As DOLE assumes jurisdiction: VECO union scraps strike

CEBU, Philippines – The Visayan Electric Company-Employees Union-Associated Labor Unions-Trade Congress of the Philippines called-off their planned strike after the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment assumed jurisdiction over the dispute between the union and the management of the power distribution company.

DOLE secretary Rosalinda Baldoz in her intervention in the labor dispute has certified to the National Labor Relations Commission for compulsory arbitration.

NLRC will not sit as a judicial court, but as an administrative body charged with the duty to implement the secretary's order.

The NLRC's function in this case is only to formulate terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement of the union and the management.

Casmero Mahilum, VECO-EU-ALU-TUCP president said that the assumption order was signed by DOLE Secretray Baldoz on November 10, the day that President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who was in Cebu at that time learned about the labor dispute.

The President referred the matter to DOLE, when it was brought up to him.

Mahilum said that although the order was signed on November 10, which is also the last day of the seven-day cooling off period, it was only given by National Conciliation Mediation Board regional director Edmund Mirasol yesterday during their mediation.

As an effect of the assumption order, the VECO management is left with no choice but to give-in to the demand of the union, which is to reinstate Mahilum, who was terminated from service last October 28 due to lack of trust and confidence.

But Mahilum clarified, he was reinstated only in the payroll. This means he will be receiving his salary from VECO without him actually working.

His status will remain as such until the labor dispute is resolved.

The VECO management on the other hand, happily accepted the order of the DOLE Secretary.

VECO spokersperson Ethel Natera, in a press statement, said that the compulsory arbitration with payroll reinstatement was management's final offer to the union.

Mahilum nevertheless said the will no longer go on its planned strike as they knew the consequence if they will still pursue it.

VECEU-ALU-TUCP 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.

VECO, being the second largest power distributor in the country, is considered an industry indispensable to the national interest.

In its website, the Tantjutco Law Office, it said that the compelling consideration of the Secretary's assumption of jurisdiction is the fact that a prolonged strike or lockout is inimical to the national economy and thus, the need to implement some measures to suppress any act which will hinder the company's essential productions is indispensable for the promotion of the common good. - /NLQ (FREEMAN)