RPN Cebu employees hit by station’s downsizing

IT was a sad day for four staffers of Radio Philippines Network (RPN) in Cebu after they received their notices of termination from network officials who visited their Mandaue City station last Monday.

Acting RPN Cebu manager Fides Palicte said he was shocked by the news since among those terminated was the main announcer of their local radio station dyKC.

Egmidio “Emie” Bustillo, staff announcer of dyKC said he and three others were barred entry to the station.

He said they were allowed to resume work today pending negotiations with the employees union in Manila.

Bustillo, who worked in the station for 24 years since 1988, said they will question their termination.

He said they can accept their termination provided they can get all benefits stated in the union’s collective bargaining agreement.

Bustillo said he was aware of the impending privatization of the company and was preparing for his early retirement next year.

He said based on his own computations he should receive at least P3 million to P4 million based on their CBA but he was offered only P400,000 or 10 percent of the compensation due him.

“That’s why, we didn’t accept the termination notices’, he said.

He said he learned that middle-level managers, supervisors and rank-and-file employees also received their walking papers in their Manila office.

In Cebu, he said, four technicians were supposed to be part of the termination list but Bustillo said their services were needed for blocktime programs and for next year’s election coverage.

Bustillo was handling the primetime news and commentary radio program of the station called Radyo Ronda from 6 am to 9 a.m. and Ratsada Bisaya from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.

With no announcer and reporters, Palicte said they aired filler music during the vacant time slots.

“This is so sudden, I had no idea about this’, Palicte said.

Palicte said she knows that the station management is downsizing their work force in order to remain competitive.