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Philippine radio broadcasting union strike for second time in two years
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists, of the Philippines (NUJP) in declaring support and solidarity for Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) colleagues who have taken industrial action against management. Members of the Davao Employee’s Union-National Federation of Labor Unions- Kilusang Mayo launched strike action on Thursday, October 2, temporarily suspending operations of the network’s AM and FM stations. The strike followed 15 ‘grueling’ conciliation conferences between management and staff to resolve negotiations for their Collection Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
According to reports, the union has accused RNM management of hiring contractual workers instead of filling vacant positions with regular employees as stipulated in the CBA.
The President of NUJP Weng Paraan said: “It is important to note that this is the second strike mounted by the RMN Davao employees against management’s unfair labour practices and its attempts to dissolve the union. This can only indicate that RMN management is hell-bent on suppressing its Davao employees’ rights to self-organisation to protect their welfare and interests.”
“Sadly, the ordeal of our RMN Davao colleagues is not isolated as more and more media outfits resort to contractual hiring and other unfair labour practices in their quest for ever larger profits. We call on all Filipino journalists and workers to unite in demanding better working conditions and welfare protection, not only for ourselves and our families, but also towards improving our profession in the service of the people’s right to know.”
IFJ Asia Pacific acting director Jane Worthington said: “We call on the Labour Department to assist with resolving this issue quickly and fairly and call on the station management to ensure that such practices are not continued, as has been the case previously.”