A former ABS-CBN worker who participated in the rally against the labor practices of the said broadcasting company ten years ago commented on the possible closure of his previous company.
On a Facebook post, Christopher Mendoza narrated how he joined the rally organized by ABS-CBN Internal Job Market (IJM) Workers Union and fought against their rights during that time when they were suddenly removed from their jobs.
He also posted some photos taken during the rally to show how they tried to stand up against ABS-CBN.
According to Mendoza, unlike the current workers of ABS-CBN, they were not informed earlier by their management when they’re going to lose their job and suddenly wake up one day being jobless.
He told the current employees of ABS-CBN that they’re fortunate that they have time to look for another job because they’re aware of the possible closure of the broadcasting company in March 2020.
“June 2010 nang ipaglaban namin ang karapatan namin bilang isang mangagawa, ano ang pinagkaiba ng 100+ na mangagawang tinangal noon at sa sinasabi ng mga artista ngaun na maraming apektado kung sakaling masara ang abs eh pare pareho namang tao,” Mendoza said.
“Kami nga biglaan tinangal samantalang kyo last year pa ng ipaalam na pwedeng masara abs so nakapaghanda na kyo real talk lang mga kaibigan hindi nyo alam kung ano naging buhay namin noon may mga anak na pinagaaral, pinapakain parating pa kapaskuhan buti na lang hindi kami pinabayaan ni God,” he added.
Currently, supporters of ABS-CBN, including their top talents who earn millions of pesos monthly said that the closure of their company may lose the job of 11,000 employees.
ABS-CBN IJM Workers Union complained about the practices of the television network giant against the people working for them.
In a statement released in 2010, Antonio Perez, the President of the ABS-CBN Internal Job Market IJM Workers’ Union during that time said that the broadcasting company refused to recognize 1,4000 workers as employees.
“Our pay slips, IDs and uniforms all bear the logo of ABS-CBN as our employer. Workers who have been in service for many years have even received necklaces and rings affirming their employment in ABS-CBN,” Perez said.
They also claimed that the network offered permanent employment to workers in exchange for agreeing to withdraw their labor complaints against the company.
In a report, it’s already common to TV networks to hire media workers as “talents”.
“Non-employees do not have the same benefits as employees. Regular ABS-CBN employees receive a monthly sack of rice, education and health benefits, leaves and overtime pay. However, IJM hires enjoy health benefits only through private health cards; they have no 13th-month pay, only incentives; and they receive a sack of rice only every two months.” The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) said in their article.