The National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno (NAFLU-KMU) criticized the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) for delaying the release of mineworkers’ wages.
BY ALDWIN QUITASOL
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 38, October 28-November 3, 2007
MANKAYAN, Benguet — The National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno (NAFLU-KMU) criticized the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) for delaying the release of mineworkers’ wages.
In its dialog with Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) officials on Oct. 25, LCMCo management admitted that workers’ wages would be delayed this month. A company representative reportedly said it could not pay its workers on time because of the late payment of gold buyers and because the company is prioritizing the payment to its creditors.
NAFLU-KMU regional coordinator James Tulipa said the company’s reasons for the delay of mineworkers’ wages are unacceptable. “Workers’ wages should not be used for other purposes,” he stressed.
Tulipa disclosed that the delay in wages started on Oct. 5. He said workers usually get their pay every 10 days but this month, it was one to three days delayed.
He added Lepanto Rank and File Employees Union-National Mine and Allied Workers Union-International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mines and General Workers’ Union (LRFEU-NAMAWU-ICEM) filed a Petition for Certification Election (PCE) against the incumbent Lepanto Employees Union (LEU-NAFLU-KMU) on Oct. 5.
KMU in a statement criticized the delay of wages as unreasonable and a harassment against workers as they are again entering into a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), through LEU, with the management.
Prior to the system of the gold selling, the company has already a way of paying its debts and paying the wages of its workers.
According to KMU, the company’s production never ceased since the 2005 workers’ strike was lifted. The company’s budget for the year 2007 actually comes from the earnings on the year 2006. LCMCo has retained earnings which includes accumulated gains from its operations of P1.1 million ($24,965 at an exchange rate of $1=P44.06).
From this study, KMU stated that the company is not being fair to the workers and that they should be paid on time, “after all they are the ones who worked so hard for the company to profit.”
The KMU also said the company is “ungrateful to its workers” for passing on to them the burden of paying the company’s debts.
“The workers have already done their part by digging the gold ore, processing them and running the production process,” KMU pointed out in its statement. “The company has also its obligation to give the workers what is due to them.” Northern Dispatch / (Bulatlat.com)
