THE National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) reported the settlement of two furniture export companies and a union in Cebu.
In a report to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo Ubaldo said that R & Y Augousti, Inc. Employees Union-ALU-TUCP and the R & Y Augousti, Inc., and Chagrin, Inc. have settled the labor disputes by signing a compromise agreement.
The R & Y company agreed “to pay the workers the amount of P6,700,000”, with P1,000,000 upon signing of the compromise agreement, and the remainder to be paid in specified schedules up to April 30, 2012.
Furthermore, the union and the workers agreed to, “forever release and discharge Chagrin, Inc. from any and all claims arising directly or indirectly from the workers’ employment with R & Y”.
Signing the agreement on behalf of the R & Y Augousti, Inc. Employees Union-ALU-TUCP were Christopher Basut, local president; Michael C. Mendoza, area vice president, ALU-TUCP; and Ernesto F. Carreon, legal counsel.
Yiouri Augosti, president, and Manuel A. Espina, legal counsel, signed on behalf of R & Y Augousti, Inc. On behalf of Chagrin, Inc., Jay Evangelista, authorized representative, signed. NCMB regional director Edmund T. Mirasol, and mediator-conciliator Arturo G. Kierulf, signed as witnesses.
The signing of the compromise agreement was witnessed by the NCMB’s Region 7 officials.
On the other hand, Chagrin, Inc. “waives and discharges the Union, its officers and representatives… from any civil, criminal, and administrative liability or claims for damages arising from the picketing, concerted actions,” and “will withdraw, dismiss with prejudice, cease and desist from further prosecuting [cases, and]… undertakes not to file and prosecute any other case”.
The R & Y workers and all other persons picketing the premises of Chagrin to air their grievances, agreed to end their picket and leave the areas.
Baldoz said the compromise agreement is win-win solution that would enhance workplace harmony and resume the build-up of trust, mutual respect, and confidence between labor and management.”
Earlier, it was reported that R & Y Augousti, Inc. had been affected at the height of the global financial crisis and had been forced to close its operations. (FP/Sunnex)