National Conciliation and Mediation Board
Press Release
January 2016

Mr. Bernard Sanchez, Assistant Yard Controller of Sterling Construction and Development Corp. was rehired after a successful conciliation- mediation conference at the RCMB 4-A Calamba office.

On 15 December 2016, the Sterling Workers Organization-Philippine Metal Workers Alliance (SWO-PMA) filed a preventive mediation case against the said company on the account of unfair labor practice with issues such as alleged violation of agreement and illegal subcontracting.

The union manifested that the termination of union officer Bernard Sanchez due to redundancy is a violation of the agreement entered into by the parties.

On 22 January 2016, with the facilitation of Conciliator-Mediator Cynthia F. Foncardas, parties reached amicable settlement.

Management which was represented by its owner, Mr. Mark Anthony Taylor, committed to immediately rehire Mr. Sanchez as a regular production worker and shall receive P451.50 basic pay and P25.00 allowance per day.

During previous conferences, Mr. Taylor stated that it is known that the company has already declared closure and retained solely the metal plate manufacturing operations which requires 12 employees only. However, in the event that their business condition improves, they shall prioritize the rehiring of the retrenched and terminated employees.

In the meantime, the union, thru its president, Mr. Ruel Punzalan, sent the management a letter of intent to negotiate and a list of new set of officers. The management committed to respond within 10 days.

Both parties were satisfied with the conciliation-mediation process which led to the swift resolution of the case. They both agreed that if they have only met on the previous scheduled meetings, they have reached settlement on the initial hearing.

Sterling Construction Development Corp., located at Carmona Cavite, is an industrial company engaged in providing construction supplies and in manufacturing metal panels.

/ Joan Esther O. Mabilangan- LIO