FOR PDI EMPLOYEES’ WELFARE | The Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Daily Inquirer Employees Union (PDIEU) sign a new, three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on Monday, July 11, 2022, in Makati City. (EUGENE ARANETA)
MANILA, Philippines — The management and workers’ union of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) signed on Monday a new three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to help ensure the welfare of both personnel and the company amid economic challenges and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
The CBA that would be in effect from 2022 to 2025 was crafted after seven meetings between the management panel headed by Inquirer president and chief executive officer Rudyard Arbolado and the PDI Employees Union (PDIEU) headed by its president, Jerome Aning.
“Our agreement today is a message to everyone in PDI and even to the industry that we are all in this together,” Arbolado said.
“Congratulations to the union and management for successfully closing the CBA negotiations. I am proud and happy that we reached an agreement despite uncertainties, both global and local, that continue to affect our economy, industry and company,” he added.
Aning, on the other hand, said that the union was satisfied as the negotiations were conducted swiftly and amicably, resulting in timely improvements in the CBA, including yearly salary increases, that would benefit both the employees and PDI.
Issues discussed
Among the issues tackled during negotiations were economic, non-economic and political policies that covered wages, longevity pay and signing bonus; isolation and quarantine leaves; the Mental Health Act; safe spaces and the prevention of gender-based sexual harassment; the Data Privacy Act; and safe working conditions, especially for employees working from home and in the field.
“Of course, for the union, the economic side is more important such as the wage increase because it can help employees cope with inflation,” Aning said.
He added that the union, through the CBA, was looking forward to working with PDI management on the path to recovery under the new normal.
Aside from Arbolado, also on the management panel were Raymund Caesar Soberano, senior vice president, human resources (HR) group head; Juliet Javellana, Inquirer associate publisher; Renato Lao, vice president for HR and administration; Jose Gil Pineda, HR manager; Ceasar Castulo, logistics/subscription manager; Divine Grace Alcantara, HR officer; Connie Kalagayan, assistant vice president (AVP) for corporate affairs; Angela Garcia, AVP for finance; and Adela Mendoza, classified ads manager.
Representing the PDI Union with Aning were Marlon Ramos, PDIEU vice president for internal affairs; Rodelio Roberto, PDIEU vice president for external affairs; Alje Lomuntad, PDIEU treasurer; Vanessa Ong, PDIEU auditor; Iris Desvarro, PDIEU secretary; and PDIEU directors Kenneth del Rosario, Mary Grace Pagulayan, Olga Pallada and Regina dela Paz.
Observers for the management were Joanne Villegas, Evelyn Bacani, Mary Ann Perido, Alfonso Licuanan, Mark Anthony Lopez and Tito John Burgonio. On the union side, the observers were Florianne Camacho, Lee Elgincolin and Normandy dela Paz.
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