LBC workers declares deadlock in bargaining talks

 
By Ruji Peter S. Abat | SunStar Davao

THE union bloc of LBC Express Inc. Davao has declared a deadlock in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the management after the latter allegedly refused to adhere to the demands of the labor union.

The LBC Davao employees union, an affiliate of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Association of Democratic Labor Organizations (Adlo) which is composed of 188 rank and file workers, declared the deadlock after the management allegedly refused to adhere to most of the economic provisions pushed by the union.

KMU-Mindanao spokesperson Joel Maglunsod, in an emailed statement to Sun.Star Davao, said the union and management have sat down in six negotiation meetings which started in November last year.

The union's proposal included a 15 percent salary increase, six-day vacation leave, seven-day sick leave, union leave, educational assistance, a 14th month bonus and a signing bonus. But the management allegedly relegated their proposal to only a three percent salary increase while the rest of the union’s proposal were not heeded. The union then adjusted to a seven percent salary increase yet it was not agreed upon by the management.

"The workers are demanding only their just share of what LBC earned. The union’s overall proposal totals only P3.15 million. Meanwhile, LBC netted P37.72 million in 2013 and P19.14 million in 2014. Compared to the company’s accumulated net income of P56.85 million over the last two years, the union’s proposal will slice a measly 5 percent of corporate income," Maglunsod said.
He also said that while the management has claimed that is currently experiencing financial difficulty, the labor union is convinced that the LBC’s financial statement shows otherwise.

“We are dealing with a capitalist which has amassed its wealth from the sweat of its workers who perform services beyond what is standard, pushing cargo and other services forward with ease and professionalism.

Yet, what it is offering its workers is inarguably sub-standard and must be rejected,” Maglunsod added.