Some organized labor groups are planning to declare a national boycott of products of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc., if the present labor dispute involving 10 suspended Bacolod Coca-Cola salesmen is not resolved by tomorrow.

The salesmen, who are members of Congress of Independent Orgnizations-Alliance of Labor Unions, have filed with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in Bacolod City a Notice of Strike for mediation or conciliation, will hear the case tomorrow. A Bacolod executive of Coca-Cola yesterday said, however, they could not comment on the issue until they get a clearance from higher management.

On July 4, 2006, Bacolod Coca-Cola salesmen Fortunato Salado III, Nicolas David, Rolando Anayan, Renato Garcia, Julius Fernando, Raymundo Oleta, Rui Guillen, Jacinto Vallente, Antonio Prado and Judy Arioja were suddenly placed under preventive suspension for 30 days by the management.

The salesmen claim that their suspension was arbitrary and contrary to the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between their labor union, the CIO-ALU, and the company. The union also contended they were denied their rights to due process. The delegates to the Joint National Convention of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines-TUCP; the Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers' Union-TUCP; and the Congress of Independent Organizations-ALU approved a resolution to declare a national boycott of the products of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. if the dispute is not resolved during the NCMB hearing.*RLE

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