THE NAKED TRUTH (ABS CBN Employees Overworked But Underpaid Part 2)

[boor.nick]

The Naked Truth


AN ABS-CBN insider told me that my item about the disgruntled staff of the network had caused quite a stir. I might have rocked the boat, but I hope it does not sink. So the network's bigwigs better come to their senses.

My source said that the P3,000-P4,000 salary that the segment producers are paid for every episode they work on is not commensurate to their workload.


Day in and day out, they shoot, coordinate, take care of logistics and edit. Tax is deducted from their talent fee so their net pay boils down to about P3,600 per show, which has been the rate since 1997. That's approximately equivalent to the pay a call center employee receives.

The irony is they don't get outside employment to help finish the backlog so the poor segment producers are obliged to absorb more work even with their low salaries.

It's the same thing for writers, according to my source. They don't hire new people so the daily grind is pretty difficult. If you enter any production room, you will see the people working there are dazed like zombies because they are so overworked and have no choice but to handle all the workload.

Proof of the general malaise prevailing among the ABS-CBN staff is the poor attendance during the "Wagi" party that the network threw at the QC sports club recently.

As one segment producer put it, "What's the point of attending the party? We don't feel like we're really kapamilya (part of the family) anyway. It's all for show!"

Being a TV host myself, I know how taxing the job of segment producers and writers are. They are the unsung heroes of every show. If ABS-CBN can afford to pay their stars hundreds of thousands of pesos (millions even) they should also give due compensation to their production staff.

After all, even if you got an award-winning actor, there would be no show if not for the combined efforts of the staff.

[bluechips]

e di mag-resign sila at lumipat sa ibang stations?

[chuva10]

parang napost na to :rolleyes:

[pacmaniac2]

maliit naman daw talaga ang sweldo sa networks. it isnt hard to see why it is the "little" people who suffer the most. sa sobrang lalaki ng mga talent fees ng mga artista nila, mga staff ang naaapektuhan.

bluechips, your suggestion would've been a good option. but the question is may opening ba? ok na magtiis kesa maging jobless. ganyan dito sa tin.

[benj20_ph]

The labor laws are substantially created and passed by the state for the promotion of the WELFARE and PROTECTION of the workers and employees and regulate their relations with their employess. They enacted pursuant to the police power of the state so that in the application of these laws...THE STATE (administrative, legislative and judicial departments) MAY INTERFERE WITH PERSONAL LIBERTY, WITH PROPERTY AND WITH BUSINESS AND OCCUPATIONS.

If there are really any acts or practices or regulations by ABS CBN and/or any of its affiliated companies, that are CLEARLY and FACTUALLY VIOLATIVE of the provisions of the labor laws...the prejudiced, harassed, oppressed and disfavored workers and employees CAN ALWAYS FILE A COMPLAINT OR MORE BEFORE ANY PROPER FORUM, AND IF NEEDED MAY EVEN BRING THE ISSUE BEFORE THE HIGHEST COURT COURT OF THE LAND.

The ANTI-LOPEZ sentiment is being vaulted, directly and/ or indirectly, lately by various entities (PDI, GMA, leftist labor groups, etc.) which seem to have grudge and anger against various business establishments and companies being owned by the rich Lopez clan. Various smear, misleading and malign campaigns have been on the rise. Yet, after all those things...THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN/ ARE CLAIMING TO BE VICTIMS OF THE SO-CLAIMED ILLEGAL ACTS OF ANY OF THE COMPANIES OWNED BY THE LOPEZES ARE STILL IN THE HIDINGS AND REFUSE TO PUT INTO PUBLICE KNOWLEDGE THEIR IDENTITIES...HENCE VARIOUS CLAIMS HAVE REMAIN REFUTABLE as of now!

And now I will put on the table a CHALLENGE that whoever claims to be a victim of any of these Lopez companies unfair trade and professional practices...SHOULD COME INTO OPEN, VOICE OUT THEIR SIDE AND ASK FOR HELP SO THAT THEY MAY BE GIVEN THEIR DUE JUSTICE.

But as for now...the claimer/s herein still remain in anonimity, I hope those who encounter articles like this one posted by the threadstarter who himself has a questionably credibility, or any other forms and types of smear campaigns and materials that are only intended to bring false and misleading information...please be critical and objective before resting your sentiments/ judgments in one side of the issue/s...coz afterall, you people are not DUMB beings...or are you?

