Strike looms anew at Dumaguete port

The National Conciliation and Mediation Board in Region 7 is exhausting all efforts to prevent a recurrence of the bloody strike in 2007 and 2008, at the port of Dumaguete City.

This, following the filing of a notice to strike by an employees’ union which is affiliated with the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines against the arrastre group, Prudential Customs Brokerage Services Inc.

The employees union headed by Libby Tumbiga and vice president Sopriano Sabanal said they had decided to file a notice of strike last Friday in Cebu, after more than a month of waiting for the reply of PCBSI regarding their request for a renegotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The failure was considered by them as management’s refusal to talk.

Sabanal said it is clearly stated in the CBA, that a renegotiation on the economic provisions shall be discussed at the end of the three year period, which was on May 31 this year, but management seemed not to honor the same so they filed a notice to strike.

These economic provisions include adjustments in the number of days of their sick, vacation and emergency leaves, loan benefits and protective gear benefits, among others.

In an interview DAILY STAR, Edgardo Tidalgo, local branch manager of PCBSI, said the company is open to negotiate with the employees union.

He explained that the delay in its reply to the letter sent by the employees union was due to pressing concerns at their head office.

Tidalgo said PCBSI has 21 branches all over the country. It assured port users of the province that the demands of the employees union will be discussed. He said the proposals are simple and can be achieved without necessarily compromising all the stakeholders of the port. Tidalgo further said it is the hope of the company to have a harmonious relationship with the union.

During yesterday’s meeting with NCMB officials headed by director Edmund Mirasol at the Department of Labor and Employment office in Dumaguete, ALU-TUCP provincial head, Felizardo Calimpong, refused to drop or shelve the notice to strike, until both sides start the renegotiation.

Upon the suggestion of the PCBSI management, the next hearing is scheduled on August 10.

Also raised was the alleged discrimination at the port area. Calimpong said the management is strict in the enforcement of the No ID, no uniform, no entry policy on the employees union, but other port workers can just enter.*JG, The Visayan Daily Star