CEBU CITY – A stronger relationship with the management and upholding the welfare of workers will be prioritized.

The rank-and-file workers and supervisors’ unions of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (Opascor) assured this after they successfully disaffiliated from one of the biggest labor groups in the country.

In what they described as a “new chapter” in employee-management relations, Opascor workers announced that they are already independent from the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP).

The partnership began in 1990.

In a press conference on Tuesday, March 31, the Opascor Workers’ Union (OWU) confirmed that it was officially registered on Jan. 15, while the supervisors’ group, the Opascor Supervisory, Technical and Responsible Alliance Union (OSTRA-Union), was recorded in the Department of Labor and Employment registry on March 30.

In a previous statement, disgruntled Opascor employees said their decision to leave ALU-TUCP stemmed from “years of frustration with how its leadership runs the affairs of the organization.”

OSTRA Union President Vivencio Ybañez Jr. and OWU President Michelle May dela Torre said their members welcomed their disaffiliation from ALU-TUCP.

“We thank God for granting us the courage to stand on our own and for guiding us through this transition,” Ybanez said.

Ybañez pointed out that this early, the unions have demonstrated concrete, measurable commitments to the welfare of their members.

He said the unions have established medical and dental facilities accessible to members and their dependents.

Meaningful social amelioration programs have been implemented to provide financial assistance at minimal interest and return benefits to members through patronage shares, said Ybañez.

The unions have also adopted a system of returning 75 percent of unions dues to members annually.

Ybañez explained that before, members had to pay an annual dues of P400 that went straight to the union.

Now that they have separated from ALU-TUCP, union members will only have to pay an annual due of P200 and P150 will be returned to them annually.

OWU has 458 members while OSTRA has 35.

"Through training, workshops, and sustained engagement, both unions aim to foster mutual respect, cooperation, and shared progress with management,” the unions said in a statement.

Ybañez assured that as independent unions, they will help Opascor provide better services.

“To our stakeholders, we will provide 100 percent, 24/7 service. We will give you better services,” Ybañez said.