Union members lift protest actions

CEBU, Philippines - The employees union of  Carmen Copper Corporation lifted its protest after five days of mass action to give way to the mediation process.

Members and officials of the Panaghiusa sa Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper- Alliance of Genuine Labor Organization decided to wait for the result of the se-cond round of the mediation on May 5 before taking any further action.

“For the last five days, we were able to bring the message clearly to the company. We will wait for the outcome of the May 5 mediation,” said Dennis Derige, head organizer of AGLO Visayas and Min-danao.

The union members and officials started to hold protest action against the management on April 21 after more than 400 union members were terminated.

CCC Senior Corporate Relations and Communications Officer Sofia P. Picardal, said there was no dismissal but only cessation of the worker’s employment due to completion of the project for which they were hired or specifically assigned.

She said that the workers were informed about the nature of their employment and its duration based on the contract they signed with the company.

Picardal also insisted that the union has already been stripped of its bargaining rights based on the order from the secretary of labor. The DOLE secretary only recognized the union as a mere administrator of the Collective Bargaining Agreement rather than being a bargaining agent.

PAMCC filed a notice of strike on February13 against the company but called-off its plan three of its four major demands were addressed by the management.

But the union re-filed the notice two weeks ago because of alleged unfair labor practices and continuous violations committed by the management of the existing CBA.  (FREEMAN)