The labor dispute between the Manggagawa ng Komunikasyon ng Pilipinas (MKP) and Manuel V. Pangilinan-led telco giant PLDT, Inc. was finally resolved with both parties signing a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for three years, according to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
Laguesma signed the order adopting the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the two parties earlier this month, formalizing the settlement of the CBA deadlock between PLDT Inc. and the MKP.
The dispute, which escalated to a deadlock despite initial conciliation efforts, was brought under the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor and Employment (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 added.
The management emphasized that the dispute settlement process and continued dialogue with the union have enabled them to better understand and address the needs of around 9,600 employees forming the company.
Both the management and the union expressed their gratitude to DOLE for facilitating the settlement and reiterated their openness to further collaboration that will benefit not only the employees and their families, but also the company’s customers estimated at 57.8 million nationwide.
PLDT Inc., 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.
