Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Friday, May 3, dismissed the Central Negros Electric Cooperative union’s complaint that the Joint Venture Agreement between CENECO and Primelectric Holdings Inc. violates its member’s right to security of tenure.
Laguesma, in a 17-page order, dismissed the complaint filed by the CENECO Union of Rational Employees (CURE) against the JVA for “prematurity and lack of cause of action”.
The JVA will lead to Negros Electric and Power Corp. taking over the distribution services of CENECO that will result in the termination of the union members, CURE said in its complaint.
CENECO remains in operation, none of the union members have been issue notices of termination by reason of the JVA, Laguesma said.
“Given these circumstances, the union’s claim that CENECO violated the right of its members to security of tenure has not ripened into an actual cause of action. At this stage, a decision on this issue would be premature and unfounded,” Laguesma said.
Laguesma also dismissed CURE’s claim of unfair labor practice against CENECO and it Acting General Manager Arnel Lapore for lack of merit.
The company did not commit any acts of interference constituting unfair labor practice, Laguesma said.
The union’s claim for moral and exemplary damages was also dismissed by Laguesma for lack of factual and legal basis.*