[no_1_pirate]

benj,

what may be legal labor practice does not necessaily mean being fair to the employees.

yung complaints ng mga ABS employees -- if there's any -- though they deem unfair, can never be classified as illegal practices. but it doesnt mean wala na silang karapatang magreklamo.

ang issue, naliliitan sila sa sweldo nila. hindi naman nila sinasabing wala sa minimum wage ang salary nila.

i think this is also the case in some GMA employees. or in any other network for that matter.

[benj20_ph]

no_1_pirate>>>yung claim nila na overworked sila tapos sobrang liit pa daw ang sweldo...by liberal contruction, that can be an illegal trade practice by ABS CBN...the mere fact that a company is not giving the remuneration due to it's workers and employees...that can substantiate a legal issue that the offended party can bring to the court...payment of damages are not limited to what our naked eyes can see...they can transcend even from intangible claims.

[tomtom]

i think this is the 2nd part of dolly ann carvajal's column.

and whoever said that what the lopez management was doing to their employees was illegal? it's within legal bounds alright, albeit OPPRESSIVE. the whole situation was manipulated to get every single ounce of juice (creative and otherwise) from these underpaid overworked employees.

actually, with the current fare these ABS writers are showing their audiences, i don't really think they deserve the pay raise just yet. kung noon pa na namamayagpag sila sa ere, baka sakali.

the timing isn't just right.

still, kawawang overworked underpaid employees left with very little options.

[pangsay]

ang tanong siguro ay kung bakit napaka-bitter ni dolly ann carvajal sa ABS. tinanggal na ba siya sa morning show niya doon?

[boor.nick]

Originally posted by benj20_ph
no_1_pirate>>>yung claim nila na overworked sila tapos sobrang liit pa daw ang sweldo...by liberal contruction, that can be an illegal trade practice by ABS CBN...the mere fact that a company is not giving the remuneration due to it's workers and employees...that can substantiate a legal issue that the offended party can bring to the court...payment of damages are not limited to what our naked eyes can see...they can transcend even from intangible claims.

kelan pa naging illegal TRADE practice ang matters involving LABOR RELATIONS?

hindi ba mas questionable ang credibility mo? haha.

[benj20_ph]

boor>>>I know what I've been saying here. I used TRADE in its LEGal sense meaning business or profession...ok since hindi ka naman yata law students...I would be considerate sa reply mo since you defined trade TRADE in its ordinary meaning---exchange of goods or services or monetary items...now alam mo na ang ibig kong sabihin? :D

[benj20_ph]

boor>>>kung hindi ka makapaniwala, you can look for it in ANY philippine labor and social legislation book preferrably by samson alcantara or rufus rodriguez...these well-known authors use TRADE in its legal sense ;)

[scuderiax8]

this aint good.. all the while i thought abs cbn takes pride that they compensate and pay thier employees much higher than gma.. if this is true then something or someone would have to act upon it...

[schumi]

@boor

no kidding?

a friend's friend who told his friend whose GF is a friend of a brother of my friend that told the chismosa of the kanto's friend told you that? wow! :glee:

[jesusmac12]

Originally posted by benj20_ph
no_1_pirate>>>yung claim nila na overworked sila tapos sobrang liit pa daw ang sweldo...by liberal contruction, that can be an illegal trade practice by ABS CBN...the mere fact that a company is not giving the remuneration due to it's workers and employees...that can substantiate a legal issue that the offended party can bring to the court...payment of damages are not limited to what our naked eyes can see...they can transcend even from intangible claims.

Benj, Sa pagkakaalam ko may UNION ang abs employees. Bakit hindi nila ito isinama sa CBA nila?

[jesusmac12]

Originally posted by boor.nick
The Naked Truth


AN ABS-CBN insider told me that my item about the disgruntled staff of the network had caused quite a stir. I might have rocked the boat, but I hope it does not sink. So the network's bigwigs better come to their senses.

My source said that the P3,000-P4,000 salary that the segment producers are paid for every episode they work on is not commensurate to their workload.


Day in and day out, they shoot, coordinate, take care of logistics and edit. Tax is deducted from their talent fee so their net pay boils down to about P3,600 per show, which has been the rate since 1997. That's approximately equivalent to the pay a call center employee receives.

The irony is they don't get outside employment to help finish the backlog so the poor segment producers are obliged to absorb more work even with their low salaries.

It's the same thing for writers, according to my source. They don't hire new people so the daily grind is pretty difficult. If you enter any production room, you will see the people working there are dazed like zombies because they are so overworked and have no choice but to handle all the workload.

Proof of the general malaise prevailing among the ABS-CBN staff is the poor attendance during the "Wagi" party that the network threw at the QC sports club recently.

