VECO employees to welcome DOLE Intervention

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company- Employees Union-Associated Labor Unions-Trade Congress of the Philippines said it would welcome the Department of Labor and Employment into the picture if the latter decides to assume jurisdiction over the dispute between the workers and the power firm management.

“Mas maayo kung mo-assume og jurisdiction ang DOLE,” says VECEU-ALU-TUCP local president Casimero Mahilum yesterday.

VECO, being the second largest power distributor in the country, is considered as a public utility imbued with public interest.

Under the law, in utilities or companies imbued with public interest, the Labor secretary has the power to assume jurisdiction, if in case the union will pursue their planned strike.

In effect of such assumption, the workers will be then mandated to go back to work while the management is also mandated to take the workers back, as the on-going labor dispute is being resolved.

Meanwhile, some members of VECEU-ALU-TUCP held a caravan yesterday from Colon St. passing Fuente Osmeña, Cebu Business Park, Banilad, A.S. Fortuna St. in Mandaue City before going back to the ALU office at Pier I.

Mahilum said that the caravan is aimed at letting the public know that they will go on with their planned strike if there is no positive development during the conciliation meeting at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board on Monday.

According to him, the union and the management representatives will be discussing his reinstatement. He was terminated from service by the management last October 28 on the ground of lack trust and confidence.

The VECO management has already expressed its disappointment with the actions of the union but still it has assured that their operation will not be disrupted in the event the strike will erupt anytime after November 10.

“We are committed to ensure and guarantee that your electric service will not be disrupted. VECO will continue to provide full uninterrupted service as is expected from an electric utility granted the privilege to operate a franchise,” the company earlier said in a press statement.

VECO serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay and Naga and four municipalities of the greater part of Metro Cebu – Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and San Fernando. Its franchise service covers an area of about 672 square kilometers with an estimated population of 1.73 million.

VECEU-ALU-TUCP has filed notice of strike for union-busting with various violations allegedly committed by the management which includes harassment, suspension of 21 members without following the grievance procedure and labor-only contracting.   (FREEMAN NEWS)