THE labor landscape at the Cebu International Port saw a major shift this week. Two unions at Opascor (Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp.) have officially ended their decades-long partnership with the national group, ALU-TUCP, to manage their own affairs.
At a press conference on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, union leaders announced that both the rank-and-file and supervisory unions had been registered as independent unions with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Why the unions chose independence
The move toward self-governance began in late 2025. Union leaders felt that the national federation was no longer providing the support that port workers needed.
Vivencio Ybañez, president of the supervisory union Ostra-Union, said the move was driven by a desire for self-governance and greater ownership of the enterprise. The workers cited several reasons for the split:
High Fees: Members said they were paying high dues but were not receiving enough support during collective bargaining talks.
Contract Disputes: Some workers claimed that benefit cuts were approved without full ratification by the membership.
Local Focus: Leaders felt the national office was out of step with the specific needs of Cebu’s port workers.
While the national federation, ALU-TUCP, previously said it had always supported the unions when asked, it has not commented on the final split.
New benefits for workers
Now that they are independent, the unions are changing how they manage dues and benefits for their 458 members.
One of the biggest changes is a policy under which 75 percent of union dues will be returned to members each year instead of being remitted largely to a national headquarters.
The unions also plan to establish:
Medical and dental clinics: For workers and their families.
Financial assistance: A new program called Usappa will offer low-interest loans and financial returns to members.
A peaceful future for the port
Although the split from the national federation created tension, the unions said they want to maintain a peaceful relationship with the company.
“We don’t hold any grudges,” Ybañez said, adding that the unions are focused on moving forward rather than staging a strike.
Opascor management said it had received the official paperwork from DOLE. It said its main goal is to keep the port running smoothly and work constructively with the new independent unions while ensuring the welfare of all employees./CAV