Sanofi med reps win wage hike, conclude CBA after four days of natiowide protests:

After days of nationwide protests and bringing the company on the verge brink of a strike, the med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Aventis (Phils) Inc. won their demand for a wage hike and concluded their new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA was signed by the union and management late last night after a marathon whole-day mediation meeting called by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to avert a planned strike.

“What we were not able to achieve in four months of protracted negotiations at the table, we won in four days of nationwide protests in the streets. We owe this victory to the unity and activism of the union members, first of all, and then next to the solidarity of our sisters and brothers in the labor movement. Ang panalo ng Sanofi med reps ay panalo ng lahat ng manggagawa,” declared Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU).

SAEU members with a tenure of 10 years and above will get a P2,800 monthly salary increase every year for three years and a merit pay increase of P600, equivalent to a 9% hike in average monthly wages. Employees with less than 10 years tenure will get P1,800 per year for the duration of the CBA and a merit pay hike of P400.

“The salary hike we obtained will ensure we remain at the living wage and that our compensation is competitive with our labor productivity and company profitability. Further, the CBA we have attained will hopefully set a benchmark that will benefit all workers in the pharmaceutical industry,” averred Joseph Corpuz, a SEAU officer.

Sanofi had been in the news recently because the Department of Health had ordered just for this year some P3 billion worth of anti-dengue vaccines that is solely manufactured by Sanofi. According to media reports, executives of the French-owned global company met President Benigno Aquino III on the sidelines of the Paris climate change talks ostensibly over the vaccine contract.

CBA negotiations between SAEU and Sanofi were deadlocked in October last year which led to a notice of strike. After the strike notice matured more than a week ago, SAEU organized daily protests in the Sanofi office in Makati and the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Calamba in Laguna, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao. The mediation yesterday was billed by the union as a make-or-break meeting which would have led to a strike if no “fair deal” was reached.

Renato Magtubo, chair of Partido Manggagawa (PM), among the groups which supported SAEU, said that “The hard-won victory of SAEU is an inspiration and a lesson to colleagues in the labor movement. SAEU the David slayed the goliath Sanofi through unity and action. Sanofi blinked when it was brought to the brink of a strike that SAEU had prepared well.”

Aside from PM, labor groups such as the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), Bayer Philippines union, Federation of Free Workers and Industri-ALL global union had participated in the Sanofi med reps mass actions. 

January 26, 2016

SAEU

Sanofi med reps all set for strike if “fair deal” not reached

Sanofi med reps prayer rally at DOLE Calabarzon in Calamba, Laguna

The restive med reps of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Aventis declared their readiness to go on strike should the make or break mediation meeting today produce no breakthrough in the deadlocked collective bargaining negotiations. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz called for the mediation in  bid to avert a work stoppage at the Philippine subsidiary of the French-owned global giant.

“If it takes a strike to make management realize that it is the labor of their employees that creates their profit, then we are all set for it. Still we hope that Secretary Baldoz can broker a fair deal today. A fair deal, a decent collective bargaining agreement should mean a salary that we deserve,” insisted Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU).

While SAEU representatives attended the mediation at the Department of Labor and Employment, scores of union members with their supporters picketed outside. The highlight of the protest was a flash mob by several med reps who danced while wearing Guy Fawkes masks. The masks have become an icon of anti-corporate protests since it was popularized in the movie “V.”

Since October last year, bargaining talks have been deadlocked over ten items from salary hike to hospitalization plan. The notice of strike filed by the med reps union matured two weeks ago.

“A strike is the Rx for deadlocked negotiations over a wage increase. This may be our first time to go on strike but we are ready as ever. We appeal to management to hear our reasonable demand for a salary hike which is a mere drop in the bucket of Sanofi’s income,” argued Joseph Corpuz, SAEU officer.

