After a handful of conferences spanning at least 16 weeks, PANELCO III Electric Cooperative finally puts to rest the Notice of Strike filed at NCMB RB1 by the PANELCO III Employees Association.

 

“I am very glad that the parties have reached a vantage point,” NCMB RB1 Director Brenda Rose C. Odsey said. “It took longer than expected but it is worth the effort considering the aversion of an actual strike.”

 

On May 15, 2014, the Union filed a Notice of Strike on the Issue of Unfair Labor Practice, specifically, union busting and constructive dismissal.

 

The case arose from the transfer of the Union president from his present work station in Rosales, Pangasinan to Urdaneta, Pangasinan. The union finds this as constructive dismissal tantamount to union busting.

 

During the initial conference, the Union President manifested that a compromise agreement was forged back in 2011 providing a one month prior notice in the event he will be transferred to any PANELCO station.

 

A string of actual conciliation conferences followed within the four-month period. “Postponements and re-scheduling made it last this long on top of having all agreements reached subject for approval of the PANELCO III Board of Directors,” Odsey noted. “Inspite of asking the BOD to cloth their representative with authority to decide for them from the beginning, they did not heed just until recently.”

 

Mr. Elmer Aquino, Union President, together with OIC General Manager Mr. Allan Casem even crafted a proposed compromise agreement in a plant-level discussion subject for approval of the BOD. “It was a bold move from these two men but the BOD unfortunately objected to it,” Odsey said.

 

The BOD finally gave the much sought authority to Mr. Casem for the October 3, 2014 conference. Said action gave way to the crafting of their compromise agreements with no more hindrances of further approval from the PANELCO BOD.

 

Mr. Aquino will assume his current position at Urdaneta office from November 1 to December 31, 2014 and take on the newly created position of OSH Analyst effective January 1, 2015. He will also be paid all due benefits from April 15 to October 3, 2014 without backwages. In addition, all administrative cases filed against him will also be withdrawn by PANELCO III management.