I am currently a consultant of a global airline company that has a branch in the Philippines. One of its decent work practices is recognizing the presence of the union and its right to negotiate for a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to improve the employees’ working conditions, and protect the rights of its members. I sat as a management representative in the negotiation of the renewal of their existing CBA three years ago, and even during the negotiation of the wage-reopener clause at the start of 2013. It took us one year to conclude the five-year contract and 10 months to agree on the new wage increase for the next two years. In both negotiations, we had a deadlock on the wage issue. The Conciliator from the National Mediation and Conciliation Board (NCMB) had to intervene to resolve our dispute.