Akbayan joins TV5 unions' march to Mendiola, calls for suspension of retrenchment

Akbayan Party expressed its solidarity and strong support for the workers unions of TV5, the ABC 5 Employees’ Unions (RPN EU/ Rank-and-file Union), today, as the unions led labor groups on a march to Mendiola to protest their impending retrenchment.

Labeling the 700 workers “public servants” for having worked for TV5 in its operations as a public broadcasting agency, Akbayan Representative Walden Bello joined his voice with that of workers to demand that management suspend the retrenchment of workers and that it be made accountable for violations.

“Akbayan is one with the TV5 unions in their fight. We will not allow TV5 management to abuse workers who provided the backbone of their operations, workers who served in the interest of the Filipino people,” Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said.

According to Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, management’s decision to retrench workers was done “in utter bad faith and blatant disregard to the welfare of workers,” especially after it signed a memorandum of agreement that identified benefits that should be provided workers as the network transitions into a private corporation.

“We will investigate this matter in Congress. TV5  management made a very big mistake when it decided to push through with the retrenchment. We will not allow management to renege on an agreement that workers signed with them in good faith,” Bello said.

According to Bello, on October 10 he filed House Resolution 2821 that calls for an investigation of the retrenchment program  that will require management to face Congress.

"That management decides to fire all of the workers and offers to pay only around 15% of what it really owes the 700 workers of TV5 after having signed an agreement that said otherwise is an indication of their ill-will against their workers. They will not be able to weasel their way out of this unreasonable decision when they are brought to Congress,” Bello explained.

Bello also explained that his office raised the issue with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar and called for the suspension of the impending retrenchment.

“These workers are public servants who provided their skills for the operation of TV5 as a public broadcasting agency. By serving the people, by serving the government, it is only appropriate that Sec. Coloma intervenes to mandate management to suspend the retrenchment and abide by the initial agreement that they signed,” Bello said.

Akbayan vowed to seek a resolution of the issue in favor of the unions through avenues available in both the legislative and executive.

“We will not let management act with impunity against the 700 public servants who worked tirelessly for TV5. For the service they provided the Filipino people, we will make sure that the workers receive the benefits that are due them,” Bello concluded.

On September 24th 2018, in the presence of Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the TV5 unions and management signed a memorandum of agreement that stipulates the responsibilities of management to workers as TV5 transitions to a private corporation.

Among the main agreements reached in the negotiations brokered by DOLE are management providing full payment of the long overdue benefits to TV5 unions worth some P52 million, and the negotiation of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

However, TV5 management reneged on this agreement and announcement that 700 workers of the network will be retrenched effective November 15, 2018.