DOLE: Strikes up 11% in first 5 months

Filipino workers are getting restive.

Since January, the Department of Labor has reported an 11 percent increase in the number of strikes declared in various companies nationwide.

More than 53,000 workers from 292 commercial establishments are also threatening to walk out of their jobs because of pending labor disputes.

Records of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) show workers have declared a total of 20 strikes from January to May 14 or 11 percent more than last year’s figures.

The number of workers joining strikes this year has also increased to 5,891 from the 3,260 that was recorded between January and May last year.

Four work stoppages were reported this month, including those at the International School in Makati and the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manila, which cases are still being resolved.

The number of strike notices also rose by 22 percent this year with 292 cases being filed as compared to 249 during the same period last year.

The number of workers involved remained at 53,566.

Preventive mediation cases also increased by 10 percent to a total of 307 as compared to 278 during the same period last year.

More workers were affected by the work stoppage–63,953 as compared to 53,022 last year.

Earlier, labor officials projected an increase in strike notices this year because many collective bargaining agreements are expected to expire in many firms nationwide.

However, Labor Undersecretary Arturo Brion said the recorded increase in work stoppages and strike notices is still within manageable level.

"It’s a CBA year so we can expect higher number of notices of strike," he said.

Labor officials are confident that continuous mediation would result in a settlement of pending labor disputes.

Last year, more than 50,000 workers from 258 firms nationwide threatened to go on strike following disputes with management.

Brion said the NCMB had been doing everything to prevent strikes from occurring and have been trying to convince labor and management to settle their differences.

Last February, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said 521 commercial establishments might be forced to close down or retrench workers because of financial difficulties.

She said 70 firms have filed notices of closure and 2,073 workers are expected to be displaced and that notices of retrenchment of other companies could affect 6,526 workers.

However, Sto. Tomas said displaced workers can immediately get new jobs through the labor department’s employment promotion programs in 16 regions.