PLDT Employees To Lose Jobs, Says Union

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 13 Sept) – More than 500 employees of one of the country’s largest telecommunication company, PLDT, are in danger of losing their jobs and labor union officials said hundreds have already been terminated.

“The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company is saving at least a million pesos with each lay-off,” said Antonio Muhi, secretary general of Manggagawa sa Komunikasyon ng Pilipinas (MKP-PLDT Union) on the impending termination this month of 575 employees due to “technological changes.”

“Workers are worried about their future,” Muhi told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said PLDT already terminated the services of 450 operators and 79 more radio relay operators based in Cebu and Mindanao, including 20 union representatives and one union executive officer.

According to MKP, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) will save at least P 450 M with the termination of 450 operators by re-channeling the workload to its call center subsidiaries such as E-PLDT and Ventus with a ratio of 1:3 call center operators.

“More will be saved if it out-sources the load of the 79 terminated radio relay operators whose yearly income plus benefits amounts P716, 000 per employee,” Muhi said.

“This is in violation of our CBA,” said Mar Soriano, Auditor of MKP citing Article 3, section 9 which states that ‘should the company adopt forms of automation, through the use of new system or equipment…the Company shall undertake measures to avoid loss of employment such as but not limited to absorbing the employees affected or giving the affected employees the opportunity to take advance training in the operation or handling of the new system or equipment.’

Soriano pointed out that there are even cases that formerly ‘redundated’ employees are re-hired as casuals by the company.

One of the affected employees, Senior Operator Loyalda Sualog, 37, has gone on hunger strike in protest. She has been with PLDT for sixteen years and eleven months. More affected employees are expected to follow suit.

“We are eager to see what the PLDT management would do beyond the September 15 deadline especially since the Labor Department has already issued and Assumption Jurisdiction Order,” Soriano said.

PLDT officials were not immediately available to make a statement. (Mindanao Examiner)