CEBU CITY – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)-Labor Center has called for sobriety and openness as they tackle the ongoing labor relations dispute involving the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. serving the Cebu International Port (CIP).

THE Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. employees union attend a general meeting where they called for the resignation of their chairman and general manager. (Contributed photo)

In a statement, TUCP believes that OPASCOR, a highly successful worker enterprise which is among the first of its type, should move forward by maintaining and further strengthening its character as a worker enterprise.

“The TUCP asks all parties to enter into regular dialogue and consultation to clear the air and to address the democratic and representative character of the ownership and management of OPASCOR. TUCP further feels that this will be best achieved through adherence to regular elections of the OPASCOR Board of Directors to address good corporate governance concerns,” it said.

OPASCOR traces its roots to 1986, when then President Corazon Aquino, through Proclamation No. 50, directed the privatization of several government corporations, including the National Stevedoring and Lighterage Co. (NSLC).

TUCP’s call for sobriety came after the OPASCOR Employees Union-ALU-TUCP filed a notice of strike against the management before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

The union accused the management of unfair labor practices such as violating the Collective Bargaining Agreement, union-busting, and discrimination when it comes to wages and hours of work meant to discourage union members.

If the strike will not be prevented, unloading and loading of cargoes at CIP will be affected as OPASCOR has exclusive cargo handling services at CIP, the union said.

Barangay Tinago, Cebu City Captain Dennis Arciaga, who is the president of the union, said that they are ready to go on strike should their demands not be met.

One of the union’s demands is the resignation of the OPASCOR chairman and chief executive officer and general manager.

OPASCOR has placed Arciaga under a 30-day preventive suspension in relation to a pending investigation in relation to accusations of absence without official leave, work abandonment, spreading false and malicious information, and doing acts that are inimical to the interest of the company.

Arciaga was prevented from entering the company premises while he is suspended.

He said his suspension was a form of retaliation by the management after a general membership meeting was conducted last week where 300 members of the union and retirees signed a petition calling for the resignation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tomas A. Riveral and General Manager Florimae Velasco.