The labor dispute between the Manggagawa ng Komunikasyon ng Pilipinas (MKP) and PLDT Inc. was resolved, with both parties signing a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) covering a period of three years, according to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
The order signed by Laguesma adopted the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the tawo parties earlier this month, formalizing the settlement of the CBA deadlock.
The dispute, which escalated into a deadlock despite initial conciliation efforts, was brought under the jurisdiction of DOLE.
The agreement includes provisions on employee benefits, amendments to certain CBA provisions and post-MOA obligations.
“We are happy that your discussions resulted in an agreement. There is no substitute for an agreement mutually entered into by the parties,” Laguesma said in his message.
“There may be times when you experience disagreements, but it is essential to keep communicating. This signing is merely the formalization of discussions that produced mutually beneficial agreements,” he said.
The management said the dispute settlement process and continued dialogue with the union enabled them to better understand and address the needs of the around 9,600 employees forming the company.
Both the management and the union expressed gratitude to DOLE for facilitating the settlement and reiterated their openness to further collaboration that would benefit not only the employees and their families but also the company’s customers estimated at 57.8 million nationwide.
PLDT was represented by its senior officials led by senior vice-president Gina Marina Ordoñez, first vice president Joseph Michael Vincent Co and members of its legal team, while the MKP was represented by its president Alexander Tirao, members of its negotiating panel and other union members.
