Philippines: Workers of Asia Brewery Inc. (ABI) went on strike Monday, October 4 defying the agreement on industrial peace signed by employers, labor unions and the government. Rodolfo Bela, executive vice president of the Tunay na Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa (TPM) sa Asia Brewery Inc. claimed that their strike paralyzed operations at the glass plant and brewery department and hampered the production of all departments after 600 workers joined the work stoppage, Sun Star revealed.

However, reports reaching the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) said operations at the ABI in Cabuyao, Laguna continue unhampered as there were less than 50 workers from the group of Rodrigo Perez, a defeated candidate in the recent union elections, who staged the strike. Francisco Castro, Region 4 conciliator, said in his report to NCMB chairman Romeo Young that ABI operations are "normal".

The TPM union filed a notice of strike last August 12 before the NCMB for alleged union busting by ABI management and alleged illegal dismissal of two union officers. Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas issued an assumption of jurisdiction order last October 1 and it was served last October 2 to the union members. Conciliation and mediations efforts will now be handled by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

05 October, 2004