BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The management of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) is appealing for cooperation from its employees.
The CENECO Union of Rational Employees (CURE) threatened to go on strike after the power cooperative allegedly failed to release their benefits under their Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).
CURE earlier revealed plans to conduct a referendum among members on Saturday to decide if they will go on strike.
The employees earlier complained they had not received their pay raise based on their CNA signed in September last year.
Among the reasons why CENECO is unable to give the employees’ benefits was due to a condition set by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) – CENECO’s collection efficiency should be 95 percent.
In an interview with RMN DYHB-Bacolod yesterday morning, CENECO officer-in-charge General Manager Jose Tañongon pointed out that the cooperative has only hit 92 percent collection efficiency in December of last year, although he is confident that they’ll be able to hit the required 95 percent this month.
Earlier, CURE president Stefannie Montaner said once the yes vote wins they will hold a strike.
The strike will follow a mandatory seven-day cooling off period with the management.
The CNA included a five-percent salary increase.
Montaner said they will hold a strike until the management of CENECO implements the approved CNA.
“This could affect the collection, meter reading and other services of CENECO since their linemen are also union members,” she added.
A consumers’ group in Bacolod City, meanwhile, is calling on CURE to postpone its planned strike, pointing out it could have dire impact on the city and surrounding areas./PN
