VECO union votes to strike

CEBU, Philippines — Officers and members of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) Employees Union voted last night to strike after a deadlock on their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Roberto Pejana, union treasurer, said that 107 voted yes to strike, 20 opposed, and 20 others did not vote.

VECO Chief Operating Officer Anton Mari G. Perdices, in a statement, said that amidst the labor dispute, VECO assured all its customers that it is business as usual for the distribution utility.

"Rest assured that VECO will continue to serve our customers with the kind of excellent customer service we have been known for throughout the years," the statement reads.

To recall, last July 19, the union filed notice of strike before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB)-7 on the ground of union busting and unfair labor practice.

On July 29, the union filed their second notice of strike on the ground of CBA deadlock.

"Nag-CBA deadlock na kay wala na mi nagkasinabot sa management about sa salary increase," Pejana said.

VECO said negotiations for a new CBA started in March last year after the old CBA expired on December 31, 2016.

VECO said it exerted earnest efforts to negotiate with the union in good faith both in the plant level, as well as during the preventive mediation conferences with the NCMB.

"The only item wherein the management and the employees’ union are not in agreement is the salary increase," it said

Management is offering percentage-based across-the-board salary increase on top of the merit increase based on performance while the employees’ union wants a fixed absolute amount regardless of tenure and performance.

Pejana said they wanted a salary increase of P9,100 to be implemented in staggered basis for five years which is supposed to start in 2017.

But Pejana said that management's offer is only four percent of their monthly salary, which is just a pittance as compared to VECO's income.

"Management feels strongly that the existing CBA is fair and reasonable. The proposal, plus the existing benefits enjoyed by VECO employees is already more than enough," VECO added.

VECO further said that its employees enjoy benefits that would translate to almost 17-month pay, including 22 to 24 vacation leaves and 22 to 24 sick leaves.

All employees, it said, also enjoy full medical benefits with no limit and dependents of employees also have medical coverage.

The management also set the record straight that it did not stop members of the union from entering the VECO Banilad compound, nor did it stop union members from going out of the compound to attend the union meeting.

The management also stated that it did not prevent union members from attending or holding assemblies and meetings and no union member was terminated during the negotiation period.

It also denied having committed any activity that can be identified as unfair labor practice. (FREEMAN)