NFA management, workers ink new agreement

The management of the National Food Authority (NFA) signed the agency’s second collective negotiations agreement (CNA) with the NFA Employees Association (NFAEA) last Feb. 1.

It was the first management-employee union agreement to be concluded under the new government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The agreement was signed by former Agriculture Secretary and NFA Administrator Domingo Panganiban and the union’s national president, Roman Sanchez.

The NFAEA, with 14 regional and 84 provincial chapters, is a union of 5,284 NFA employees nationwide. It is registered with the Department of Labor and Employment and Civil Service Commission.

It is a chartered member of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) and is recognized as the sole and exclusive negotiating representative of all NFA rank-and-file employees for the last 14 years.

Negotiations for the CNA formally started last Nov. 25 based on a mutual agreement between former NFA Administrator Edno Joson II and Sanchez wherein the negotiations rules were considered and adopted by both parties.

Under the agreement, employee concerns such as union recognition and security, personnel action, employees’ rights and benefits, safety, health and environment, professional growth and advancement selection and promotion and redress of grievances, are being addressed. The CNA will be in effect for three years after signing.

A major highlight of the agreement is the provision on "union leave" for union officers conducting union activities. The union leave is equivalent to a maximum of 100 percent of the work time for the union national president and other national officers and 20 percent for local chapter officers. A union office will also be provided to all 84 district and provincial chapters nationwide.