21 Davao Doctor’s Hospital workers decry department abolition

A TOTAL of 21 workers of the Davao Doctor's Hospital (DDH) filed a complaint before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) in Davao Region after the management issued a notice to abolish their department.

In an interview Thursday, Paciano L. Murro Jr., conciliator-mediator of NCMB, said the 21 employees are regular workers of the dietary and food department of the DDH.

"The abolition of the dietary and food department is effective October 1," Murro said.

He said the Pagkakaisa ng mga Trabahante sa DDH-National Federation of Labor filed a preventive mediation before the NCMB on September 7 to discuss with the management about the workers' urgent desire not to be terminated from the company.

He said the reason of the management for the abolition of the department is the "incompetence to handle non-medical functions and that the management is set to 'outsource' employees by private contractor".

Based on the document presented by of Murro, the recent conference was conducted with the management and the 21 workers at 2:30 p.m. of September 19.

It read that the latest demand of the union comprises "the reduction of the separation pay from 60-day to 52-day per year of service (tax free); cash gift/bonus based on the KRA; 30 days salary in lieu of one month notice; unused vacation leave and sick leave convertible to cash; and other benefits under the CBL as 13th month pay.”

It added that the management panel, composed of lawyer Manuel S. Nitorreda and Anna Carolina Lucenda, is set to relay the proposals discussed by the workers to the board of directors.

"Hanging pa ang option to file a case to either voluntary or compulsory arbitration, questioning the legality of abolishing the dietary department," he said. "No pressure imposed upon the management regarding the staging of notice of strike."

He said the management is willing to pay the workers of the abolished department.

In a separate interview, lawyer Danilo Culio, legal counsel of the union, said the management issued a notice against its affected employees but the act of abolishing the department is a violation under Department Order 18-A of Department of Labor and Employment.

"Ang gusto sa mga trabahante, dili unta dayunon kay ma-displaced sila (The workers hope that the abolition won't push through because they will be displaced)," he said.

He said among these employees have worked with the DDH for 10 years, hence it would be difficult to look for another job.

He said the management wants to settle with the workers by paying the "one month salary per year of service", but the latter requested if they would be retained from service.

On the other hand, Geralyn N. Somozo, marketing officer of DDH, said the issue is handled by Nitorreda, their legal counsel, since an ongoing negotiation is being done before the NCMB.

She said they are open to the possibility of absorbing the workers.

"Wala namang problema ang management diyan (The management has no problem with that)," she said.

She said they have to abolish the dietary department since they will be outsourcing from a private contractor. (ANC)