Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch-IV-A (RCMB IV-A) announced on 02 August 2020 that San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation and its union, Samahan ng Malayang Manggagawa ng BPSI have agreed to a three year Collective Bargaining Agreement after settling their labor dispute. The settlement was made possible despite challenges in conducting conciliation conferences due to social distancing measures imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The successful conclusion of CBA negotiations was facilitated through the efforts of Conciliator-Mediator Ma. Delia Yu,” RCMB IV-A Director Jay Jasper B. Javines said.

The union filed a preventive mediation case with the Branch to encourage management to negotiate.

The conference had to be scheduled through video conferencing Zoom app as a counter measure against the spread of corona virus.

“The conduct of conciliation conference was a challenge not just for Con-Med Yu but to the Branch as well because we all had to take notes from this labor dispute,” Javines said. 

“While we prepared and conducted simulations in conducting conciliation conferences through Zoom, we were uncertain on how we will be able to maintain a friendly environment since the parties are negotiating from a distance,” Javines he added.

On 29 July 2020, the parties reiterated their last offers before they sought intervention with the Branch.

“Parties reached a deadlock on the provisions of their CBA particularly wage increase, union bonus, and effectivity date of the agreement,” Javines said.

“We saw a ray of hope when union and management expressed their willingness to conclude negotiations amicably at the start of the negotiations,” Javines added.

After four separate conferences held within the same day, parties agreed to settle the preventive mediation case and sign the CBA.

Parties agreed to a wage increase of P1,100 per month per person on the first year, P1,000 per month per person on the second year, and P1,050 per month per person on the third year.

They also agreed to a cash bonus of P40,000 per union member to be paid in three installments; P20,000 per person in the first year, P10,000 per person in the second year and P10,000 per person in the third year.

The CBA shall be effected retroactively on 01 January 2020 until December 31, 2022.

The total economic package of the CBA is estimated at P3,063,750.00 benefitting 25 employees.

San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp. (SMYPC) – Canlubang PET & CAPS Plant is located in Canlubang Industrial Estate, Brgy. Canlubang Calamba City, Laguna. The plant has a total of 108 employees.

Samahan ng Malayang Manggagawa ng BPSI (Beverages Packaging Specialist, Inc.) is affiliated with the Federation of Philippine Transport and General Workers Organization (PTGWO). It has 25 union members.

END/ Gillian Pearl L. Guerrero