Dae Duck Philippines, Inc. (DDPI), a Korean-owned electronics company inside the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ) in Rosario, Cavite secluded Jerson Ballena, Dae Duck Employees Union-Independent (DEU-Ind) treasurer apart from other workers and unionists in placing him in the counseling room inside the company’s administration office since May 18, 2011.

“I was given a memorandum from the Human Resource Department (HRD) stating my transfer from the QM-QP (Quality Management-Quality Program) Department to the HRD effective on May 18, 2011. The purpose of the said transfer was for me to support the closing of the EMS-OHSAS (Environmental Management System-Occupational Health and Safety Auditing System) audit findings and activities,” Ballena explained in an interview.

In the said memorandum, Ballena was ordered to work from 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. But, on his first day of transfer, he learned that he is left with nothing to do as the management did not give a description of his new job.

“On May 19, I sent a letter addressed to Mr. Dae Won Lee, Chief-Executive-Officer (CEO) of DDPI asking to return me to my previous station in the calibration process until they can give me a real job,” Ballena said.

DDPI and DEU-Ind are in the middle of a labor-management dispute being heard at the National Conciliation Mediation Board (NCMB) in violation of provisions of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and representation issue of the union.

Cavite Governor Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla, jr. mediated a dialog between the DDPI management and DEU-Ind. on May 24, 2011 in an attempt to resolve the dispute. The union also raised Ballena’s issue which prompted the management to assure before Gov. Remulla to resolve said case.   

“Until now, the management is not giving me my job description. This is even after the management gave their word before the Gov. Remulla,” Ballena ended.