TUBA, Benguet– The Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) and the Philex Mines Supervisors Employees Union (PMSEU) recently sealed a 3-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will provide the company’s 463 supervisors with a whooping P43.5 million cash and non-cash benefits during the lifespan of the said agreement.
Philex president and chief executive officer Engr. Eulalio B. Austin, Jr. signed the new CBA with the supervisors union for the mining company while the PMSEU was represented by its president Dominador Sotelo during the simple signing ceremony recently held at the Baguio Country Club (BCC).
Under the signed CBA, the company agreed that during the life of the agreement, the increase in salaries shall be implemented retroactive from May 1, 2020 up to May 1, 2022 in the amount of P800 every year.
However, both parties agreed that the compensation system presently maintained by the company shall govern the wages and salaries of employees immediately upon probationary hiring and eventual appointment as a regular employee.
Further, all covered employees shall be entitled to outside medical assistance where the company will extending financial assistance up to a maximum of P25,000 per year per family.
The CBA stated that this assistance shall be limited to cases that require confinement, except for the amount of P10,000 which may be utilized for outpatient medicines and diagnostic procedures from the amount intended for outpatient, and that the employee may charge a prescribed corrective eyewear as diagnosed by a licensed ophthalmologist amounting to P5,000.
On group life insurance and accident protection plan, the allowable coverage of all covered employees shall be underground supervisors – P600,000 double the face value in case of death due to accident while on duty and surface supervisors – P500,000 double the face value in case of death due to accident while on duty For bereavement assistance, the company shall grant such assistance on employees death where a financial assistance of P20,000 shall be given and memorial services under a memorial plan. However, in case the memorial plan is not availed of by the employee, the related expenses shall be reimbursed upon submission of receipts of payment based on the equivalent cost of the plan.
In cases of the dependent’s death, a financial assistance of P15,000 shall be given to legitimate spouse. In case of the death of the legitimate spouse, the same shall be given to the depend child below 21 years old, single, unemployed or dependent parents of a single employee shall receive the same.
On tuition fee subsidy, the CBA cited that for every qualified high school depend of Poro-based employees, a tuition fee subsidy amounting to P2,000 shall be granted every year.
Moreover, the company shall grant loyalty service award to the union members where counting of dedicated and continuous service to the company shall reckon on the probationary date of the employee. The award shall reckon to the completion of 5 years – P800; completion of 10 years – P850; completion of 15 years – P900; completion of 20 years – P950; completion of 25 years – P1,000; completion of 30 years – P1,050 and completion of 35 years – P1,100.
The CBA disclosed that a rice subsidy worth P2,000 shall be given to each covered employee every December while the signing bonus that will be granted to the recipients is fixed at P3,000.
The company shall continue assisting the union with the union welfare fund amounting to P250,000 per year effective May 1, 2020 plus the provision of a projector worth P21,500 and laptop worth P50,995.
Austin urged the union to sustain their dedication to work for the greater interest of the company amidst the extension of mine life from the previous 2022 to 2024 as approved by the Board of Directors.
He stipulated that the successful negotiation between both parties should serve as an example to the other employees to ensure the harmonious working relationship between the company and the mine workers.
On his part, Sotelo expressed his gratitude that the negotiation was productive and a ‘win-win’ solution was reached that paved the way for the signing of the 3-year CBA.
Lawyer Sixto Rodriguez, assistant regional director of the Cordillera office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-CAR), congratulated both parties for a successful negotiation process that resulted in the signing of the new CBA to sustain industrial peace in the region.
According to him, there is a need for both parties to ensure that the new CBA is registered with the DOLE to ensure that it is binding among the parties and to allow the agency to have jurisdiction over the same in cases of possible conflicts in the future. By HENT
