Thursday, October 04, 2007 Pastor sues Bradford Church for firing him
A FORMER pastor of Bradford United Church of Christ Inc. filed a complaint last month against the Board of Elders, a council in the church, for illegal dismissal.
In his complaint submitted to the National Labor Relations Commission-Regional Arbitration Branch 7, Rev. Jose Bailey Bernaldez said he was illegally dismissed last Sept. 6 and has not been paid his 13th month pay, service incentive leave, allowances and separation pay.
When he filed his complaint on Sept. 10, he also demanded moral and exemplary damages and attorney’s fees.
His complaint was specifically against Dr. Carlito Impas, senior of the Board of Elders.
Bradford contracted Bernaldez to work as pastor starting June 1, 2004. There is still an undetermined number of remaining months in the contract, which the complainant also demanded payment for.
In the first mandatory conference last Monday, Bernaldez gave a computation of some P300,000, including about P100,000 worth of moral damages and other benefits.
However, according to labor arbiter Jose Guiterrez, there is a “bright prospect for settlement because the employer is very open-minded of Bernaldez’s proposals.”
“In fact, Bradford already agreed to give him P98,000, a computation they based on Bernaldez’s job contract. While we only allow two conferences, we will continue to have both parties meet and talk until everything is settled,” he said.
When Sun.Star Cebu tried to contact Bradford United Church of Christ, it refused to issue a statement on the labor complaint or explain the cause of Bernaldez’s dismissal.
In the minutes last Monday’s conference, Bernaldez and Bradford Church will “explore further all avenues of settlement in the next mandatory conference on Oct. 8.” (NRC)