As one segment producer put it, "What's the point of attending the party? We don't feel like we're really kapamilya (part of the family) anyway. It's all for show!"

Being a TV host myself, I know how taxing the job of segment producers and writers are. They are the unsung heroes of every show. If ABS-CBN can afford to pay their stars hundreds of thousands of pesos (millions even) they should also give due compensation to their production staff.

After all, even if you got an award-winning actor, there would be no show if not for the combined efforts of the staff.

DI BA MAY UNION ANG ABS EMPLOYEES? BAKIT HINDI NILA YAN NILATAG SA CBA NILA??? (di ba katungkulan yan ng abs union officials???)

[sk8er_girl]

hmmm.... philippines is a poor country, what do you expect? earn million in just a day? God, you're dreaming

[GeneralGranger]

^ haller? what are you thinking? tamang sahod naman!

[mikoa4]

Kung may labor union man ang abs eh hindi nila problema yun kasi wala ka namang nakikita na nagproprotest. Gaya nang makikita mo sa harap nang SM. Diba yan yung kadalasang scenario na makikita mo, if ever abs had a problem sa pagpapasahod diba.

[DaneWhitman]

HINDI KO NABASA ANG IBANG POSTS, PERO ALTHO MAY UNION ANG MGA EMPLOYEES, MORE THAN HALF ANG HINDI REGULAR EMPLOYEES, MEANING MGA TALENTS LANG SILA... MAS WALA SILANG BENEFITS... MAS MABABA ANG SWELDO... MAS MARAMING TRABAHO... EXPLOITATION...

I SHOULD KNOW, I USED TO WROK THERE... DI KO LANG TALAGA MATIIS.

[cynicaltongue]

ayaw nila alis na ***.. buti pa *** per segment bayad..ibang tao dyan 4000 for the whole month na..over worked din...

although..totoong slave driver naman **** ang ABS..d pa *** nagbabayad ng SSS..tapos yung SSS sinisingil parati yung mga maliliit na companies.. hrmp

[BASTICH]

siguro nga na kaya wala pang nagrereklamo kasi karamihan ay contractual which means na hindi protektado ng CBA ng union. exploitation nga ang sabi ni DaneWhitman.

benj20_ph: tol mukhang lahat ng mga bagay na sinasabi mo ay qi-noute mo lamang sa mga pinag-aralan mo sa mga libro, pero mukhang wala ka pang experience regarding sa tunay na kalakalan sa labor particular sa labor-only contracting. alam mo naman siguro na maraming loopholes ang ating labor laws, siguro karaniwan na gumawa nito ay puro kapitalista.

[Red_Wolf]

whew, buti na lang hindi ako nag-apply sa ABS for OJT, per ermat's half-baked wishes. bunch of f__king pirates, one and all.

[BaBy_gUrL_09]

I was with ABS for two years. I earned 8k. I was never given an increase, kahit isang sentimo. Last straw was when we weren't given a bonus for Christmas (this was three years ago pa ha). I just upped and left. Wala akong mabigyan ng regalo dahil tama lang pang-commute at pangkain nakuha ko. They also don't regularize most of their employees. Most are maintained on "talent" basis, meaning contractual ka lang. No benefits, no 13th month. I have friends who were regularized only after about 5 years of service.

[BASTICH]

the truth is hindi lang naman sa ABS-CBN nangyayari ang mga ito. halos lahat ng kumpanya, may mga ganitong reklamo lalo na sa contractualization. wala na kasing nagtatayuang mga bagong kumpanya kaya yung mga established na, kayang mambarat ng empleyado. inaabuso pa yung contractualization na nalagay sa labor code.

[Rugal 3:16]

where is the part 1?

[unfamiliar]

common naman yan sa maraming companies dito sa pinas

[Introvert_S]

meron bang network na mataas magpasweldo?

[sleep]

no wonder local tv shows suck

[Rugal 3:16]

^^ Yeah but the "target" market is st000p*d enough to eat each one of them so it sells..

And If I were in their shoes I would milk st*pidi*y as well (although it's really unsatisfying when everything gets watered (wait i'm sorry..) I mean DUMBED down. :p

[sizzling]

Originally posted by Rugal 3:16
^^ Yeah but the "target" market is st000p*d enough to eat each one of them so it sells..

