IRIGA CITY -– More than a dozen of contractual employees here are contemplating to take legal action against the members of the Board of Directors (BOD) of the embattled Iriga City Water District (ICWD) on alleged unfair labor practices by illegally terminating them after they refused to sign a modified contract of services.

        The five-man boards latest move which came shortly after they suspended General Manager (GM) Perfecto Ignatius Cheng following his decision to release the P10,000 performance bonus to ICWD employees last December 2007 without the board’s approval was described by a dismissed worker as another handiwork of the troublemakers.

        Bicol Mail sources revealed that ICWD has a total number of 27 contractual employees who signed their new contract of service last December 27, 2007 for the period of 6 months effective January 1 to June 30, 2008.

        Showing support for the suspended GM was a big mistake committed by the ICWD workers as their predicament started after drawing the ire of the BOD headed by Gaudencio Asanza.

        The 6-month contract was thereon recalled and changed it to a 1-month contract on orders reportedly by the board.

        Out of the 27 contractual workers, 16 were immediately notified about their dismissal after they refused to sign the papers while the remaining 11 workers who signed it were rewarded with 6-month contract “for being good subordinates.”

        Earlier, city Mayor Madelaine Alfelor Gazmen in a recent media interview issued a stern warning against the board that she would be compelled to ask for their resignation, should they fail to do what is right.

        But while she issued such warning, some observers here said they were not convinced by the mayor’s act, considering that all of the board members are political allies who were appointed by the mayor herself, except for Asanza who became ICWD director during the incumbency of Mayor Manny Alfelor.

        During the same interview, Alfelor-Gazmen castigated Cheng for doing things meant to gain ICWD employees’ sympathy at the expense of the BOD. The employees were not spared whom she described as workers whose penchant for benefits is insatiable.

        In a related development, a Regional Trial Court here is set to hear next week the temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by GM Cheng on the 90-day preventive suspension imposed on him by ICWD directors.