GMA News TV employees stunned by layoffs announcement

The management of GMA Network has terminated staffers of GMA News TV (GNTV), its other free-to-air channel.

At least 10 news and public affairs shows of GNTV were affected by the layoffs, a move that insiders said stunned employees.

The list includes its flagship newscast State of the Nation (SONA); the long-running afternoon newscast Balitanghali; Quick Response Team (QRT); and News TV Live. They had been off-air since the lockdown due to the pandemic started in March.

Rappler learned that management began telling staff about the layoffs on Tuesday, September 8. Rappler talked to at least 3 staffers who received notifications from their bosses to inform them they were being terminated.

They were told that the staff of all GNTV programs that were put off-air since the lockdown were to be "terminated" because of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

Several workers also turned to social media to express their shock and sadness.

“It’s all so sudden," one of the terminated staffers told Rappler. "We didn’t hear there would be layoffs. But they told us that if and when they will hire staff again, they will make us their priority. That is, if the shows will ever return on air. They said it’s the management’s final decision and that they are just finalizing the termination documents this week,” the staffer added.

Most of those terminated are contractual workers or employees under project employment contracts (PEC). They were previously referred to as talents who had renewable contracts every 6 months or so.

The PEC system was implemented after talents sued the network for regularization. PECs provided workers with some benefits not previously given to talents, but still under renewable contracts usually from 6 to 12 months.

Under the PEC, GMA can terminate the contract upon the completion or discontinuation of the project but they have to give the employee a 30-day written notice.

Another staffer said: “I feel we have it worse than some employees of ABS-CBN. It feels like we were the ones who were shut down. We thought we still have jobs to return to, but now there’s none for us.”

Some GNTV workers, who have raket or side jobs in GMA shows, can supposedly still continue their work in the main channel.

Rappler asked GMA News management for comment, including senior vice president for news and public affairs Marissa Flores and GMA first vice president for news Grace Dela Peña-Reyes. But they have yet to respond as of posting. Rappler will update this article with their comments.

Source: CAMILLE ELEMIA|Rappler.com

Source: Peso Economics