After earlier reports revealed Roy Yanson, president of Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI), parent company of the Ceres bus liner, considered the proposed strike by the Philippine Agriculture Commercial and Industrial Workers Union (PACIWU) an “illegal” act, then later affirming “management will surely oppose the notice to strike,” the company president released another statement claiming the strike “has no legal basis.”
“This strike call is more of a political expression than a true strikable issue,” he stated. “We have given justice and respected workers’ rights and welfare since the time this company was created fifty years ago.”
In his statement, Yanson also inferred the matter may have to do with his younger brother, ousted company president Leo Rey Yanson, and urged the union to stop their “political exercise involving his youngest brother.”
“There is no legitimate grievance against new management from employees who continue to receive their salaries and benefits in spite of the ongoing intra-corporate issue,” Yanson added.
However, in an earlier report, PACIWU National President Hernane Braza revealed they would have demonstrated regardless of who sat as company president, citing cases of union official harassment and violations to “economic provisions.”
Aside from the four union officials earlier accused of attempting to launch a “fake strike” against VTI, namely, PACIWU Executive Vice President Rey dela Torre, Board Members Juvy Diama and Raymond Roldan, and Chapter President Franny Santarin, the union official also listed delayed disbursements of retirement pay, separation pay, “incentives,” mutual aid fund, among other claims./WDJ