Labor groups schedule summit to tackle woes

Cebu - Labor unions and unorganized labor groups are calling on workers, especially those affected by recent termination moves, to participate in a labor summit, which will tackle issues that threaten employment.

Dennis Derige, spokesperson of Partido ng Manggagawa said officers of the Nagkahiusang Pwersa sa Mamumuo sa Giardini-PM, the organization of workers of furniture manufacturer Giardini del Sole, and union officers of other companies have already expressed support to participate in the summit.

Derige said the labor summit is necessary, especially that the proposed Executive-Legislative Summit of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan reportedly leaves out workers’ representation.

The summit proposed by Pangilinan aims to gather the legislators, cabinet members, and businessmen to discuss ways to create jobs in the midst of an impending global financial crisis.

Eric Mendoza, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, supports the Executive-Legislative Summit, saying the same could provide an avenue for government to assess affected industries and come up with mitigating measures.

Two weeks ago, Mandaue-based Giardini del Sole Inc., the country's biggest furniture company in the country, declared temporary closure and affected more than 400 workers.

Today, union officers and the Giardini del Sole management will hold final negotiations before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board. Previous negotiations have failed to settle issues.

In the previous negotiations, the management and the union agreed to establish a joint evaluation team, which will be composed of the union, management, and the Department of Labor and Employments/NCMB to rotate work among as many of the workers as possible.

They also agreed to grant a financial assistance of P5,000 and one sack of rice to the affected employees for the duration of the temporary shutdown. The financial assistance and rice will be deducted from the separation pay of the workers should a permanent closure be declared.

It was also agreed that no worker will be terminated and only voluntary resignations will be accepted and for the company to release back wages for the holiday pay last December equivalent to three days salary.

But Derige said that none of those earlier agreed upon were complied by management, which prompted them to hold a picket at the company's factory in barangay Alang-Alang since last Thursday.

Earlier, Giardini del Sole owner and president Giovanni Bosch said the worldwide economic crunch has really taken its toll on the company’s operations. Ninety-five percent of the company’s market is in the United States, Italy, and several other parts of Europe. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)