The Department of Labor and Employment said almost P1.7 billion worth of collective bargaining agreement economic packages were released to 22,534 workers nationwide in 2005.

DOLE in a statement cited records of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, stating that the CBA benefits were granted to the workers after preventive mediation and the settlement of strikes and lockouts, including the resolution of disputes.

Preventive mediation and settlement of strikes/lockouts and notices of strikes/lockouts are major components of the conciliation and mediation program of NCMB.

Under the preventive mediation component, a total of 7,646 workers received P131.22 million in CBA benefits, records show.

Mediation provides for an intervention by a neutral third party, the conciliator-mediator, who advises the parties or offers solutions or alternatives to the problems with the end in view of assisting them towards voluntarily reaching their own mutually acceptable settlement.

A conciliator-mediator also intervenes in tense situation and takes an active role in conciliating between parties by trying to keep disputants talking and carrying messages back and forth.

NCMB records show a total of 14,649 workers received P1.526 billion in CBA economic packages from the settlement of strikes and lockouts notices. About P128 million was also restituted to 6,778 workers.

There were 465 new strikes and lockouts notices filed with the NCMB in 2005, involving 109,724 workers. However, the agency handled only 538 notices, including those filed in the previous year.

In 2005, 75 percent of the notices were settled, benefiting 76,553 workers while strike prevention rate was 96 percent, records further show.*

back to top