He added that “Aside from robust revenues due to sales quotas achieved by med reps for the past two years, Sanofi has bagged the contract for anti-dengue vaccines. For this year alone, the government is buying PhP 3 billion worth of vaccines from Sanofi. Health Secretary Janet Garin has been quoted as saying that the anti-dengue vaccine is expensive because it is a monopoly of Sanofi.”

Renato Magtubo, chair of Partido Manggagawa (PM), explained that “Labor groups are supporting the fight of Sanofi med reps not just because their demand for a wage hike is justified given employee productivity and company profitability. But also because the fight for a living wage is a cause of all workers. Ang laban ng Sanofi med reps ay laban ng lahat ng manggagawa.”

PM and the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) were among the groups which joined SAEU in the protest today at DOLE. Other labor groups like the Bayer Philippines union, Federation of Free Workers and the Industri-ALL global union have also participated in the Sanofi med reps mass actions.

Since last week, SAEU has held daily protests in cities across the country in preparation for the strike. Pickets and prayer rallies have been organized in the Sanofi office in Makati, and the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Calamba in Laguna, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Davao.

Photos and videos of protests and events can be accesses at Facebook page "Sanofi Aventis Employees Union"

January 25, 2016

Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU)

Make or break mediation meeting tomorrow: Sanofi med reps call on Baldoz to broker a fair deal

SAEU members hold flash mob @ Sanofi office @ Makati

With a mediation meeting tomorrow between the union and management of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Aventis (Phils) Inc. called by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz herself, the med reps are calling on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to broker a “fair deal.” The mediation is a make or break meeting as the notice of strike has already matured last week and the union has already been preparing for a work stoppage for the past several days through sustained protests.

Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU), stated that “We have already reduced our demands, including for a wage increase, in a bid to break the collective bargaining deadlock. But since October, management has refused to meet its employees halfway. We just hope Secretary Baldoz can exercise moral suasion on management to open up to the union’s just and fair demand.”

“We are simply asking for salary we deserve. We are just claiming a wage increase proportionate to labor productivity and company profitability,” Lucido added.

SAEU is planning a big protest tomorrow to coincide with the mediation. The highlight will be a flash mob by several SAEU members who will dance while wearing Guy Fawkes (movie “V”) masks as expression of their determination to fight for a wage increase and decent benefits.

“We have met demanding sales quotas for two years back to back. Revenues are expanding while med reps are dwindling. Still labor costs are a mere 2% of Sanofi’s operational costs. Such productivity increases deserve a salary increase,” insisted Joseph Corpuz, a SAEU officer.

“The labor movement supports SAEU’s fight for a salary hike. All workers deserve a living wage. Ang laban ng isa ay laban ng lahat,” averred Renato Magtubo, chair of Partido Manggagawa (PM).

In the latest protest on Friday, SAEU members previewed the flash mob/dance that they will perform tomorrow. Since Wednesday SAEU has organized daily protests in cities across the country. On the first day of protests, pickets were held in the Sanofi office in Makati and the DOLE regional offices in the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. Last Thursday, prayer rallies were held in the cities of Makati, Calamba in Laguna, Angeles, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao.

The fight of the Sanofi med reps has already gained support from various labor unions and groups. Aside from PM, members of the Bayer Philippines labor union, Philippine Airlines Employees Association, Federation of Free Workers and Industri-ALL global union have participated in the SAEU daily protests.

Photos and videos of the SAEU activities/protests can be accessed at the Facebook page "Sanofi Aventis Employees Union"

January 24, 2016

Sanofi Aventis Employees Union

Advisory: Sanofi med reps protest/flash mob @ DOLE during make or break mediation tomorrow

MEDIA ADVISORY

January 25 2016

Contact: Joseph Corpuz @ 09175451276

   To coincide with make or break mediation today:

Sanofi med reps protest/flash mob @ DOLE

WHAT: Med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis to hold picket-protest and flash mob/dance

WHEN: Today, January 25, 2016, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Department of Labor and Employment main, Intramuros

DETAILS: The mediation today called by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz between the union and management of Sanofi Aventis (Phils) Inc. is a make or break meeting as the notice of strike has already matured last week and the union has already been preparing for a work stoppage for the past several days through sustained protests.

