Chiong brokers talk between Kepco, union

Mayor Valdemar Chiong of the City of Naga has offered to mediate the ongoing labor dispute at the Kepco-Salcon Power Corporation to avert a possible strike.

The mayor expressed his willingness to broker a dialogue between the management and the labor union as the cooling off period ends today.

“Yes, willing ko mo mediate nila ari diri sa City Hall. Mas okay mag dialogue ang union and management,” Chiong told The Freeman.

He appeals to both parties to remain patient and cool amid the labor impasse.

“Always welcome ang help ni mayor to come up with a solution sa among impasse,” said Dennis Derige, Workers Solidarity Network (SWN) federation officer.

Both the management and the labor union failed to come up with a compromise despite efforts from the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB-7).

Chiong said the NCMB7 personnel briefed him about the looming labor strike at Kepco.

“Ilaha kong gisultihan nga naay ongoing labor dispute sa Kepco kay nag file na daw ang union og notice of strike, after ato wala na koy update,” the mayor said.

Chiong said he is not siding any of the parties but hopes everyone must follow the proper procedure.

In January, members of Kepco-Cebu Employees Union-Workers Solidarity Network (KCEA-WSN) filed a notice of strike on the ground of union busting and refusal on the management to renegotiate their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

After a series of mediations, the parties did not reach a middle ground prompting the union to proceed with the strike vote on February 27 where 33 out 34 present voted in favor of the labor strike.

A one week cooling off period commenced immediately after the results of the voting was transmitted to the NCMB-7. The one week period ends today.

Derige, however, refused to make a statement whether the union would begin the strike already after today.

The Kepco power plant in the City of Naga supplies 200-megawatts of power to the Cebu-NegrosPanay grid.-—