Cebu furniture exporter averts strike by agreeing to settle with workers

MANILA, Philippines - A Cebu furniture company that temporarily stopped operations was able to avert a strike after it agreed to undertake an agreement with workers. Mandaue City-based Giardini del Sole—considered as one of the Philippines’ biggest furniture exporters—gave “major concessions" to its workers during last week’s negotiations held at the offices of National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Region 7, a statement released by its workers’ union said. Among the concessions the company gave include the establishment of a joint evaluation team—composed of union members, management, and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)/NCMB—“to rotate work among as many of the workers as possible," the Nagkahiusang Puwersa nga Mamumuo sa Giardini (NPMG) said. “The joint evaluation team will also monitor the company's performance and recall the workers when demand picks up," the statement said. The company also agreed to give financial assistance worth “P 5,000 and one sack of rice per month for the duration of the temporary shutdown…which will be deductible from workers’ separation salaries in case of permanent closure," the statement added. The management and the union also agreed to “release…backwages for the holiday pay last December equivalent to three days salary" and the security of workers’ tenure. The company agreed that “no worker will be terminated and only voluntary resignations will be accepted," the union said. “The settlement averted the Giardini union’s plan to file a notice of strike on the basis that the temporary shutdown was illegal and a ruse for union busting," Eulito Fin Jr., NPMG vice president and a member of the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) said.