Yap finally intervenes in Philippine Rabbit labor row

TARLAC CITY — Responding to the public clamor, Gov. Jose Yap has finally interceded in the labor standoff that has paralyzed the operations of the Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines (PRBL), one of the country’s oldest bus companies, for more than four months now.

But the impasse remains as the PRBL management rejected the demand of protesting workers that they be exonerated from any possible liability for staging an illegal strike.

Nonetheless, several agreements have been initially ironed out in meetings called for by Yap between board member Nicholo Nisce, whose family owns the bus company, and leaders of the militant faction of the Philippine Rabbit Bus Employees Union (PRBEU).

These agreements called for, among others, the payment of the "final backwages" of P100,000 each to five striking employees who were dismissed in late 2002.

On behalf of the PRBL, Nisce agreed that 50 percent of the P100,000 will be released two weeks after the company has resumed its operations, and the balance two months thereafter.

The PRBL management has also agreed to enforce the Department of Labor and Employment’s Wage Order Nos. 6 and 7 as well as a tax refund for workers until January next year.

The company also concurred that its workers can enjoy benefits from the Social Security System (SSS) with the management paying their unremitted contributions.

While optional or early retirement will be suspended, the PRBL further agreed that employees who will avail themselves of its compulsory retirement benefits will be paid upon the company’s resumption of operations until the end of January next year.

Nisce also promised that the PRBL would disburse the workers’ unpaid wages soon after their buses start plying their regular routes, while the remaining 25 percent of the employees’ 13th month pay for 2003 would be released on or before Jan. 30, 2005.

The PRBL management also agreed to the holding of an election by the PRBEU with the assistance of former Ambassador Roy Señeres, chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), and that the company would keep its hands off the election.

But the draft agreement that should have put an end to the protracted strike has been put on hold after Nisce rejected the strikers’ demand that their pending cases with the NLRC would be rendered "moot and academic" once they sign the accord.

The PRBL management said its stand on this matter remains "definitely non-negotiable."

"Their (strikers’) liability (has been) exacerbated by the illegal acts they have committed during the strike," the bus company said, citing instances when some strikers destroyed PRBL buses whose drivers and conductors had refused to join the strike.

Besides, "the interest of the riding public was severely prejudiced (by the strike) as it was timed and staged during an expected heavy passenger traffic," the company said.

The militant faction of the PRBEU started their strike last April 3, the first day of Holy Week.

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas subsequently issued a return-to-work order to the strikers, saying their action was illegal and "inimical to national interest."

On the basis of Sto. Tomas’ order, the PRBL filed charges against 262 workers with the NLRC.