OPASCOR unions' disaffiliation surprises ALU

The decision of both the supervisory and rank-and-file unions of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR) to disaffiliate from the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) has surprised the officials of the country’s biggest labor federation.

- Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/FPL

Lawyer Zeus Mabanag, regional vice president of the ALU-Central Visayas, said the federation respects the move of the OPASCOR Supervisory Union headed by Vivencio Ybañez Jr. and the rank-and-file Employees Union represented by Michelle May D. Tamondong, but stressed that the decision should have been made with the full participation of the general membership.

Noting that the president of the rank-and-file union did not sign the alleged Board Resolution of Disaffiliation, Mabanag said they will verify whether the general membership of both local unions was consulted and had approved the disaffiliation.

“As to their complaint of dissatisfaction in our services, I am completely surprised because the members of both the supervisory and the rank-and-file local unions in OPASCOR are being given full support by the federation whenever they ask for assistance. Recently, ALU provided both the supervisory and the rank-and-file local unions technical assistance during the renewal of their CBAs. We were always there when they have concerns,” Mabanag said.

ALU formed OPASCOR as a workers’ enterprise 30 years ago, after the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) granted it the exclusive cargo-handling concession at the Cebu International Port. The federation had previously fought to ensure renewal of OPASCOR’s contract with CPA when an earlier administration wanted it removed from the port.

According to Mabanag, the current unrest within the unions is allegedly being stirred by management to serve personal interests, even as OPASCOR faces serious business reverses, losing about 50 percent of its operations to the newly opened Cargo Handling Services in Talisay.

“Taking advantage of the situation, the management allegedly seeks to dilute stock ownership of OPASCOR by the union members with the end in view of gaining big profit to the disadvantage of the workers, should OPASCOR close down operation and liquidate its assets,” Mabanag said.