CBA resolves labor row at local electric company

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philipines - The labor row at the Cagayan de Oro Electric and Light Co., Inc. (Cepalco) has been was resolved with the signing of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Allan M. Macaraya, regional director of the Labor department, said two of seven demands submitted by the union had been granted by management. These are P1,600 monthly salary increase this year and another P1,000 next year; and a P5,000 Christmas gift on top of the required 13th month pay. The salary increase covers 187 members of the union. The union, which started picketing in front of the company’s head office this week, earlier submitted seven demands to the management. These were a monthly salary increase of P2,200; a signing bonus of P15,000; retirement; 2% profit sharing; Christmas gift of P5,000; higher power subsidy; and an end to workplace discrimination. Amor Sanchez, president of the Cepalco labor union, said his group would pursue its demands in the next round of collective bargaining two years from now. "Overall, we only had two out of the seven demands approved. We would definitely cancel our previous call for a total work stoppage since the dispute was finally settled," said Henry Arafol, union vice-president. — Timothy C. Malferrari, Jr./BusinessWorld