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A labor NGO urges two giant corporations to respect the rights of employees affected by one of the biggest acquisitions in the country’s telecom industry. The call comes after the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) approves the sale of Sky Cable Corp. through the PhP 6.75-B acquisition deal between PLDT and ABS-CBN, Sky’s parent company.

According to the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), while the antitrust body has approved the deal, there are still closing conditions the parties need to meet, including but not limited to the closure of the Sky Cable TV segment.

“We were informed that 22 employees at Sky Cable TV department are to be affected. We echo the call of Sky Cable’s employees union for the employees to be absorbed by PLDT. The buying company should respect the rights of the employees to security of tenure, and by reassigning them to positions of equivalent rank, and provide reskilling and training, if necessary,” said Rochelle Porras, EILER Executive Director.

The Sky Cable Supervisors, Professionals / Technical Employees Union or SSPTEU represents 181 members and is one of the existing unions at Sky Cable Corp. and stands as the bargaining agent of the supervisory employees. The union demands the absorption of all employees and the recognition of their union and the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

“The companies should respect the employees’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. Further, the acquisition must not be used as a reason to circumvent existing obligations under the CBA between SKY and the union,” Porras concluded.

Reference: Ms. Rochelle Porras, 0917 350 2342

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