News Release (Draft)

Department of Labor and Employment

25 November 2014

In Davao City, DOLE settles labor strike at a broadcasting station

The National Conciliation and Mediation Board-Region 11 has settled an on-going
strike with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the union
and management of Radio Mindanao Network, Inc. in Davao City, on 13 November.
This was the report NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo R. Ubaldo to Labor and
Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz who said the MOA is a result of a
48-hour discussion, which resulted to the lifting of labor strike on 14 November. All
employees of RMN Davao returned to work and readmitted in the companys payroll.
"I commend the management and the union of the company for amicably settling
their dispute. It was a wise decision that enhanced industrial peace and harmony
and preserved jobs in the company," said Baldoz after receiving the report.
I also commend the NCMB for expeditiously facilitating the conciliation-mediation
process and assisting the parties to arrive at an amicable settlement without the
need for litigation," she added.
Conciliation-mediation is a DOLE strategy on dispute prevention and settlement with
a planned outcome of sustained cooperation between labor and employers.
"Since 2010, the DOLE has laid down institutional reforms in dispute prevention,
settlement, and case disposition that have been very successful. It continues to finetune these reforms to attain inclusive labor justice and to promote industrial peace
that contributes to an economic environment conducive to investments," said Baldoz.
The dispute arose on 11 August 2014, when the RMN Davao Employees Union
affiliated with National Federation of Labor Unions- Kilusang Mayo Unofiled a
notice of strike for Unfair Labor Practices on refusal to bargain, collective bargaining
agreement violations, and union busting.

On 26 August, the union submitted a strike vote result in favor of a strike.

On 2 October, the Union staged a labor strike in the following worksites: (1) RMN
Studio, Main Building, Cor. Anda St.; (2) AM Transmitter at Madapo Hills; and (3) FM
Transmitter at Shrine Hills, Matina.
Per ocular inspection conducted by DOLE Regional Office 11, we have observed
total paralysis of operation in view of the unions shutting down of the transmitters in
AM and FM, as well as the closing of the studios main gate, NCMB-Region 11
Officer In-Charge Director Ma. Theresa M. Francisco, one of the presiding officers in
the conciliation-mediation conferences, said.
Francisco added that, the 17 union members who participated in the strike were
distributed in the three worksites.
Records show that from 3 October to 3 November, more conciliation meetings were
held. However, both parties remained strong in their respective positions.
On 7-8 November, despite marathon conciliation conferences still parties failed to
mutually agree on withdrawal of all labor, criminal, civil, and administrative cases
filed against each other.
After going through a crucial deliberation of the terms and conditions of settlement,
they satisfactorily agreed to resolve their dispute with the following terms:
(1) For the management to fill up the vacancies, in accordance with the
managements standard hiring policy and procedure;
(2) For the union to recommend a qualified applicant to the vacant position of
technician;
(3) For the parties to sit down and discuss within 10 days a general wage
increase and the provision of other benefits; and
(4) For the union to lift the picket line, clean and remove all posted placards and
to report back to work immediately.
This office most importantly believes that employment was preserved after
struggling into several means of conciliation and mediation process. Parties still
opted to restore work and normal operation, Francisco said.

We are humbled with this accomplishment, which is a fruit from hardship and
dedicated service. This case is finally closed. We will continue to closely monitor
compliance of the agreement of the parties, she added.
The settlement is hastened by the strong resolve and close coordination of the
DOLE Regional Coordinating Committee 11, composed of the following officials:
DOLE Regional Office 11 Director Joffrey Suyao; Mediator Arbiter Jason Balais;
Executive Labor Arbiter Elbert Restauro; Conciliator Epifania Rodriguez; NCMB
Directors Tess Audea and Jasper Jay Javines.
Radio Mindanao Network, Inc. is a corporation duly created and existing under and
by virtue of the Philippines with a place of business at Anda St., Davao City, is
engaged in radio broadcasting with 31 total workforce. It is represented by its station
manager, Leobardo Daugdag.
RMN Davao Employees Union-NAFLU-KMU represents for collective bargaining the
19 rank-and-file employees, headed by its union president, Gina Hitgano.
For queries about this release, please contact the National Conciliation and
Mediation Board at 3324175 or email them at ncmb@dole.gov.ph.
END/hjtg