Majority of members decide: VECO union votes 'yes' to hold strike

CEBU, Philippines – The members of the labor union of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) voted yes to a strike last night.

Majority of the 239 members of the Visayan Electric Company Employees Union - Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (VECEU-ALU-TUCP ) favor the staging of strike during the vote held outside the company's compound in Banilad and also at the D. Jakosalem office.

VECEU-ALU-TUCP president Casimero Mahilum said that of the 239 union members, a total of 156 members have voted for the strike. The union only needed 122 votes to make their strike legal.

In Banilad, of the 120 members expected to vote, 103 showed up and all but three voted yes. 

At the VECO Jakosalem office, only 53 of the 119 members voted. Of those who voted, 49 voted yes.

Mahilum said that those who failed to cast their votes were either on leave or simply failed to beat the 8 p.m. deadline.

Renato Gregorio Gimenez, VECEU-ALU spokesperson and vice president said that the strike vote is a protest against unjust labor practices.

The Labor Code mandates that a simple majority (50% plus 1) for the strike to be legal.

The result of the strike vote will be submitted by the union to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) today.

After the result of the vote is submitted, there is a seven-day cooling-off period before the union will decide when to launch the strike.

Mahilum said that their action "will cripple VECO's operation."

He said that if the union will not get any positive response from the management of the power utility by November 10, they can hold their strike any time.

"Di lang mi mosulti sa when ang exact date sa strike. But mahitabo gyud na ang strike, kung walay mahitabo nga maayo during negotiations," Mahilum said.

Mahilum, who was terminated from work last week, said that the conduct of the strike vote was peaceful.

The union filed its notice of strike before the NCMB last October 28 on the ground of unfair labor practice.

The notice was filed after Mahilum was terminated that day on the ground of loss of trust and confidence.

ALU-TUCP had expressed disgust over the management's decision to terminate the local president and is expressing full support of whatever the general membership will decide related to this act from management of disrespecting trade union rights.

VECO, in a press statement reiterated its assurance to the public that in the event of a strike, electric service in all areas under their franchise shall be uninterrupted.

VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera had said that they shall ensure that electric service as well as customer requests, applications and payments as well as complaints will be acted on in a manner that the VECO customer requires and deserves. -/NLQ (FREEMAN)