I. Proponent
Associated Professional, Supervisory, Office and Technical Employees
Union - (APSOTEU) -TUCP
Northern Mindanao Regional Office
ALU Building, Kauswagan Highway
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
II. Project Administrator
Nicandro L. Borja
Regional Vice President
Membership Recruitment and Services Department.
III. Project Team
1. Atty. Jay S. Albarece
Regional Legal Counsel, Northern Mindanao Regional Office.
2. Jose B. Ares,
Director, Education and Information Department, Northern Mindanao
Regional Office.
3. Rosauro O. Pepito
Union Organizer, Northern Mindanao Regional Office
IV.TITLE :
RE-ORGANIZING DRIVE AT MT. KITANGLAD AGRI-VENTURES
INCORPORATED ONE (1) YEAR PLAN
V. TARGET GROUP
MT. KITANGLAD AGRI – VENTURES INCORPORATED (MKAVI)
Address: Patag, Alanib, Lantapan, Bukidnon
Proprietor: Chiquitas Corporation
Mngt. Contact Persons: Neil B. Abejuela, Operations Manager, Julius
Lim, HR Manager
Plantation Address: Patag, Alanib, HighSchool Alanib, and Insibay,
Lantapan, Bukidnon
Workforce: 1,200 (Male: 900 and Female: 300).Regular Rank
and File employees
Nature of Business: producing export quality bananas
VI.BACKGROUND JUSTIFICATION:
Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ventures, Inc. (MKAVI), a 650-hectare banana
plantation in Alanib, Lantapan which employs environmental conservation
practices. MKAVI began its operations in November 1998 with areas
located in the highland areas of Alanib, MKAVI is the chief producer of
quality highland sweet bananas with the expected 2005 production of more
than 3.4 million boxes at 13 kilos/box. MKAVI produces almost 5,200
boxes
per
hectare.
MKAVI's highland bananas are marketed under the brand name
"Chiquita" to Japan, the Middle East, and China, with Japan accounting for
63% of total sales. As part of its marketing strategy, MKAVI regularly meets
with its customers and tours them to the plantation to gain their trust and
confidence, as well as to show buyers their commitment to the best banana
farming techniques. For being one of the first two Philippine companies
certified for using sustainable agriculture methods in producing export
quality bananas.
We filed a Petition for Certification Election sometime in April 2001 but
were dismissed because the workers were under a Cooperative.
Certification Election for 1,200 workers of the Company was scheduled
on May 8, 2009 but on the day ( May 7, 2009) before the Election we
received and Order of the Regional Director of Department of Labor and
Employment, Region 10, cancelling the Local Union Registration of
MKAVELU-ALU-TUCP and defer the conduct of the Certification Election.
This Order was very much discouraging and doubtful because cancellation
of Union Registration is a separate proceeding. It cannot hold the conduct
of the Certification Election. We were already prepared for that Election. In
fact, our chances of winning were very high. The malicious Order is now on
Appeal to the Bureau of Labor Relations, Manila under the office of the
secretary of Labor.
November 26, 2009 we were not so lucky in the Certification Election
Conducted at Mt. Kitanglad Agri-ventures Inc. We thought that
management will not participate in the Election as manifested by their
Lawyer during the Exclusion and Inclusion Proceedings at Dole Regional
Office. We were only surprised that in the last hour they advised their
workers to vote and even provide haul to them and told them that if they
will vote for ALU, they will not receive their Christmas Bonus. Because of
this, we lost in the Certification Election. Results were the following:
MKAVELU-ALU-TUCP – 376 and No Union – 564. Even if we lost in the
Election, we still maintained our contact with our Leaders hoping that we
can still come back after one year.
By this time, the workers are much determined to organize a Union
especially that the company is not treating them fairly until now. Workers
are easily suspended without valid reasons and there is delay in the
implementation of a Wage Order and Health & Safety of the workers,
especially (lack of Protective Personal Equipment (PPA). MKAVELU-ALUTUCP members are still united and very much willing to support ALUTUCP. However, we still have to further strengthen our union supporters
for this coming certification election.
VII. OBJECTIVES:
 ALU-TUCP NMR Road map of winning the C.E of MKAVI, we
need to exhaust the following activities and strategies for ALU’s
guaranteed winning in the forth-coming election. To finally win in
the Certification Election at Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ventures Inc. for
the second time.
