CLARK FREEPORT – Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan assured members of the Association of Concerned CDC Employees (ACCES) that CDC management will continue to work towards a favorable resolution of all the issues raised regarding the implementation of the Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS) released by the Government Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GCG).
In an interview with CLTV 36, Gaerlan said that the management will pursue all available means and options to make sure that the rights and benefits of all rank-and file employees will remain enforced and enjoyed by all.
“Ina-assure ko po ang ating mga rank and file employees, bilang CEO at natalagang pinuno nila at leader na hindi ako nag iiwan kahit ano pang laban ang madaanan ko. Kaya tutulungan ko po sila na maipaglaban ang kanilang mga karapatan at hindi mawala ang mga benepisyong ito, lalo na yung sa retirement plan,” he said.
Recently, ACCES filed a Notice of Strike before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) and initial hearings were held last June 30 and July 13, 2022. Aside from the implementation of the CPCS, the union also raised the concern regarding the shift from the Social Security System (SSS) to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); retirement benefits under the CBA; availment or monetization of Compensatory Time Off (CTO), union leaves and regularization of project-based employees.
In July 4, the CDC Board, led by Chairman Edgardo D. Pamintuan, approved the granting of authority to CDC management to defer the implementation of the CPCS and maintain status quo ante on the grant of basic salaries, allowances, benefits and incentives. The board also granted the authority to management to appeal to the GCG for a review of the Authority to Implement (ATI) the CPCS. With the authority to defer implementation of the CPCS, CDC employees can still avail of their existing benefits, based on the CBA which was agreed upon by CDC and the unions. These include health and retirement benefits.
In an earlier interview, Gaerlan said that the provisions of the ATI were ‘unjust’ and caused massive ‘demoralization’ in the ranks of CDC employees because it resulted in a “wide disparity of in the pay scale of the employees and a diminution of take-home pay’, representing 30% reduction or about P4,000 on the average.
Meanwhile, the issue on the shift from SSS to GSIS will be discussed at the next NCMB hearing scheduled on August 2. ACCES is asking for a dialogue together with GSIS, SSS, CDC to thresh out the issues on the contributions to the SSS, retroactive or prospective membership to GSIS, retirement or pension benefits and other pertinent matters.
