13 labor strikes filed during first half of year

Thirteen labor strikes were declared in the country during the first half of this year, the recent report by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board shows.

The figure is the same during the same period last year, but more workers were affected this year totalling 4,835, higher by 90 percent from the 2,550 workers affected last year.

But NCMB said this year's settlement of 50 percent is higher than last year's 38 percent while the disposition of cases this year improved by 93 percent compared to 38 percent a year ago. Seven of the strikes declared in 2005 involved issues on unfair labor practices while the rest are deadlock in the collective bargaining agreement.

NCMB said most of the strikes were declared in Region III with six while Central Visayas and National Capital Region have two each.

As of June 30, the mediation board said that only the strike in Fairland Knitcraft, Inc. in NCR remains the subject of conciliation and mediation. In Region VII, employees of Cebu Holiday Plaza Hotel Inc. still continue with their strike with management still refusing to give in to their demands.

Yesterday, the workers complained that police and Special Weapons and Tactics personnel tried to disperse the workers while they were conducting a moving picket in front of the hotel. "Wa mi nag-ali sa dalan, wa mi nang-harass sa guests. Nagtuman mi sa balaod. Ang management maoy wa nagtuman sa balaod (We did not block the way, we did not harass the guests. We follow the law. It is management that is not following the law)," said Yolito Banga, employees union president.

Earlier the National Labor Relations Commission presiding commissioner Gerardo Nograles issued a temporary restraining order to enjoin the workers from blocking the ingress and egress of the hotel which affects the hotel's operation.

The management are seeking the dismissal of workers who participated in the strike. Members of the Cebu Holiday Plaza Hotel Inc. Employees Union and ALU-TUCP started the strike in front of the hotel in June 1 to force the management to sign the collective bargaining agreement. Employees have vowed to continue the strike until the hotel management agrees to sign the agreement.