Union president wants full reinstatement

THE president of the Visayan Electric Company Employees Union (VECEU) has asked Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to order Veco management for his full reinstatement in the company.

Casmero Mahilum, through his lawyer Ernesto Carreon, said he respected the Nov. 10 order of Baldoz to assume jurisdiction of the labor dispute and to certify it to the National Labor Relations Commission for compulsory arbitration.

Baldoz earlier ordered Veco to reinstate Mahilum in its payroll only, which Mahilum said was unfair to him.

“The assumption/certification order in order to be fair should have to maintain the status quo prior to the questionable dismissal of complainant Mahilum on Oct. 28, 2010 which would mean reinstatement to his former position without loss of senior rights and benefits”, the motion added.

Mahilum said his termination by the company was aimed at isolating him from other union members.

He said two union members and one union officer were transferred to other positions in the company.

He said that Engr. Lubert Singuit of the geographic information system was transferred to work as a warehouse staff. Engr. Luis Lim and Engr. Grace Marie Subang of the Line Services Section were also transfered. Lim now works as a warehouse staff while Subang works as a motor pool staff.

Mahilum plans to raise the matter to the NLRC and Baldoz.

As this developed, Rep. Raymond Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP party list) said he plans to file a bill in the House that would redefine the anti-competitive behaviors of private companies as “economic sabotage.”

Mendoza is proposing a maximum fine of P2 million and life imprisonment for violators.

He also called for worker and consumer representation in the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

In a press statement, Mendoza said two top power distributors in the country enjoyed a “robust increase” in income from power rate hikes without considering the needs of their workers.

“The ordinary workers and consumers have suffered for the longest time already due to corporate greed and government inaction,” he said.

Mendoza said the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and Veco should sell 50 percent of their stocks to small investors like OFWs, workers cooperatives and trade unions to “democratize the power sector and prevent cartels in the power sector”. /JUNNEX NAPALLACAN, CARINE M. ASUTILLA AND EDISON DELOS ANGELES