SPECIAL REPORT
Local
Media’s Economic Woes
Although the press
is looked up to as the Fourth Estate and serves as a powerful instrument
in advancing social justice, its members are victims of the exploitation
that the press discusses and exposes daily.
By Karl G. Ombion
and
Ryan Lachica
Bulatlat
Building Unity
Second of two parts
The
Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) defines media as under
non-agriculture or industrial and services. The wages of workers in the
sector therefore depend on the company’s capacity to pay.
DoLE’s
Assistant Regional Director Ricardo Monegro, in an interview with
Bulatlat, said that once “talents” have rendered service in a
company for more than a year, they should become regular employees.
“Even if
the company doesn’t recognize them (as regulars) the law mandates that
after a year, their status becomes regular,” said Monegro.
“Volunteers, talents or whatever it is they are called, if the service
rendered is necessary and desirable for the company’s usual business
then they are considered regular, entitled to all benefits,” he added.
Monegro
also said that social security, which is often neglected by media
companies, is required upon first day of work. He further said that
other benefits like hazard pay should be given in consideration of the
difficulties faced by the workers.
What do
media organizations do about it?
There are
several media groups in the city but most of them act as only social
clubs, said many of those interviewed by Bulatlat. Members gather
when there are political gatherings, seminars and press conferences but
they seldom attend to the welfare of their members.
Michael, a
former radio reporter and anchorman, is now a blocktimer in a local
radio station. He was also a former member of one of the oldest press
groups in Negros Occidental. He said he entered media because he wanted
to help people. Later, he realized that journalists also need help.
Michael
recounted how he was implicated in a libel case involving a prominent
family in the province and his opponents even went as far as to try to
kill him. But, Michael said, media groups did nothing to help him.
“Where was
the NPC when someone tried to kill me, the KBP? What support did I get?
None,” said Michael, referring to the National Press Club, a nationwide
organization of mostly print media practitioners and the Kapisanan ng
mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, a national organization of broadcasters.
Michael
accused the two of existing only for profit, using their organizations
as fronts for money making.
Like
Michael, John is also not impressed with the KBP of which his station is
a member and so are technicians like him.
“The KBP
does not monitor if we are given proper wages here in the provinces.
They do not help in uplifting of the social and economic status of the
production staff,” said John.
Michael
describes how some media groups operate: “A media man would approach a
politician or prominent person in behalf of his group and ask for funds
for their activities, like the induction of officers. It’s so obvious
that they are just soliciting money since some have had their officers
inducted several times, each time with a different set sponsors giving
bountiful of donations.”
Need for
media unions
DoLE’s
Monegro observed that not a single media union exists in Negros
Occidental. He also noted that members of media might be hard to
organize since they are usually out covering events.
“It’s good
if they would form unions. They would be stronger and have the power to
bargain with their employers,” said Monegro
He said
that whatever the status of the workers is – volunteers, talents,
regular – as long as an employee-employer relationship exists, then they
can organize a union.
He
enumerated the three indications that an employee-employer relationship
exists: selection of the employee by the employer, giving of wages and
the power to dismiss.
Monegro
said that forming a union is merely exercising a constitutional right.
“Sometimes
the perception of the management about unions is very negative which is
not supposed to be since the union should be their partner… as long as
it is responsible,” said Monegro.
Strength
in unity
Ranie Azue,
secretary general of the Bacolod-based alternative media organization
Liga Journalista, believes that it is time for members of media to
organize themselves: “Experience tells us that abuse begets abuse if we
don’t do anything about it.”
He said,
“Journalists are instruments of change because they provide the people
vital information and shape public opinion – and yet, they can’t even
form a simple union.”
“It’s high
time that those who speak the woes of the people be heard as well; they
must get organized. Better still, they must form unions for their own
protection and welfare,” he said.
Azue
stressed that organizing and bargaining with management for better wages
and social benefits are only the first steps. “We must advocate for
social justice, for society as well as for media workers,” he said.
With reports from Rommel Pido and Raquel Gariando / Bulatlat
First of two parts:
From Media’s
Grassroots
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