Cebu Power Firm Management, Workers Sign CBA

The management of Kepco SPC Power Corp. (KSPC), operator of the 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the City of Naga in southern Cebu, has signed a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its workers’ union, the Kepco Cebu Employees’ Association-Workers’ Solidarity Network (KCEA-WSN).

The signing of the CBA is considered a milestone of the power plant, which was under threat of a labor strike when the workers filed a notice of strike with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) early this year.

The strike was lifted last month when the management agreed to enter into a CBA with the workers.

In a statement, the KSPC management said the CBA exemplifies the continuity of the strong partnership between its workforce and management for the common goal of serving the electric consumers in the Visayas, as the power plant is connected to the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) grid.

KSPC President Cho Chang Yong and KCEA-WSN President Alexjorhel Ponce led the members of the management and the workers labor union panels during the signing ceremony at Cebu Parklane Hotel in Cebu City.

The management said the CBA was reached after a series of meetings between the management and the labor union with the assistance of NCMB 7.

Both parties expressed satisfaction with the speedy resolution of issues.

“This occasion proves that management and union can be development partners. This negotiation is an indicator of how persistent the company and its people are in attaining a harmonious industrialized rapport,” Cho said. (PNA) FPV/EB-PR/EDS