GMA Network, employees' union ink fresh collective bargaining agreement

The management of GMA Network Inc. on Tuesday signed the 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the GMA Employees Union, which covers three-year benefits to be given to the personnel of the company.

According to GMA executive vice president and chief financial officer Felipe Yalong, negotiations with the union were smooth and took four and a half days, as both parties had open discussions and took into consideration the conditions of the broadcasting industry.

“Hindi naman naging problema ‘yung negosasyon namin, kasi very cooperative naman ang union panel and we are all ready to meet with the panel and talagang nagagalak ako at hindi kami nahirapan,” he said on the sidelines of the CBA signing.

“Naparating namin sa kanila ang sitwasyon natin, lalong lalo na very challenging year and they accepted also na that is the current situation kung nasaan ang kompanya, so walang issue na tumagal sa part ng negotiation,” he added.

(Negotiations were not a problem, because the union panel was very cooperative, and we are all ready to meet with the panel. I am really happy that we did not have difficulties.

We communicated our situation to them, especially with a very challenging year. They also accepted that that is the current situation of the company, so there were no long discussion on issues during the negotiation.)

GMA Network Inc. ended the first half of the year with a P602.35-million net income, as revenues stood at P7.776 billion while operating expenses were recorded at P7.084 billion.

Under the CBA, regular employees with a tenure of less than five years will be given a signing bonus of P85,000, while those with five years and above will be granted P90,000.

It also grants a yearly wage increase in the monthly salary — P2,000 to be retroactively implemented July 1, 2024; P2,500 effective July 1, 2025; and P2,500 effective July 1, 2026.

The CBA also provides for a longevity premium pay which would depend on the length of service of the employee with the company — P22,000 for five years; P25,000 for 10 years; P28,000 for 15 years; P32,000 for 20 years; P35,000 for 25 years, and P39,000 for 30 years.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa lahat. Taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa patuloy na pag-unawa at pagkakaisa. (We are thankful to all. Heartfelt thanks for the continuous understanding and unity.) It’s always been a very pleasant process and this was no different, so thank you. Salamat sa inyong patuloy na tiwala at tulong (Thank you for your trust and help),” GMA Network president and chief executive officer Gilberto Duavit Jr. said.

“We think that the employees would be very happy and well, considering the times, they’ll be very happy,” he added.

For his part, GMA Employees’ Union president Ronaldo Condestable welcomed the development given the current conditions.

“Given na ‘yung mga magagandang benepisyo natin na mga economic provisions, inaabangan ng mga employee — ‘Yung mga signing bonus at wage increase. Kumbaga, sa kabila ng nagdaang pandemic eh still nagbigay pa rin ‘yung ating kompanya,” he said.

“Sobrang thankful ‘yung union, siyempre, na napanatili ‘yung magagandang benepisyo na nakapaloob dito sa agreement na ‘to, kaya sobrang thankful tayo sa top management dahil ibinigay pa rin nila sa atin,” he added.

Also among the GMA Network officials present during the signing were senior vice president Anna Teresa Gozon-Valdes, senior vice president Ronaldo Mastrili, first vice president Gerrome Apolona, first vice president Ma. Luz Delfin, and Human Resources Development Department labor relations manager Fidel Asuncion

Aside from Condestable, also representing the union were vice president Michelle De Guzman, legal counsel Solon Garcia, treasurer Ricardo Lino II, auditor Jennifer Romero, public relations officer Paul Maclang, and board member Edison Valdeabella.

GMA News Online is the official online news platform of GMA Network Inc. —AOL, GMA Integrated News