Transparency sought in PLDT union leadership

Members of he Mangagawa sa Komunikason sa Pilipinas, the labor union at the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., pay an average of P9 million a year in union membership dues, making the MKP one of the most financially viable labor organizations in the country.

Yet more than 200 members of the 7,500-strong MKP have been waiting for as long as six months for their medical and funeral be-nefits, which are separate from the benefits provided by PLDT.

This problem has fueled calls among the union members for more transparency in union management, particularly with respect to its finances.

MKP sources explained that in addition to the package of benefits provided by PLDT, union members are entitled to reimbursements of the hospitalization and other medical expenses of their dependents, as well as funeral expenses of immediate relatives.

In the past six months, however, members said the union has not been able to release funds for the reimbursement claims of more than 200 members.

They said union management has not been able to explain the reason for the long delay in the release of funds, considering that membership dues are deducted from the members’ payroll every month.

MKP members said they have been trying to verify reports that some of the union funds were being diverted to organizations outside PLDT, particularly militante leftist groups. They, however, said they could not verify the reports due to lack of transparency in union management.