No more strike: Cepalco, labor union agree

THE labor dispute over the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the employees’ union and management of Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) has been resolved.

Department of Labor and Employment (Dole 10) regional director Reymundo Agravante witnessed the agreement between the Cepalco management and the Cepalco Employees’ Labor Union (Celu).

Lawyer Nicandro Borja, vice president for northern Mindanao of the Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), confirmed that Celu and the Cepalco management have come to an agreement.

Borja said that this means the employees will no longer push through with their planned strike. After a one-day hearing at the National Conciliation Mediation Board (NCMB) on July 15, the management agreed to give in to the demands of Celu.

Lawyer Ligaya Lumbay presided over the hearing where both sides saw fit to come up with a “win-win” solution to the labor dispute, Borja explained.

Among the agreed terms of the renewed CBA are:
• Additional P1,775 per month for each employee in lieu to the union’s demand of a P2,400 monthly salary hike;
• Profit sharing amounting to P32,000 at the end of each fiscal year;
• CBA signing bonus of P35,000
• Christmas bonus amounting to P8,000 for the first year, P9,000 for the second year, and P10,000 for the third year.

“Kon mag-expire na ang among CBA after sa three years agreement, another negotiation na usab ang mahitabo,” said Borja.

For her part, Celu president Amor Sanchez said that even though they were not able to get everything that they sought for, they were able to get a substantial increase in their benefits.

“At least there was a substantial improvement sa ubang mga benefits nga among gipangayo,” Sanchez said. (nitz arancon)