TERMINATED workers of cement manufacturing firm LafargeHolcim Ltd. have refused to stop staging daily protests unless their demands are met.
In a statement from the Davao Holcim Employees Workers Union-Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Dahewu-Sentro), the union demands that LafargeHolcim reinstate its 100 terminated employees.
The group also demanded that the company stop hiring scabs while their protest is still ongoing.
Dahewu-Sentro is also seeking recognition for its union.
“(We also demand to) fairly implement voluntary regularization by complying with the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Dahewu-Sentro and LafargeHolcim, specifically Article II Section 2 which states: ‘Should the Company engage in job contracting, it should do so only with regards to jobs which are not necessary and desirable to its usual trade or business, in good faith, and without any ill-intent of suppressing the employees’ right to security of tenure and the right to associate',” the union said in an official statement.
After their contractor, Fort Steel Cargo Integrators, Inc., issued a termination order on March 4, the union conducted a series of protest in front of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) regional office.
The group questioned the legality of the termination, saying it was issued without due notice and just cause as provided by labor law.
Meanwhile, Holcim Philippines issued an official statement, saying that they are committed to be compliant with labor laws.
“We respect the rights of all workers to peacefully and freely express themselves,” Holcim said.
“We understand that most of the protesters are employees of one of our contractors in Davao Plant. We regret this incident but rest assured that we are closely coordinating with our contractor for the immediate resolution of this matter,” the company added.