DOLE urged to intervene in St. Luke’s labor row
MANILA, Philippines — Labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to intercede in the labor disputes at St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
The BMP made the appeal Friday after the hospital management said that “is not in any way involved with the inter-union issue” between incumbent union SLMC(GC) Employees Association – Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW) and St. Luke’s Medical Center (BGC) Employees Union – Independent.
The SLMC issued the statement Thursday after the independent union filed a notice of strike, alleging that the management of the high-end hospital ignored government’s order to allow employees to choose their representative in the collective bargaining negotiations.
“Further, the DOLE must intervene in this dispute through the immediate release of an order to commence the certification election. Otherwise, management’s interference will further strengthen the Independent Union’s resolve to strike,” BMP president Luke Espiritu said in a statement.
St. Luke’s BGC labor union files strike notice