Philex operations continue despite strike
MANILA, Philippines — Philex Mining Corp. said mining operations at its mine site in Tuba, Benguet, continue despite the ongoing workers’ strike over wages.
“So far, mining and processing operations have continued and remained unhampered,” the Pangilinan-led mining company said in a disclosure on Monday.
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“Initial reports saw production and output levels yesterday are at the usual without any drastic decrease, but we are still in the process of finalizing the daily production report for yesterday,” it added.
Philex Mining assured the investing public that measures are in place to sustain operations at the Padcal mine and across the company “in a safe, orderly and responsible manner.”
The mining firm operates the Padcal mine in Benguet, its biggest revenue contributor for more than six decades.
Continuing talks
“Our commitments to our clients, investors and shareholders, regulatory agencies, banking partners, contractors and suppliers, host communities, and other stakeholders remain in place, and we have measures to ensure continuity at Padcal and across the company,” the company said.
According to Philex Mining, the National Mines and Allied Workers Union (Namawu) launched a strike on Sunday following a deadlock in talks over a collective bargaining agreement.
Prior to this, on Sept. 22, Namawu voted to reject the company’s latest offer that it hoped would lead to the signing of a collective bargaining agreement.
Philex Mining said on Monday that discussions were ongoing at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).
The Dole also invited Philex Mining and the union to a conciliation-mediation conference on Monday “to reach a mutually acceptable resolution,” it added.
Philex Mining said it was committed to resolving all issues through dialogue, in good faith, and within the framework of Philippine labor laws.
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The company also reported that less than a hundred participants had been at the picket lines since the strike began.
Philex Mining also denied issuing a memorandum ordering employees not to join the planned work stoppage.
“No such memorandum was issued by company management, and it is something that the company will never do,” Philex Mining said, stressing that it respects the workers’ right to organize and to bargain collectively. INQ
