58,000 workers threaten strike

Over 58,000 workers employed in 264 firms nationwide are threatening to go on strike due to pending labor disputes, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Data from the DOLE-National Conciliation and Meditation Board (NCMB) showed that a total of 58,105 workers from 264 companies have filed notices of strike during the first nine months of the year.

Labor officials, however, said DOLE is exerting efforts to prevent the labor disputes from erupting into full blown strikes and lockouts.

The NCMB reported that 40 of the labor dispute cases are still under conciliation talks while the rest have been resolved.

Based on NCMB records, the number of  notices of strike and lockout filed from January to September was three percent lower than 272 cases filed during the same period in 2006.

The NCMB said the number of workers involved in the labor disputes was 14 percent less than the 67,860 workers who filed notices of strike last year.

A majority of the disputes involved complaints of unfair labor practice. About 68 of the cases were filed after negotiations for  collective bargaining agreements (CBA) ended in deadlock.

The NCMB said more that 10,000 workers were granted a total of P826 million in CBA benefits and separation pay  following mediation efforts.

Some 8,459 workers received P625 million in CBA economic packages and about 1,738 workers got P201 million in separation benefits. – Mayen Jaymalin