MANILA, Philippines — The leadership of the Federation and Cooperation of Cola, Beverage and Allied Industry Unions (FCCU-SENTRO), constructively condemn the treacherous action of the Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines after it decided to illegally terminate members and leaders of the union.

“In our last quarterly meeting held 26 October 2017, the company failed to mention any plans for restructuring. As such, we find the company’s unilateral decision in bad faith,” the FCCU letter stated”.

FCCU National President Alfredo Marañon submitted the letter addressed to COKE FEMSA Philippines CEO, Washington Fabrico Ponce Garcia, and Human Resource Director Francisco “Paco” Martinez Colunga last 31 January 2018, wherein FCCU object the company’s announcement of streamline and reorganize its structure.

FCCU view the action of the management as a direct violation of their Collective Bargaining Rights as well as the obligation under OECD guidelines to engage in negotiations with union representatives to minimize the negative impact of any changes affecting employment.

“We strongly urge sir to suspend the company’s restructuring program, recall all issuance of termination letters and negotiate with the union a just and appropriate response to what to the company claims as evolving fiscal and regulatory environment and the changing market conditions,” the letter added.

But the COKE-FEMSA management apparently did not heed the request of FCCU and instead push through with their plan in the disguise of their new commercial business model wherein 35% of the company’s commercial unit or sales force will be terminated.

“Habang nagme-meeting ang top leadership ng FCCU-SENTRO noong 23 at 29 ng Enero, hinggil sa napabalitang umano’y tanggalan, binira ng COKE FEMSA management ang aming mga lider sa Visayas at Mindanao branch,” FCCU-Sentro organizer Danny Fuentes said.

[While top leadership of FCCU-SENTRO is having a meeting last 23 and 29 of January, in relation to the information of retrenchment plan of the company, the COKE FEMSA management already terminating one by one our leaders in Visayas and Mindanao branch]

Fuentes said the management’s criteria for terminating their employee’s are as follows;
1. The employee’s tenure
2. The employee’s performance for the year 2015 – 2017
3. And the administrative cases under the files of the Human Resources Department.

“Ang nag-evaluate ay mga bisor at mga managers na mga kaaway ng mga manggagawa at sekreto ang ginawang evaluation na malinaw na bias at may diskriminasyon,” Fuentes added.
[It is very clear that there are biases and discrimination in the evaluation made secretly by the supervisors and managers who have a grudge against employees. ]

FCCU-SENTRO believes the management action against the workers is pure harassment and can be clearly categorized as union busting.

FCCU-SENTRO data showed that three local presidents in Luzon are already dismissed by the management this does not include their Iloilo president and the almost 15 FCCU board members.

“Sa kabuuan, mahigit 30 FCCU-SENTRO liders ang naalis na sa trabaho labas pa ito sa 600 plus empleyadong kanilang tinanggal kaya’t talagang malinaw na union busting,” Fuentes lamented.

[All in all, almost 30 FCCU-SENTRO leaders are already displaced this is aside from the 600 plus employees that were terminated, and it is very clear that it is union busting.]

“FCCU will be forced to take all necessary legal actions at the local, national and even global levels to defend our members, security of tenure should the company failed to heed the union’s demand,” Marañon’s strong statement in the letter. CPM