Strike threats to affect 50,000 workers in RP

Over 50,000 workers in 258 companies all over the country are threatening to go on strike due to disputes with management, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

However, DOLE officials are not alarmed as they expressed optimism that most of these disputes would be settled amicably through the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

Acting Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said the NCMB has been doing everything to end ongoing strikes and prevent others from occurring. He lauded the board for its speedy action on all strikes and threats.

NCMB Executive Director Rolando Rico Olalia reported that 258 strike notices have been filed with them since January, but this number was 24 percent lower than the 340 notices filed in the same period last year.

He added that the 55,388 workers involved in these planned strikes were also lower than the 72,793 workers involved in last year’s strike threats.

Olalia did not say, though, how many of last year’s threats resulted in actual strikes. But he was quick to point out that 11 of the country’s 15 regions did not see a single strike since the year started.

Meanwhile, Brion revealed that only 20 strikes were recorded between January and May, most of them in Metro Manila. These strikes, he said, affected some 3,462 workers or 67 percent less than those who went on strike last year.

Olalia said 16 of the 20 strikes were in the manufacturing sector, with the hotel and restaurant sector experiencing two and the pharmaceutical and electric cooperative sectors having one each.

In another development, some 50 companies and recruitment agencies in Metro Manila will hold a two-day job fair today and tomorrow at the Luneta.

Brion said thousands of jobs will be up for grabs during the fair and job seekers can even avail of free training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) during the event.

Alex Maraan, director of DOLE for the National Capital Region, said job applicants for the service, manufacturing, information technology, telecommunications and other industries should bring all necessary employment requirements such as biodata, NBI/police clearance, SSS/TIN, diploma, transcript of records and others for fast processing of applications. – Mayen Jaymalin