Religious group asks PNoy to look into VECO labor row

CEBU, Philippines - A group of Roman Catholic bishops and clergy urged the Office of the President to take effective measures to ensure the protection of worker’s rights and the integrity of labor unions, citing specifically the ongoing labor row between the management and workers’ union of the Visayan Electric Company.

The National Clergy Discernment Group, a national gathering of Roman Catholic bishops and clergy nationwide, wrote a letter to President Benigno Aquino III contending that they share in the anguish and plight of the VECO union members and their families.

The letter, signed by Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, on behalf of NCDG, expressed the group’s concern over the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Labor Relations Commission that the group contends as favoring the VECO management and “disturbingly anti-labor.”

In the same letter, the bishop asked the President to “study” the updates in the situation, saying submitting the workers to a lengthy process of appeal is tantamount to a denial of justice, death and destruction not only to the workers but also to their families.

The VECO union earlier held an indignation rally at the NLRC 7th Division to dramatize the union’s strong dismay over the impending dismissal of the union’s motion for reconsideration filed last July 21, 2011.

The motion for reconsideration was filed over the decision of the NLRC legalizing the VECO Management’s alleged non-compliance of the Grievance Procedure in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as well as in legalizing the dismissal of union president Casmero Mahilum.

Mahilum, in a statement, said that last August 3, 2011, the Union received a hint that its motion for reconsideration would be dismissed by the NLRC as manifested by the decision of the NLRC to no longer release his salaries and benefits.

Mahilum said the union considers this decision as an expressed or implied admission of the NLRC that it has already decided on the case even before receiving the motion for reconsideration. (FREEMAN)