Mediation averts labor strike at MEZ

CEBU, Philippines — A labor strike at the Mactan Economic Zone has been averted after several weeks of mediation led by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan.

However, 76 workers of the garment factory, First Glory Philippines, will pursue their demands by filing a case for illegal dismissal and union busting against the management.

In December 2020, the company’s labor union filed a notice of strike and later members voted yes to going on strike.

Union president Cristito Pangan said that they are now preparing to file a case at the National Labor Relations Commission and with the assistance of Partido Manggagawa.

“We are confident of winning our complaint for illegal dismissal and union busting,” Pangan said.

Aside from filing a case, Pangan said the union is also preparing for the certification election scheduled on February 15.

“The union has been key in fighting for the jobs of the 76 workers who refused to accept the retrenchment. The victory of the union in the election will also be important in improving the wages and working conditions of the remaining 700 workers of First Glory,” Pangan said.

The union is arguing that the mass layoff is illegal as its main customer, the US brand J.Crew, has already exited bankruptcy in September.

“The labor dispute at First Glory is symptomatic of the epidemic of labor rights violations during the time of Covid. Employers are weaponizing the Covid-19 crisis to bust unions and violate labor standards,” Pangan added.

The labor dispute started with the firing last November 27 of 300 workers, including the union president and other union officers.

During the mass layoff, the union had a pending petition for certification election. A rally of terminated First Glory workers last November 30 was broken up by police and led to the arrest of five labor organizers.

Paid

Meanwhile, around 2,500 beneficiaries of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in Lapu-Lapu City have received their salaries for their part time job as street cleaners last January 31, 2021.

Through the assistance of the Office of Congresswoman Paz C. Radaza, beneficiaries from 15 barangays in both mainland and Olango Island have received their reference numbers which they will use in getting their salaries from a remittance center.

Under Bayanihan 2 to Recover as One Act, the Department of Labor and Employment 7 implemented TUPAD all throughout Central Visayas giving priority to the workers in the informal sector affected by the pandemic.

The DOLE-7 has tapped the services of the remittance center to expedite the payments.

The beneficiaries include those from barangays Caohagan, Baring, Caubian, Pangan-an, Tungasan and Sabang in Olango Island, and from barangays Calawisan, Ibo, Buaya, Maribago, Babag, Gun-ob, Basak, Subabasbas and Mactan in the mainland.

Each beneficiary is paid a minimum salary of P404 per day for 14 days.

Radaza thanked DOLE-7 regional director Salome Siaton for prioritizing the city in the releasing of salaries and in the implementation of the program in general.

Radaza said that this time of pandemic, people rely mainly on their salary and assistance from programs like TUPAD as it helps the beneficiaries to purchase food and other necessities.

She further said that more than 7,000 beneficiaries will receive their salaries this year which she lobbied in Congress for the programs of DOLE-7. — GMR (FREEMAN)