By Chloe Mari A. Hufana
THE LABOR union of Ninja Van Philippines has filed a notice of strike at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) for unfair labor practices, according to its leader.
About 300 regular employees were being 鈥渦nfairly treated鈥 by Wall Street Courier Services, Inc., which operates Ninja Van Philippines, by limiting each rider鈥檚 daily parcel delivery, Ninja Van Rider鈥檚 Union-Federation of Free Workers (NVRU-FFW) President Dick P. Pacioles said in an interview.
Ninja Van handles deliveries of e-commerce platforms Lazada and Zalora.
Ninja Van riders does not have a 鈥済overnment-recognized union,鈥 Ninja Van Philippines communications head Ralph Angelo V. Ty said in an e-mail.
鈥淩iders have always been free to raise their concerns with the team, as we have open and transparent lines of communication,鈥 he said. 鈥淢ore importantly, we have also always worked with DoLE to resolve any concerns our riders might have, including those raised by the specific group mentioned.鈥
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) in a separate statement said the union has a certificate of creation as a local chapter of FFW issued in October 2023 by DoLE-National Capital Region.
Unfair labor practice, discrimination and harassment were among the complaints filed against the logistics company, union lawyer Jose Sonny G. Matula said in an interview.
He said Ninja Van removes union members and discriminates in giving parcels for delivery.
鈥淚nstead of prioritizing regular employees, Ninja Van resorts to independent contractors,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here is also a diminution of benefits, so there are benefits given before that aren鈥檛 now.鈥
Mr. Ty said gasoline and maintenance allowances and other incentives are given to high-performing riders based on the company鈥檚 metrics, Mr. Ty separately said in a Viber message.
Ronald R. Castro, a Ninja Van rider, said he earns P3,000 weekly, a far cry from the P32,000 he used to earn for two weeks during the coronavirus pandemic.
One time, he said, he was assigned 36 packages to deliver instead of the usual 65 even if as many as 700 packages had arrived at his area.
鈥淭hey just sent me home after that,鈥 he said in an interview in Filipino. Days later, several regular employees got suspended for no reason, he added.
Mr. Pacioles said that they had to fight Ninja Van to force it to recognize them as regular employees.
The NCMB said its role is to ensure that both parties reach an agreement within 30 days. The National Labor Relations Commission will have to intervene in case of a deadlock.
The parties are set to meet on March 11.