 Improved compliance with core labor standards especially with
regard to workers’ fundamental rights at work.
 Improved understanding and capacity of workers to ensure full
exercise of their rights at work
VIII. ACTIVITIES:
Strategies / Activities
1. One day orientation
Seminar and skills
training on how answer
issues
Objectives
Output/Results
Each officer will be
To raise the level of union able to convince 50
consciousness of identified member to join ALU
leaders. To convince
leaders of the importance
of unionism.
To equip the 18 Ad-hoc
officers on how to answer
issues
Trade Union Orientation
(refreshing) Seminar per
Area, Farm 1, Farm 2 &
Farm 3 (all workers 1,
200 pax)
A. The Importance of a
Union
B. ALU is the only Union
that could help MKAVI
3. Conduct officers
meeting
To evaluate and assess all
activities
4. Inventory of ALU
Forces - ALU, ANTIALU,DOUBTFUL
Know forces of the mgt.
90% illimination of
organizing mistakes
5. House to House
Visitation
6. LEAFLETS Saturation
Drive
7. Conduct general
assembly
ALU is needed for job
security and Family
1. Why do we need A
union?
2. Why mngt. Is
Resisting a Union
3. Benefits from Other
company have a
union
4. Black Propaganda
To finally consult and
update the general
membership
8.Meeting with all
Landowners
ALU will protect
Landowners. Unionism
are one in worker’s
straggle.
9.Meeting with
Religious group of
Lantapan, Bukidnon
Health and Safety of the
workers is one of the
prime concerns of ALU.
10.Meeting with
Informing them of the
Sanguniang Bayan/LGU union /Courtesy call.
11.POLL watching
preparation
what needs to be done
during election day
12. Provide
Communication
Facilities
Connect all officers to the
regional office
13.Affilliate landowners
association to ALU
14. Establish Special
Operations Group
Landowners will be
served by ALU legally
Know the activities of mgt.
ELECTION DAY:
15. Organize the Staff
and selected Local
Union Presidents
Coordination of
assignments
16. Meeting with DOLE
representatives as to
their assignments.
Coordination with DOLE
17. Motorcade (all local
union officers and
members)
Unity and strength are
shown
18.Hire vehicles to bring Ensure ALU vote
workers to the election
precincts
19. Food Preparation for
MKAVELU-ALU-TUCP
Officers and Team
Leaders
IX. PRELIMINARY BUDGET:
Main Item
Local Currency
1. One day orientation Seminar
and skills training on how
answer issues
Php 10,000.00
2. Trade Union Orientation
(refreshing) Seminar per Area,
Farm 1, Farm 2 & Farm 3 (all
workers 1, 200 pax)
Php 20,000.00
3. Conduct officers meeting
4.Inventory of ALU Forces
ALU, ANTIALU,DOUBTFUL
5.House to House Visitation
6.LEAFLETS Saturation Drive
7. Conduct general assembly
8.Meeting with all Landowners
9.Meeting with Religious group
of Lantapan, Bukidnon
10.Meeting with Sanguniang
Bayan/LGU
11.POLL watching preparation
Php 5,000.00
Php 2,000.00
Php 4,000.00
Php 6,000.00
Php 15,000.00
Php 5,000.00
Php 3,000.00
Php 2,500.00
Php 6,000.00
Dollar
12. Provide Communication
Facilities
(cell phones and Load)
Php 10,000.00
13.Affilliate landowners
association to ALU
Php 4,000.00
14. Establish Special
Operations Group
Php 10,000.00
ELECTION DAY:
15. Organize the Staff and
selected Local Union Presidents
Php 2,500.00
16. Meeting with DOLE
representatives as to their
assignments.
Php 1,500.00
17. Motorcade (all local union
officers and members)
Php 5,000.00
18.Hire vehicles to haul workers
to the election precincts
Php 20,000.00
TOTAL:
P 116,500.00 or $2,400.00
X. MONITORING / EVALUATION / IMPLEMENTATION:
Start of the Project : August 1, 2010 to September 2011.
Monitoring and Evaluation : Monthly preferably at the end of every
month.