DOLE says agreement struck to end strike at bus firm

Some drivers of DLTB, allied with a labor group claiming to represent all DLTB workers, vent their ire on Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III during a rally on Jan. 3. —LYN RILLON

The labor department had announced what it said was an agreement to end a strike of workers at the Del Monte Land Transport Bus (DLTB) Co. that had disrupted the bus firm’s operations during the holidays.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the workers, who identify themselves as members of a DLTB union allied with the Association of Genuine Labor Organizations (Aglo), signed an agreement with DLTB management to end the strike which lasted for 12 days.

“In the interest of industrial peace and so as not to further jeopardize the commuting public, the management and its union reached an agreement for the resumption of normal operations of the bus company,” Bello said in the statement.

Under one of the terms of the agreement, according to Bello, DLTB workers belonging to Aglo agreed to lift the strike immediately while management would accept all those who took part in the strike.

Bello, however, said the issues that led to the strike have not yet been settled at the National Labor Relations Commission and the Calabarzon regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

DLTB has at least 700 buses plying southern Luzon routes.

The strike paralyzed about 90 percent of the company’s bus operations in Bicol and southern Tagalog provinces during the holidays, affecting thousands of commuters.

On Dec. 28, Bello assumed jurisdiction of the labor dispute.

James Olayvar, DLTB senior vice president and general manager, said in a text message that the agreement would be in effect pending a Dole ruling on a case filed by DLTB in relation to two groups in the company claiming to represent the workers and the right to collect dues.

Narciso Morales, DLTB owner, had said in a phone interview that the feud was really between Aglo and Philippine Trade and General Workers’ Organization (PTGWO) which are fighting to represent the workers.

In 2015, DLTB signed a five-year collective bargaining agreement with PTGWO but some workers, later in 2016, decided to form a new union allied with Aglo. —MARICAR CINCO AND JULIE AURELIO