DAVAO CITY – Workers of the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Davao said that only the charges of illegal strike filed by the company against them stand in the way of a “peaceful” culmination of negotiations that would end their nearly two months strike.
Gina Hitgano, chairperson of the RMN Davao Employees Union (RDEU).said the company management filed a case of “illegal strike” against 10 of them and other “john does” last November 6 before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) XI.
The same case, she said, makes the illegal strike case as basis for their termination from the company.
“We are already nearing the end of the negotiation when we received a copy of this case, and they said they will not withdraw it,” she said.
Hitgano said the management’s actions are “deceptive.”
“They are negotiating with us with one hand, while the other hand is already preparing to kick us out of the company,” she said.
Hitgano said that although they are confident they have submitted the “necessary requirements” for holding the strike, they also believe that “labor laws and policy in numerous times failed to protect the workers.”
“We have been holding-off our strike for several months, despite thr numerous violations to the collective bargaining agreement committed by the company. The National Concialiation and Mediation Board (NCMB) had been wtiness to that and we have followed their requirements,” Hitgano said.
The RDEU and labor camp Kilusang Mayo Uno and other supporters of the strike protested before the NLRC ahead of a mediation meeting 2pm of November 12.
Hitgano hopes that the RMN management would be “reasonable” and that they “still are willing to negotiate.”
The RDEU have launched a strike against alleged failure of the management to follow provisions of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) they signed with the union and attempts of “union busting.” (davaotoday.com)