And If I were in their shoes I would milk st*pidi*y as well (although it's really unsatisfying when everything gets watered (wait i'm sorry..) I mean DUMBED down. :p

Hahahaha! I totally agree with you :lol:

most, but not all, local shows are really getting dumber and dumber. even the news programs. have you noticed that nonsense showbiz segments in the evening news are getting more and more airtime? :(. and for the past few weeks they've been featuring "experts" vaguely predicting what 2005 will be like. :rolleyes:

...but i'm waaaay off-topic :)

i guess we have to understand that the television networks are there to make (lots and lots of) money, and they will definitely (ab)use everything, including people, to achieve that goal. that doesn't mean that we should simply accept everything as is, but we shouldn't just sit around and whine all day either.

so, what can we do? any suggestions? :)

[Rugal 3:16]

^^ LOL violence sells, gossip makes a lot of the "masa" people interested..

And they couldn't make a sophisticated product BECAUSE IT WOULD COST MORE and

1. either not sell, too sophisticated for the simplistic minds.

2. if the show succeeds to elevate the "masa"'s sophistication level, then the creators would ask for more (money) to bring out more.

Still it's absurd that all that BS'ey Soaps (even the non fantasy ones) request for a "suspension of disbelief" even when their st000000000p*d soap is based on reality.. especially when they dumb down audience standards and just SHOE HORN transgressions from plot 1 to plot 2 no mmatter how ill-fitting or illogical.

There's always a black and white and no GRAY

Male dudes are always WORTHLESS when it comes to defending their female ones they love.. either that or they're so insecure

In a crowded situation.. everyone turns into a statue (except the "underdog" face and the Heel) during a confrontation.

Talents who play "Heel" roles are very interchangeable and have the capacity to kill no matter how young the age is.. and then they do kill someone.. and then at some point in the story they turn FACE and viola.. they're super good.. no mention or ramifications of what they have done in their heelish state.

Although the "Underdog" effect that "Faces" play psychologically gives a very VERY negative effect to the viewers.. they see that such a formula SHOULD be integrated into any situation because the masses relate to it..

Anyway I'll do all of those, if i was a TV station programming employee and if it sells very well. (less effort (= st00pid product) and more money (with that addition = the BIZZARRO programming and business equations here).

But if it doesn't make my stomach turn as well.

If these Networks like to poke one another and they want an ultimate spazfest where the "Masa" can relate (with all of those insignificant Sh******y arguments) they should throw away ethics and act like Eric Bischoff and Vince Mcmahon during the days of the monday night wars.

I'm really really sorry.

[Chase_Meridian]

Blame it on Celine Lopez and her gowns.

[sleep]

is it that the audience really is dumb so the tv networks make dumb shows at to cater to the audiences tiny minds?

or

the tv networks make dumb shows wich over time makes the once smart audience dumb?

i do feel like my brains are being sucked out of my skull whenever i happen to chance upon a local soap on tv. i feel like by watching it i get dumber by the minute :D

nakaka bobo :p

[Pin@tubo]

Uwi nako para maabutan ko Lovers in Paris at Hiram :D

[spy1]

been hearing lurid sexual harassment stories done at abs cbn, are any of these stories true? this certain news person and this director and this production assistant....

[Rugal 3:16]

sleep..

it's both LOL :lol:..

if they succeeded to make you dumber, then in proportion, they've made their wallet fatter..

and 1000 dumb converts = proportional local tv shows market growth. (Thank god they can still count though :D :D )

[moira]

i'm really not surprised why a lot of camps are trying to attack abs-cbn shows right now. abs-cbn is a lopez-run company, with interests in companies that are either controversial (north luzon tollways) or are financially not-as-blue-chip enough (meralco, bayantel).

also, many lopez-run companies cross-hatch with the all too familiar greasiness of Philippine politics. Is is any wonder why many political personalities are more closely linked with Abs-cbn? There's, what, Loren, Noli, and even indirectly (I guess) Mar Roxas, Kiko Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano. The closest political person I could think of for the GMA side is Bong Revilla. But even so, I'm sure Bong doesn't have that kind of clout in GMA, unlike say, Loren and Noli.

And when you have had a corporate culture that has raised a hoity-toity political bi-atch like Loren, who had the wasteful guts to put up road signs of Joyce Kilmer's "Trees" all over the Philippines, my god! ABS-CBN deserves all the flak that is getting now whether it comes from ratings, to the comments of Susan Roces.

And my god---come on! Bringing back Willie Revillame to MTB????? What the effing hell is going on????

No wonder ABS employees can feel so overworked. Its hard to write stuff for a self-confessed pervert who will be on a noontime show. It's like blowing condoms and selling them as balloons to young children.

Bottomlime: if the company culture is bad, it will show-up eventually in the output, irregardless of whether abs-cbn staff keep mum about what they feel or not.