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Friday, July 23, 2005
More talks to solve Lepanto labor dispute pushed
By Jane Cadalig
IN A bid to solve the labor conflict affecting more than 1,600 employees of Lepanto Consolidated and Mining Corporatio (LCMC), Benguet Governor Borromeo Melchor is set to meet with the mining firm's top official for another set of negotiations.
Melchor said he would be meeting with LCMC board chairman Felipe Yap to hopefully resolve the problem caused by the ongoing strike.
Mine workers installed their picket lines starting June 2 after declaring a deadlock on their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
But how soon the meeting would be done depends on the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) regional office. "We are awaiting the Dole to schedule our meeting," Melchor added
The governor iterated the management should have refrained from dismissing the 75 officials and members of the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) who joined the strike. "Lepanto should have accorded workers due process of law."
The Provincial Government, through the Office of the Governor, exerted efforts to solve the labor dispute but its intervention turned futile after both the LCMC management and the union remain firm on their respective stands.
The LEU earlier asked the company to reconsider the mine employees who were issued dismissal orders. But Lepanto stood pat in its decision saying that those who find the dismissal order irregular should file their complaints before the courts.
Meanwhile, Vice Goveror Crescencio Pacalso is hopeful that the labor problem would soon be resolved.
He also refuted claims that the Provincial Board is taking sides on the problem. "The assistance we have extended was for the community and not for the picketers alone."
(July 23, 2005 issue)
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