MEDIA ADVISORY October 14, 2014 Evelyn Sia (spokesperson, former bank employee) 09752764310 Minerva Fallarme (spokesperson, former bank employee) 09176052980 Ronnie Luna, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) vice president 09995234111 For Metrobank to respect and follow the rule of law by immediately implementing the Supreme Court order to compensate illegally dismissed workers: Employees of former Solid Bank Corp.to Hold Dialogue with DOLE Secretary Baldoz and NLRC Commissioner Posada-Lacap What/Where/When: Dialogue and Picket, October 15, 10:45am (DOLE office in Intramuros), October 16, 10:00am (NLRC office at Banawe Avenue, Quezon City) Illegally-dismissed employees of Solid Bank Corporation - acquired-fully (91%) by Metrobank in May 2000 - will hold a dialogue with Secretary Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment and National Labor Relations Commissioner Mercedes Posada-Lacap on October 15 and October 16 respectively. FACTS OF THE CASE: *Last February 28, 2013 the Supreme Court, penned by Justice Mariano C. del Castillo, ordered Metrobank and Solidbank to pay the 123 dismissed bank employees the total sum of P452,911,688.56. *These employees were dismissed from work on April 7, 2000 due to an alleged illegal strike on April 3, 2000. The workers filed a complain before the NLRC in July 2000. As early as March 16, 2001, the banks were ordered to reinstate the workers by former labor arbiter Luis Dizon-Flores. *However, in open defiance of the law, the employers did not obey the said decision. Instead, they opted to delay the wheels of labor justice by turning to prolonged litigation. For nearly fifteen years, the case proceeded at a snails pace from the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), up to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, which finally favored the aggrieved workers. *Yet, justice seems to be elusive to the dismissed workers. On September 26, 2014 the employers (Metrobank/Solidbank) filed a motion for extraordinary remedy in an attempt to circumvent the said Supreme Court decision. These further proceedings, warranted by Rule 12 of the NLRC, extend the judicial processes rather than immediately execute the order of the high court. Atty. Potenciano Popoy Flores, counsel for the employees, said that the swift action of the labor courts is a step in the right direction for it will erase the notion that temporary restraining orders and injunctions are selling like hot cakes at the NLRC. He deplored the present system of labor case adjudication brought by several layers of appeals. Meanwhile, Ronnie Luna, vice president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and lead convenor of the Koalisyon ng Manggagawa Kontra Katiwalian said, Justice delayed is justice denied. The illegal dismissal case of employees of Solid Bank is yet another proof of our just demand to replace the internal rules of the NLRC on extraordinary remedies, temporary restraining orders and permanent injunctions. The existing rules must be changed because it is prone to corrupt practices by unscrupulous labor officials and abusive employers, not only to expedite the delivery of labor justice but also to reform the graft-ridden NLRC and DOLE. Evelyn Sia and Minerva Fallarme concluded, We have suffered for almost a decade and a half. We worked dutifully for several years to attain peaceful and contented lives upon reaching retirement age. Sadly, many of our co-complainants have gone sick or have died while waiting for the final resolution of our case. If there is truth to the promise of daang matuwid, we are imploring for government intervention - through the DOLE and NLRC - to immediately execute the much-awaited order of the Supreme Court.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 07:20:59 +0000
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