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Dialogue on Mimosa workers issue starts

CLARK FREEPORT — Officers of the Association of Clark Mimosa Employees (Acme) and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) met on Tuesday to discuss possible ways to solve the looming crisis among workers and the state-owned-firm that may possibly result in work stoppage.

This, after it was reported that Acme members may stage a strike at the Mimosa Leisure Estate within the week.

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Acme president Reynaldo Geron on Tuesday said they would exhaust all possible means of dialogue before resorting to strike. But he also assured that the Mimosa workers are “more than ready” to go on strike in case the talks would not yield anything substantive.

The talk with CDC officials was attended by CDC Human Resources Officer Thelma Ocampo and CDC Vice President Pete Galang.

Geron, despite the talk, said they would push through with elevating the issue to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

“It will all boil down to the level of the NCMB. However, we hope that we could settle all these problems,” Geron said.

It was earlier reported that the Acme submitted to the NCMB on Monday the result of its members voting on strike, including the demands regarding their clamored benefits.

Reportedly, at least 465 members voted to strike, one voted โ€œnoโ€ and two ballots were spoiled. More than 100 members who went on vacation did not attend the voting.

Geron said the Mimosa workers are very much concerned with the status of their employment as there is yet a private company to take over the management of the 315-hectare Mimosa Leisure Estate from the CDC.

Because of this, Mimosa workers are only hired on a three-month period basis, virtually depriving them of many basic benefits enjoyed by regularly employed workers.

Asked when they would stage their workersโ€™ strike that aims to paralyze the operation of the leisure estate, Geron said possible “channels of solution” are being looked into before the employees would resort to the strike.

“We have no date for that, but the employees are ready just in case,” Geron assured.

The CDC Board of Directors has opened the re-bidding of the Mimosa Leisure Estate after Waterfront Philippines Incorporated (WPI) failed to pay P770 million for operating the 175-hectare estate last week.

In a separate interview, CDC president Benigno Ricafort said the Mimosa workers are โ€œmerely being impatient.โ€

“Some of their benefits have been promised to be given to them. We have asked for some time to process these but they seem a bit agitated. They are being impatient,” he said.

Ricafort said despite the fact that the Acme is “not a recognized” organization, CDC had approved the 14th month pay benefit of the Mimosa workers.

He added that he has moved to consider the future of the workers in the future re-bidding of the Mimosa Leisure Estate by trying to haggle at least a monthโ€™s pay benefit for every year worked in the leisure estate and the possibility of continued employment when a possible takeover happens.

“We are doing the best we can to address this problem,” Ricafort said. (IOF)

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