Tension grips food distributing firm as dismissed workers barricade entry of delivery trucks
CABANATUAN CITY – Tension gripped a food distributing company in this city as disgruntled dismissed workers demanding their full separation pay tried to prevent delivery vans from entering the compound yesterday morning.
“Nagkasa po ng armas na de sabog (shotgun) ang mga security guards kaya wala kaming nagawa,” said Raymark Celestino, the workers’ group leader.
He said they immediately called for police assistance and had the incident put in the blotter in the barangay here.
Celestino said his group of 22 dismissed workers of Makobobi Distributors Incorporated located in Sangciangco Extension, Bgy. Barrera are demanding the immediate release of their full separation pay from the said firm, which is engaged in the distribution of coffee and snack food products.
“Katulad ko nasa 10 years na ko dito work, sahod ko halos kinse mil isang buwan mahigit 500 piso kada araw, ang habol ko buo maibigay sakin ang separation pay ko,” he said.
However, the issue remains unsettled at the Department of Labor and Employment- Regional Conciliation Mediation Board Branch 3 as talks between them and the company are still ongoing, with the management opting to grant only 50 percent of their separation pay.
Celestino said another round of talks between them is set for April 26, 2024 but he claimed that it seems the firm is again not following their supposed earlier agreement not to release the remaining merchandise from the firm’s warehouse.
“Nagbabantay po kami dito sa gate 24/7 araw araw, kasi ang usapan wala munang galawan, wala munang kukuning stock sa loob,” he said, referring to stocks of food products being exclusively distributed by the firm, which has been operating here for about 22 years.
“Nagsarado po kasi sila ng biglaan nitong February 12 walang pasabi, nalugi daw po nung pandemic eh nung pandemic diretso naman po ang operation namin kaya hindi kami naniniwala,” he said.
It was learned that at least eight delivery trucks had entered the firm’s compound early yesterday morning, with the dismissed workers trying to barricade its entry but to no avail.
