Two notices of strike filed by two separate unions in a mining corporation wrapped negotiations peacefully after reaching agreements in wage increase and housing loan deals through the successful intervention of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

The simultaneous filing of the two unions demanded synchronized action from two offices of a Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch (RCMB). The two unions raised bargaining deadlock on the economic provisions of the agreement which included salary increase, housing loan, pandemic leave benefits, and union bonuses.

The synchronized conciliation and mediation proceedings finalized Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) leading to the approval of wage increases amounting to P42.00/day for 2022, P43.00/day for 2023, and P55.00/day for 2024.

Covered employees shall receive a one-time special production bonus and signing bonus amounting to P27,000.00 and P16,000.00, respectively. The special production bonus and signing bonus shall only cover regular rank-and-file employees within the bargaining unit who voted and ratified the agreement.

Management agreed to grant a one-time housing loan amounting to P80,000.00 to qualified covered employees, payable in five-years.

Parties settled with the two kinds of retirement benefits, the first is optional retirement equivalent to one-month salary per year of service and a one-time cash assistance amounting to P5,000.00 regardless of tenure or length of service. The second is compulsory retirement equivalent to one and a half month salary per year of service and a one-time cash assistance of P10,000.00 regardless of length of service.

Parties agreed to a pandemic leave benefit granting employees required to undergo quarantine to work-from-home in accordance with an existing company policy.

The management agreed to give Service Incentive Bonus to all covered employees outside of the CBA. The Sales Incentive Bonus shall range from P10,000.00 to P30,000.00 depending on the company annual sales volume.

The two CBAs have a total economic package amounting to P27 million benefitting 131 workers.

END/ Gillian Pearl L. Guerrero