Retrenched GMA 7 Cebu Workers File Complaint Before NLRC

Ten former employees of television channel GMA 7-Cebu filed Tuesday a complaint for illegal retrenchment against their former employers before the National Labor Relations Commission-Regional Arbitration Branch (NLRC-RAB) 7 in Cebu City.

The reporters, cameramen and editors of the local TV channel were retrenched last April.

Named respondents were lawyer Felipe Gozon, GMA 7 chief executive officer; Ann Marie Tan, GMA 7-Cebu station manager; and Suzanne Salva-Alueta, GMA 7-Cebu news and public affairs program manager.

Jun Veliganio, one of the retrenched employees and a veteran broadcast journalist, said they filed a complaint to raise some issues, among them, the erroneous computation of their separation pay.

Veliganio, who worked for GMA 7-Cebu for 16 years, said they wanted the NLRC to interpret GMA 7’s alleged failure to explain why they were retrenched.

”They said our positions were redundant, but they were not clear on that. We also passed our performance evaluation,” he said.

He said they were retrenched last April 25 and were given severance packages as part of the broadcasting company’s streamlining of programs and personnel.

Retrenched with Veliganio were fellow reporters Gregy Magdadaro, Bexmae Jumao-as, Jess Campos and Mark Bautista, assistant producer Randy Gorion and cameramen Joel Bajenting, Aaron Blanco, Joel Bajenting and Bruce Labastida. (PNA) RMA/EB/EDS