Thursday, July 03, 2008 Talk back: Labor row at Anita’s By ...
(The press statement is from Valentino Dagupan, president of AHBWU-Anglo-KMU and Elpedio Caterbas, regional coordinator of Anglo-KMU)
Officers of Anita’s Home Bakeshop Workers Union–Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine Labor Organization (AHBWU-Anglo-KMU) refutes the statement of labor consultant Emmanuel Canete of the Anita’s Home Bakeshop Employees Association (AHBEA).
Cañete, in a report published in Sun.Star Cebu (page 8, July 1, 20088), accused officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), of “playing politics” in helping resolve the labor dispute.
AHBWU is pursuing recognition as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of majority of workers of Anita’s Home Bakeshop, Inc.
We say that Dole and NCMB officials are only doing their best in advancing the cause of labor as mandated by the Labor Code.
Cañete’s statement merely reflected management’s anger especially because of the positive result of the invitation of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, Board of Trustees to a meeting last June 26, 2008 at the office of the assistant director of Dole 7 to hear the workers views.
Indeed, any legitimate labor organization can file a notice to strike with the NCMB whenever a “show cause” of an obvious
act of unfair labor practice done by the employer against their members is presented.
A petition for certification election is pending with the Dole office.
The real issue that triggered the labor unrest in Anita’s was the deceitful act of the “pseudo union” recognized by the management of submitting fraudulent documents to Dole 7 last March 12, 2008 as requirement for registration for a collective bargaining agreement.
As already noted in a meeting with the NCMB, management illegally dismissed loyal officers and members of AHBWU-Anglo-KMU.
They were labeled as thieves and conspirators just to prevent organizing work for the setting up of a genuine labor union in the company.
