Industrial front peaceful with only 3 strikes in 9 months, notes labor chief

The country's industrial front remains relatively peaceful as only three strikes occurred in the first nine months of the year compared to nine strikes declared during the same period in 2006, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Saturday.

DOLE Secretary Arturo D. Brion said that out of the 260 notices of strikes and lockouts (NS/L) filed with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) since January until Sept. 22 this year, only three cases materialized into strikes.

Brion said the board exhausted all means to settle the disputing labor and management involved in the NS/L cases.

Citing an NCMB report, Brion said the strikes occurred in two regions such as the National Capital Region with one strike and Region IV-A or Calabarzon with two strikes.

Brion said the three strikes were much lower or 67% less than the nine cases declared during the same period last year. Workers involved in these strikes likewise decreased to 292 compared to 949 a year ago.