Labor mediation board dismisses XU workers union’s notice to strike

By Nitz Arancon,
Correspondent

THE National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) has dismissed the notice of strike of Xavier University Non-Teaching Employees Union (Xuntelu) backed by the Associated Labor Union (ALU) over the refusal of Xavier University to give Christmas cash gift after both parties came to an agreement.

This, after NCMB Hearing Officer Director Reynaldo Poncardas and Department of Labor and Employment 10 Regional Director Raymundo Agravante during their  sixth session on Nov. 22 ruled to dismiss the notice of strike filed by ALU northern Mindanao Vice President Nicandro Borja, and Xuntelu against the management of XU.

Borja said ALU, Xuntelu, and XU came to a settlement which led to the dismissal of the notice of strike.

“Imbis P5,000 ang among gipangayo nga Christmas cash gift karong December,  nagkasabot kami sa management sa Xavier nga P2,700 lang kada non-teaching employee ang ilang dawaton,” Borja said.

The said agreement was signed by Fr. Roberto Yap. XU President, Maria Veronica Large, Xuntelu President,  Borja, Ma. Soledad Amir, XU Human Resource Director, NCMB Hearing Officer Director Reynaldo Poncardas, and northern Mindanao Labor Regional Director Raymundo Agravante.

It can be recalled that XU made a decision not to give its non-teaching employees Christmas cash gifts this coming December due to its P90m loss this year.

Borja called the agreement a “win-win solution” adding that included in the terms discussed by the mediation board on Tuesday that XU will also pay P1,800 Christmas cash gift for December 2017.

He then added that by 2018 the cash gift of the employees will be under their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the university.

Meanwhile, the XU management withdrew their petition against Xuntelu before the NCMB.

XU also withdrew its petition for the assumtion of jurisdiction of secretary before the Department of Labor and Employment.