Labor Union Election

Polomolok— Department of Labor and Employment Region XII (DOLE XII)  conducted the Certification Election (CE) at  Dole Philippines, Inc. (Dole Phil), Gym, Cannery Road, Polomolok, South Cotabato, yesterday, February 22, 2011.

At exactly 6:30 AM, Election Officer Designate Jimelito Marquez TSSD head of DOLE XII, declared the polls open and allowed the 3,876 registered voters of Dole Phil to vote.

AMADO KADENA-NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONS-KMU (KMU) represented by Jose N. Teruel and LABOR EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF DOLEFIL-POLOMOLOK HOURLIES (LEAD.PH) represented by Francis R. Gales were the contending parties seeking to be certified as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent of Dole Phil.,Inc.

So far this is the most peaceful Certification Election I ever witnessed said Director Isidro  L. Cepeda , NCMB XI, Davao City who is a member of the Tripartite Committee, which was created  pursuant to Administrative Order No. 08, creating a Tripartite Committee at Dole Philippines, issued by DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

The committee signed a Social Partnership Accord which aims to maintain the peace and the integrity of the forthcoming certification election of Dole Phil., by mutually binding themselves to safeguard the rights of the workers before, during and after the said election last January 31, 2011.

The election officially closed at 6:30 pm and counting of votes immediately followed. There were 3,876 registered voters out of which 3,776 casted their votes.

 The election results were:  LEAD.PH garnered 2,814 votes and AK-NAFLU-KMU garnered 922. There were fifteen (15) who voted for No Union and twenty five (25) spoiled ballots.

Despite the termination of the certification election and the results having been known,the certification as to the sole and exclusive agent of the HOURLIES workers of Dole Phil., Inc. has to be deferred due to the manifestation of the forced Intervenor AK-NAFLU-KMU to file a formal protest. /cdmls/LCOMDOLEXII
(taken from: http://ro12.dole.gov.ph/)