Carmen Copper fires 400 workers; union protests

CEBU, Philippines - Officials and members of Panaghiusa sa Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper Corporation-Alliance of  Genuine Labor Organization have staged protest after the management reportedly terminated 400 employees this month.

The terminated workers are members of the union.

Held in front of  the company’s gate in Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Lutopan, Toledo City yesterday, the protest was a prelude to their much bigger labor action.

Dennis Derige, AGLO-Visayas and Mindanao head organizer, said they are left with no choice but to hold a protest.

“We expect more employees to be terminated,” said Derige.

The management in a statement to The FREEMAN has denied the report.

“There was no dismissal but only cessation of their employment due to completion of the project for which they were hired or specifically assigned,” it said.

The management said “these employees were informed of the duration and the terms and conditions of their employment as per the contract of employment that they signed into.”

“Di na tinuod nga nahuman na ang project because until now they are still hiring employees. Majority of those who were terminated were regular employees, who were working in the company since 2007,” Derige countered.

Derige said the management is banking on the recent decision of the Department of Labor and Employment which said the union is not the authorized Collective Bargaining Agent and merely designated the union as an administrator of the CBA.

“The company is using this order to do whatever they want to do. We want a status quo and this order is still on appeal considering the order is not yet final and executory,” said Derige.

He said the DOLE’s move is tantamount to culpable violation of the union’s existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the company.

It can be recalled that PAMCC-AGLO filed a notice of strike last February13 against the company but called-off their planned strike last February 27 after three of their four major demands were answered by the management.  (FREEMAN)