Arbiter refers dismissed GMA workers to NCMB-7

CEBU, Philippines - The National Labor Relations Commission – 7 has referred to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in Central Visayas 11 of the 13 complaints for illegal dismissal and damages filed by retrenched rank-and-file employees of GMA-7 Cebu against the network officials for lack of jurisdiction.

Labor Arbiter Jermelina Ay-ad only retained the two complaints from non-union members.

Jun Veliganio, former reporter of GMA-7 Cebu, said that his and that of the 10 other complainants who are members of the employees union will be resolved by the NCMB-7.

Aside from Veliganio, the rank-and-file employees who lodged complaints against GMA-7 include former TV reporters Bexmae Jumao-as, Mark Bautista and Gregy Magdadaro; cameramen Joel Pantino, Leofil Labastida and Joshue Ian Laroga; video editors Jude Montejo, Marlon Marquez and Urestedes Gulliebon; and technician Ronald Rellin who were terminated as well.

The union and the management signed a collective bargaining agreement in July last year.

Veliganio said that the remaining two complaints which belong to supervising producer Vlad Fernando and junior desk editor Randy Gorion will remain at the NLRC since they are not members of the rank-and-file union. Veliganio said that for now, they plan to consult their legal counsel on what to do next.

On July 7, Veliganio and other complainants asked NLRC to review the separation pay because it is allegedly erroneous. They were also demanding reinstatement, damages, back wages, and compensation for attorney’s fees.

The defendants are GMA Network Inc., Atty. Felipe Gozon, CEO of GMA Network Inc.; Ann Marie Tan, station manager of GMA Cebu; and Suzzane Alueta, program manager of GMA Cebu.

On April 24, some of the former employees of GMA-7 were dismissed from their jobs for “redundancy.”  — (FREEMAN)