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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOLE averts multi-region strike in major beverage company

DOLE averts multi-region strike in major beverage company

Published Feb 21, 2026 01:05 pm

At A Glance

  • DOLE prevented a multi-region strike in three Luzon beverage facilities.
  • DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma assumed jurisdiction and led intensified mediation.
  • Dispute involved deadlocks in collective bargaining agreements at Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP).
  • Agreements finalized, benefiting 337 workers and ensuring industrial peace.
Representatives of Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines and its unions—Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. Employees Union (NCR), Ilagan Coca-Cola Monthly Employees Association (Region II), and Kasapian ng Malayang Manggagawa sa Coca-Cola (Region III)—finalize their Collective Bargaining Agreements following DOLE’s successful settlement of a multi-region labor dispute on Jan. 28, Feb. 5, and Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo courtesy of DOLE)
Representatives of Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines and its unions—Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. Employees Union (NCR), Ilagan Coca-Cola Monthly Employees Association (Region II), and Kasapian ng Malayang Manggagawa sa Coca-Cola (Region III)—finalize their Collective Bargaining Agreements following DOLE’s successful settlement of a multi-region labor dispute on Jan. 28, Feb. 5, and Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo courtesy of DOLE)
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) stepped in to prevent a looming strike in three Luzon facilities of a major beverage company by resolving a prolonged labor deadlock.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma assumed jurisdiction over the dispute, intensifying mediation that led to new agreements and ensured uninterrupted operations across the affected regions.
The deadlock involved Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP), where negotiations over political and economic provisions in collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) had reached an impasse.
Unions filed Notices of Strike before the Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branches (RCMBs) in the National Capital Region, Region II, and Region III.
Those covered by the negotiations were the Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. Employees Union (CCBPIEU-NLU) in NCR, the Ilagan Coca-Cola Monthly Employees Association (ICCMEA-FCCU) in Region II, and the Kasapian ng Malayang Manggagawa sa Coca-Cola (KASAMMA-CCO) in Region III.
The agreements directly benefited 337 workers once finalized.
Initial conciliation efforts by the RCMBs and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) failed to yield a settlement, prompting Laguesma’s intervention.
Through the Office of the Secretary and its Legal Service, in coordination with the NCMB, all possible proposals were exhausted, securing agreements on the deadlocked items.
DOLE said the resolution demonstrates the effectiveness of government-led conciliation in protecting workers’ welfare and maintaining industrial peace.

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DOLE labor dispute strike averted
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