Workers, hospital mgt set to meet tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - The management and union of the Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House Inc. (CPCMHI) are said to convene tomorrow, February 9, to tackle anew the ongoing dispute over salary hike pursuant to an alleged agreement.

 Fundador Alforque, vice president of the Association of Democratic Labor Organizations – Kilusang Mayo Uno (CPCMHI-ADLU-KMU), said the second conciliation-mediation is initially set tomorrow.

 However, the management of CPCMHI is yet to agree on the schedule.

 Alforque said they will raise anew the implementation of the P20 to P25 increase, which was reportedly approved on March 25, 2015.

 Alforque recalled that the union and the management representative, lawyer Cornelio Mercado, signed an agreement last March for a P20 increase in the daily wage of employees for 2015 and another P25 in 2016. However, the management allegedly rejected the agreement and insisted on its proposal to grant only a P1 increase.

 Alforque clarified that they are still open for negotiation with the management if the latter opts to issue a counter proposal or offer.

 “Modawat man mi bisan ilang pagamyan. But dili mi mosugot sa P1 kay di na makatarungan,” he said.

 The union’s planned strike will push through if the management chooses the P1 increase.

 He explained that it is easy for them to stage a rally since they already filed a notice of strike before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) on January 4.

 “Kun maggahi gyod sila. Mag-strike gyod mi,” he said.

 During the first mediation-conciliation last week, the union and management failed to settle the ongoing labor dispute.

 The NCMB has intervened into the case, asking both parties to come up with a “win-win solution.” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz sent the Deputy Administrator of the Conciliation-Mediation Board Jay Jasper in Cebu last week to urge the employees and management to put an end to the issue.  (FREEMAN)