Good News
National Conciliation and Mediation Board
Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch XI
28 April 2018

Notices of Strike, Lockout between Holy Cross of Davao College and Union settled through team conciliation

National Conciliation and Mediation Board Executive Director Shirley M. Pascual announced today the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Holy Cross of Davao and its union after the peaceful settlement of the Notices of Strike and Lockout filed by both parties against each other over bargaining impasse and unfair labor practice allegations.

“The parties agreed to settle the notices of strike and lockout and sign the CBA after assenting to the terms of 21 economic and political provisions,” Pascual added citing reports from Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch XI Officer-in-Charge Aerrine Marie R. Reyes.

On January 19, 2018, Holy Cross of Davao College Employees Association-Association of Democratic Labor Organization-Kilusang Mayo Uno filed a notice of strike with the RCMB XI alleging bargaining deadlock on economic and political provisions.

On February 2, 2018, the management of Holy Cross of Davao College filed a Notice of Lockout on the ground of unfair labor practice

Through the combined efforts of OIC Reyes and Conciliator-Mediator Oliver C. Jao, the parties identified 34 political and economic issues that the parties failed to agree upon at plant level.

“Out of the 34 issues, union identified salary increase, scholarship, coverage, union security clause, recognition award, rice subsidy, and medical assistance as priority clauses,” Pascual said.

After management presented their counter-proposal, union insisted on resolving priority issues. In response, the Branch convened with the parties to explore the possibility of a settlement.

On February 13, 2018, however, the Board of Trustees conducted a lockout vote with all members of the board voting in favor of a lockout. The result of the balloting was submitted to the branch on February 14, 2018.

“The Branch requested assistance from the Central Office to properly respond to the issues brewing at hand,” Reyes said.

RCMB-NCR Dir. Feliciano R. Orihuela, Jr., RCMB X Dir. Atty. Ligaya R. Lumbay, and Conciliator-Mediator Hacelfeo T. Cuares arrived in Davao to help facilitate the conciliation-mediation conferences and explore possible options for the settlement of the case.

Likewise, Undersecretary for Employment and Policy Support Dominador Say went to Davao on March 2, 2018 to extend assistance in the conciliation-mediation proceedings.

On March 5, 2018, DOLE RO XI Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante summoned the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee (RICMC) to convene and provide support as a pro-active measure in handling a possible strike.

The concerted efforts of the DOLE, NCMB, and RICMC officials paved the way for both parties to come into terms and mutually agree to settle their issues and differences.

On April 26, 2018, OIC-Dir. Reyes and Con-med Jao witnessed the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Holy Cross of Davao College.

END/ Sheila A. Rivera