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) are directed by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board-7 to submit their respective justifications on the notice of strike filed by the union.

VECO Employees Union president Casmero Mahilum said that this was the order by NCMB-7 during their conciliation and mediation hearing yesterday.

Mahilum said that the union was given ten days to justify the legality of their notice to strike while the management is given ten days to justify its position that the notice is illegal.

Mahilum added that the management, through their legal counsel Diolito Alvarez, demanded that he should be excluded in the conciliation meeting, maintaining that the latter is no longer a VECO employee in view of his termination two years ago.

Mahilum, however, maintains that he is still an employee of the said power company despite their ongoing labor row.

In yesterday’s hearing, Mahilum and his vice president Renato Gregorio Gimenez appeared representing the union while Alvarez represented the management.

VECEU has filed a notice of strike before NCMB-7 last May 21 on the ground of union busting. –Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JPM  (THE FREEMAN)