Press Release
National Conciliation and Mediation Board
Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch III
28 December 2016

The Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch III resolved the the Notice of Strike filed by the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng SG Farm, the sole bargaining agent at SGF Food Processing Plant, on November 24, 2016 after successful conciliation conferences, RCMB III Director Edgar G. Aquino announced today.

“The union filed a Notice of Strike on October 6, 2016 alleging bargaining deadlock on the economic provisions of the CBA covering the period from May 29, 2016 to May 28, 2019,” Aquino added, citing a report from Conciliator-Mediator Othello B. Tongio, Jr.

After a series of conciliation conferences, the parties agreed to increase sick leave benefits to nine (9) days, vacation leave to eight (8) days, and union leave to fifty five (55) days per year.

Management agreed to provide cash advance amounting to Php60,000.00, labor educational assistance of Php15,000.00 for the 3 years of the CBA, May 1 assistance amounting to Php13,000.00 for each year of the CBA, and signing bonus of Php750.00 and Php1,500.00 for each member and union officer, respectively.

Each member is also entitled to 5 kilos of rice every December and Christmas groceries worth Php600.00.

The CBA also provides a yearly outing budget amounting to Php32,000.00.

In case of voluntary resignation, the resigning employee shall be entitled to 30 days per year of service if the employee is at least 35 years old and with at least 15 years of service. The agreement provided further that only one (1) union member/officer per year may avail of the said program.

In addition, management shall grant 30 days per year of service on regular retirement program once a member reached the age of 50 and with at least 5 years of service.
The three-year economic package amounted to Php1,254,868.88 benefitting some 35 employees.

“I commend the parties for their patience and cooperation in forging a successful CBA,” Aquino said.

“I also laud Con-Med Tongio for facilitating the settlement of the Notice of Strike,” Aquino added.

Nagkakaisang Mangagawa ng SG Farm is affiliated with the National Federation of Labor Union (NAFLU-KMU) representing the rank-and-file employees with 27 union members headed by its President, Ms. Bonifacia Yamuta.
SGF Food Processing Plant is engaged in food processing located at San Isidro, San Simon, Pampanga with 192 employees led by their General Manager, Mr. Michael G. Santos.

END/ Rhoda A. Blanco edited by Gillian Pearl L. Guerrero