Giardini workers, managers reach accord
Dale G. Israel
Cebu Daily News
Picketing former employees of Giardini del Sole Wooden Furniture Inc. yesterday agreed not to block the entry of those still employed by the company into the firm’s factory in barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City.
In exchange, the management of Giardini del Sole promised to give the retrenched workers their separation pay and back wages.
The agreement was reached at the office of Mayor Jonas Cortes, who, along with Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) director Elias Cayanong, mediated between the retrenched workers and Giardini del Sole management.
“We are scheduled to meet again this Friday. We don’t know yet how much (the retrenched workers) will be paid or when,” said Primitivo Ginoo, president of the company’s workers’ union.
Yesterday’s private meeting lasted more than two hours. It was the culmination of a day that started with a picket by retrenched workers outside the Giardini del Sole gates.
Giovanni Boschi, owner of Giardini del Sole, sought City Hall’s intervention after picketing members of the Nagkahiusang Pwersa ng Mamumuo sa Giardini allegedly prevented employees from entering the factory.
Mayor Cortes and City Hall staff arrived and herded the retrenched workers, company employees and management into buses so that they could meet in the mayor’s office.
Early afternoon, Cortes first met with the retrenched workers and union members. Later, Cayanong arrived and joined the meeting. Later, it was management’s turn to talk with Cortes.
By around 2:30, management, retrenched workers, union members and Cayanong all met at the mayor’s office.