Firm to sue picketing workers, union executives

CEBU, Philippines - The corporate counsel of Chagrin Inc., the export company whose factory was barricaded by former workers of R&Y Augousti Furniture Export Company who are also union members of the ALU-TUCP is set to file several charges against the picketing former workers and union officials on Monday.

Ronald Baquiano, Chagrin’s corporate counsel, and associate lawyers Joyce Adlao and Ricardo Labial Jr., called a press conference yesterday morning to belie statements made by the former company workers of R & Y Augousti that both companies belong to the same owner.

Baquiano said the R & Y employees instigated by their union leaders have claimed that Chagrin Inc. and R & Y are one and the same corporation.

Former workers of R & Y Augousti held a picket outside the gate of Chagrin Inc. which holds office at Dedon Building in barangay Pagsabungan, Mandaue City, believing that their former company had changed its name and transferred its operation in the place and has even hired former co-workers.

However, Baquiano yesterday said that although the company has hired some former co-workers of R & Y Augousti, which constitute 10 percent of the company’s skilled workers, and that there are some products of R & Y Auguosti which Chagrin also makes, but denied that Chagrin Inc. is the same company and is operating as a run-away shop.

But he said Chagrin Inc. has a different owner ,since it is a Manila-based company owned by the Solis family and as proof of ownership, the lawyer showed reporters yesterday the company’ registration number from the Securities and Exchange Commission which states that the company’s name is Chagrin Inc.

Baquiano said that since R & Y employees have barricaded the company’s gate since Thursday yet, the company is left with no options but to file criminal cases individually against the picketing workers and two officials of the ALU-TUCP who they identified as Arnold Arcipe and Josephine Tahadlangit.

He said the company does not want to file charges against the picketing workers because this would make them suffer more they being jobless.

But he said there are some incidents that are beyond control, prompting it to file cases against them.

He said the company is trying to ship out goods to other countries and if it fails to ship the goods, the company would lose $100,000 per day for every delayed shipment.

He said that the company would ask the court on Monday for an injunction and file cases such as physical injuries, harassment, intimidation, and grave threats.

Baquiano said such cases will be filed against the picketing union workers and officials for preventing the ingress and egress of vehicles and personnel to and from the factory.

He also claimed that picketing workers also physically harmed one of the company’s workers, prompting the worker to file a complaint at the Basak police station.

The lawyer even described the policemen who were monitoring the strike as “inutil” for their inability to act on the harassment made by the picketing workers. 

At least 20 factory workers were trapped inside the company as of 11 p.m. last Thursday when picketing workers used a company service vehicle to block the gate.

Baquiano said the workers should not have picketed the company because they do not work for the company.

He added that these picketing workers have not acquired a notice of strike or permit to strike against the company.

Baquiano also showed reporters yesterday a letter of withdrawal executed by Cirilo Labay, the Union president of R & Y Augousti, addressed to the National Conciliation Mediation Board (NCMB) dated May 24,2010.

In his letter of withdrawal, Labay in his capacity as president of the R & Y employees Union, informed NCMB that their company has been on a temporary shutdown due to serious financial losses and is without a new location to further conduct business operations to provide continued employment to its employees.

Considering the plight of the company, Labay in his capacity as president then withdrew the notice of strike earlier filed by the union.

The workers accused the company of being a run-away shop and for unfair labor practice such as union busting and flagrant and malicious violation of the economic provision of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA). (FREEMAN NEWS)