DOLE: Four labor disputes settled in four regions

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said four labor disputes in four regions were resolved after wage issues were settled amicably at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB). The strike notices filed by four unions were withdrawn because the "successful conciliation-mediation proceedings between the contending parties" helped settle the disputes, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said. These four unions are: the Ever Provident Trading in the National Capitol Region; the Clark Electric Distribution Corporation in Region 3; the Dyna Image Corporation Philippines in Region 4-A (CALABARZON), and the Treasure Steel Works Corporation in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), the DOLE said, citing a report of NCMB executive director Reynaldo Ubaldo. The parties at Ever Provident Trading agreed on the amount of P46,000 as full payment of the financial claims of 11 workers, the statement said. Similarly, the Clark Electric union agreed to withdraw its strike notice, preferring to explore other options under the law. The union president of Dyna Image Corp. also requested for dismissal of their labor dispute. Meanwhile, the parties at the Treasure Steel Works labor dispute mutually agreed on the across-the-board implementation of the wage increase granted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Region 10. The P13.00 wage increase was mandated by Wage Order No. X-15 in Region 10, effective on July 1, 2010. The settlement also included the integration of the P12.00 cost of living allowance into the basic salary of all the covered employees once the wage order becomes effective. The parties likewise agreed to maintain the P16.00 allowance previously granted by the company. As soon as the Treasure Steel Works' billet plant and blast furnace are fully operational, the parties will also implement a job evaluation/classification. –VVP, GMANews.TV