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DismissedbananerospicketMFI

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Youarehere:Home TheEconomy DismissedbananerospicketMFI

Dismissed bananeros picket MFI

WEDNESDAY,30MARCH201611:46

SomebananaworkersfromPantukanpicketedoutsidethecorporateheadquarteroftheMusahatFarms,Inc.(MFI)in
PryceTowerlastWednesdaytoprotestagainsttheallegedillegaldismissalofsome52workers.
Inastatement,EsperidionCabaltera,presidentofMusahamatWorkersLaborUnion(FarmII)NationalFederationof
LaborUnionsKilusangMayoUno(MWLUIINAFLUKMU),saidanother19bananaworkersofKuwaitibananaexporter
basedinBrgy.Kingking,Pantukan,CompostelaValley,werealsoplacedunder30daysuspension.
Cabalteraaddedthat19moreunionmembers,includingnineunionleaders,weregiventheirwalkingpapers.
Thelayoffsoccurredmerelydaysaftertheexistingsoleandexclusivebargainingagent(SEBA)ofwonthecertification
election(CE)lastFebruary22,hesaid
Theunionseestheillegaldismissalsasretaliationfromthemanagementandcondemnedthemove,thestatement
read.
MusahamatsdesignhereistoeradicatethepresenceofleadersandstaunchsupportersoftheKMUunionbecausethey
donotwantusaroundshoutingforrights.Wehavebeenconsistentlystandinguptothecompanyspolicyofarbitrary
dismissals.Wehavebeenhelpingoverstayingworkersorjoborderswhoexceedserviceforsixmonthsandoneday
attainregularstatus.Thecompanysansweristodismissthemoutrightbutweareherefightingfortheirreinstatement,
saidCabalterasaid.
HeaccusedofficialsoftheMusahamatFarms,Inc.ofbeinganallegedincorrigibleunionbuster.
AftertheunionsFebruary22victoryinthecertificationelection,MusahamatFarms,Inc.sentnoticesto19unionleaders
andmembersdemandingexplanationwhytheyshouldnotbedismissedfromserviceforholdingapicketprotestonthe
datesFebruary9,13,and15,headded.
Theaffectedworkers,hesaid,senttheirexplanationinformingthecompanythatthepicketconstitutedfreedomof

expressionandthatitwasconductedpeacefullywithoutdisturbingorhamperingregularoperations.
InaconciliationmeetingonMarch14,hesaidthatrepresentativesfromtheMusahamatFarms,Inc.manifestedthat
theywillterminate19unionmembers,including9unionleaders.OnMarch15,theunionfiledanoticeofstrike(NOS)at

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theNationalConciliationandMediationBoard.
MusahamatFarmsabusivebehaviortowardsitsworkersisdeplorable.Whattheydidisclearlyunionbusting.This

OntheCover

companythinksitselfasabovethelaw.Theworkersissuesarelegitimaterightagainstillegaldismissals,illegal
deductions,andregularization.TheLaborCodedoesnotexemptforeignemployersfromimplementinglaborlawsand
MusahamatshouldrespectthelawandtherightsofFilipinoworkers,Cabalteraadded.
Meanwhile,theunionisscheduledtoconductstrikeballotingonMarch28atBrgy.Kingking,Pantukan,CompostelaValley.
CheneenR.Capon

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