Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday commended the rank-and-file union and management of Radio Mindanao Network after both parties agreed to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) borne out of their initiative to restore harmonious labor-management relations in Davao’s broadcast industry.
Baldoz also cited the combined efforts of the DOLE Regional Office No. 11 and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in the successful conclusion of the CBA.
“I am pleased that our conciliation-mediation efforts have paid off after four months of negotiation. I commend the parties for coming to an amicable agreement in the interest of industrial harmony and peace,” Baldoz said after she was apprised of the development.
The RMN Davao Employees Union-National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN)-Davao Station have officially registered their CBA last 22 August 2012, covereing the period 28 July 2012 to 28 July 2016. The four-year CBA contained an economic package of P36 million which will benefit 20 union member-employees of the broadcast firm.
Baldoz said the salient features of the new CBA include a provision for a wage increase of P40.00/day for the second year and P20.00/day for the third year; provision for service incentive leaves, retirement, separation, and death benefits on top of what is mandated by the Labor Code; medical-dental benefits; free meals/meal allowances; hazard pay; and provision of union office.
She said the new CBA also contained the union’s recognition of the management’s prerogative to have full and exclusive direction and control of the company and its employees.
The CBA was arrived at after the joint efforts of DOLE Regional Director Joffrey Suyao, Mediator-Arbiter Jason Balais, and NCMB conciliator-mediator Paciano Murro Jr., resulted to breaking the deadlock in the negotiations through the conduct of a marathon conference between the disputing parties.
“The settlement of the dispute will restore harmonious work relations in the largest radio network in Mindanao and ensure that the workers will remain in their jobs, thus enable the network to continually serve its listeners and followers,” Baldoz said.
“Instead of clenching their fists against each other, they shook hands as a sign of their cooperation for the effective administration of the CBA and re-building of a better harmonious labor-management relationship,” she added.
The labor row at the radio company erupted last 4 June 2012 after the RMN Davao Employees Union composed of 20 members filed a Notice of Strike due to the management’s alleged refusal to bargain.
On 10 July 2012, the union members ceased reporting to work and declared an actual labor strike, the first in 2011. They picketed the station’s premises on the corner of Anda and Bonifacio Streets; its i-FM transmitter compound at the Shrine Hills; and its DXDC AM transmitter compound at Madapo Hills, both in Matina.
Consequently, the i-FM station went off air, while DXDC was only able to broadcast pre-taped programs and feeds from RMN-Manila.
Through the proactive conciliation and mediation efforts of the Regional Conciliation and Mediation Board No. XI, a settlement between the contending parties was arrived at last 18 July 2012, under which both the management and union finally entered into a compromise agreement and, hence, their first CBA.
“The successful resolution of the case yet once again demonstrated the efficacy of our reforms on speedy and efficient labor dispute settlement which we deemed necessary towards preserving more jobs and maintaining a stable and just climate of industrial relations across the regions,” Baldoz said.
End/Krs
(with reporting from RCMB-XI)