The highlight of the protest at the DOLE today is a flash mob/dance by several SAEU members wearing Guy Fawkes (movie “V”) masks as an expression of their determination to fight for a wage increase and decent benefits.

Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi Aventis Employees Union (SAEU), stated that “We have already reduced our demands, including for a wage increase, in an effort to break the collective bargaining deadlock. But since October, management has refused to meet its employees halfway. We are simply asking for a salary we deserve. We are just claiming a wage increase proportionate to labor productivity and company profitability.”

Since last week SAEU has organized daily protests in cities across the country. On the first day of protests pickets were held in the Sanofi office in Makati and the DOLE regional offices in the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. Last Thursday, prayer rallies were held in the cities of Makati, Calamba in Laguna, Angeles, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao.  Last Friday, SAEU members previewed in Makati the flash mob/dance that they will perform in the protest tomorrow.

Advisory: Restive med reps to hold prayer rally tomorrow on 2nd day of protest

MEDIA ADVISORY

January 21, 2016

Contact: Joseph Corpuz @ 09175451276

Pharma firm Sanofi on the verge of a strike:

Med reps to hold prayer rally on 2^ndday of protest

WHAT: Med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis to hold prayer rally

WHEN: Today, January 21, 2016, 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sanofi-Aventis, Feliza Building, 108 V.A. Rufino St, Makati

DETAILS: On the second day of protests over a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations, med reps of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi-Aventis are holding a prayer rally this afternoon. Since October last year, CBA talks have been deadlocked over ten items from salary hike to hospitalization plan.

In protests held nationwide yesterday, some 100 med reps launched a rally at the Sanofi corporate headquarters in Makati while scores of other union members picketed the Department of Labor and Employment regional offices in the cities of Angeles in Pampanga, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao.

Any day now the union Sanofi-Aventis Employees Union(SAEU) can organize a work stoppage as their notice of strike already matured last Friday. SAEU vowed to sustain daily actions to push for the resolution of the CBA deadlock.

Lei Lucido, president of the said that “We call on management to meet halfway the demands of its loyal, hardworking employees. Sanofi med reps are just asking for a salary we deserve. We are appealing for a fair share of the fruits of our labor.”

Media Advisory: Sanofi med reps to hold protest over CBA deadlock

MEDIA ADVISORY

January 19, 2016

Contact: Joseph Corpuz @ 09175451276

WHAT: Med reps of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis to hold picket-protest

WHEN: Tomorrow, January 20, 2016, 7:00 a.m.

WHERE: Sanofi-Aventis, Feliza Building, 108 V.A. Rufino St, Makati

DETAILS: Scores of Sanofi-Aventis med reps are holding the protest tomorrow to call on the company to end the deadlock over collective bargaining negotiations by meeting workers’ demands for a wage increase. Since October last year, CBA talks have been deadlocked over ten items from salary hike to hospitalization plan. Last Friday, the notice of strike filed by the med reps union matured and a strike can be launched any day according to law.

Lei Lucido, president of the Sanofi-Aventis Employees Union(SAEU) said that “We call on management to meet halfway the demands of its loyal, hardworking employees. For two straight years, med reps have met their tough sales quotas and revenues are increasing while the number of employees are decreasing. Sanofi med reps are just asking for a salary we deserve. We are appealing for a fair share of the fruits of our labor. We aim to conclude a good CBA that will be an industry benchmark which should benefit all pharmaceutical workers.”

SAEU represents some 200 med reps working for the company over the whole country. Similar pickets will be held by SAEU members in cities of Angeles, Cebu and Davao. The protest tomorrow is the start of daily actions to push for the resolution of the CBA deadlock.