This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 51, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2007
SPECIAL REPORT
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
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
© 2007 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Local Media’s
Economic Woes
Bulatlat
Building Unity