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Cebu Port Authority assured uninterrupted port operations amid tension between workers and management of cargo-handling service provider Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp.
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CPA said it is closely monitoring the situation and will protect the safety and well-being of all port workers, and secure all facilities inside the port area
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Employees, shareholders, and retired workers of Opascor signed a petition on September 17 urging top executives to vacate their posts for alleged mismanagement and other violations
The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) assured port stakeholders that they are prepared to take necessary action to ensure uninterrupted port operations amid tensions between workers and management of cargo-handling service provider Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (Opascor).
CPA in a statement on September 23 said it recognizes the current challenges faced by Opascor, the cargo-handling service provider at Cebu International Port.
“We want to assure all port stakeholders that we are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to take the necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted port operations, protect the safety and well-being of all port workers, and secure all facilities inside the port area,” CPA said.
“We are hoping for a swift resolution to this matter that serves the best interests of all involved,” CPA added.
According to media reports, 267 employees, shareholders, and retired workers of Opascor signed a petition on September 17 urging Opascor chairman chief executive officer Tomas Riveral and general manager Florimae Velasco to vacate their posts “to save the company from further damage/bleeding due to mismanagement and irrational decisions.”
According to a Sunstar Cebu report on September 23, both Opascor and Associated Labor Unions (ALU)-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines have declined to provide a statement on the result of the mediation conference, citing confidentiality. It quoted Opascor lawyer Eduardo Soleng, Jr. saying the management did not violate any provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with the labor union.
The petition claimed that Opascor’s top management violated shareholders’ and owners’ rights by failing to hold elections for the past 20 years. Opascor is a workers-owned and -operated Filipino company established by its owners-workers in 1990.
The petition accused top management of non-disclosure of financial status and other pertinent documents of the company and its subsidiaries, to “which the owners have the right to access.”
“Had there been an annual election, the owners would have never been deprived of this information, as the same should be reported before the conduct of elections,” said the petition.
The petition also cited Riveral’s—who has been with Opascor since 2001—alleged conflict of interest for allowing his family-owned company to do business with Opascor, as well as nepotism, for putting inexperienced relatives to significant positions.
It also accused top management of misappropriation of real properties purchased by Opascor, as well as “withholding workers’ increases and limiting overtime in the pretext of cost savings” and retaining and paying “close allies” P50,000 per month as consultants, while rank and file employees who availed early retirement were rehired but paid minimum wage.
On September 19, Dennis Arciaga, president of ALU-Local 1 — which is made up of Opascor workers — filed before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) a notice of strike against the management of Opascor for alleged collective bargaining agreement violations, union busting, discrimination of wages, number of work hours and other terms and conditions of employment designed to discourage union membership.
NCMB has scheduled a mediation conference on September 23.
In a post on September 20, meanwhile, Opascor assured that port operations will continue uninterrupted.
It said: “While concerns have been raised, we are actively addressing these matters through the appropriate channels. Our leadership stands firm in its commitment to ensuring the best outcomes for everyone involved. Decisive actions are being taken to resolve the situation in a manner that benefits all parties, with the company’s long-term strength and stability as our focus.” – Roumina Pablo
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