Salcon Power union not withdrawing strike notice

CEBU, Philippines – Members of Salcon Power Independent Union denied reports that they are withdrawing the notice of strike that they filed before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board early this year.

"Di na mao ang balita," SPIU president Gaudioso Iso told The Freeman in a text message.

Iso clarified that it was Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who asked them to withdraw the notice of strike, which is still pending before the regional office of NCMB.

"Si Governor Garcia mihangyo nga isibog ang notice of strike pero akong tubag nga next week lang ko mohatag sa akong official nga stand, whether to accept or not," Iso said.

Union officials, together with Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong, had a dialogue with the governor the other day to settle the ongoing labor row between the management and the rank-and-file employees.

The SPC Power Corp. management earlier described the threat of a strike by the rank and file union as uncalled for despite its sincerity in dealing with the employees.

SPC senior vice president Alfredo S. Ballesteros, head of the management panel during the CBA negotiations, said the management lamented that the union leaders were raising high demands and were stubborn during negotiations for Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Ballesteros said the union led by Iso took a take-it-or-leave-it position and did not return to the negotiating table but went to the media instead.

He added that the union should realize that Cebuanos would not tolerate hostile actions from its members that would disrupt power supply. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM (THE FREEMAN)