Skyway’s new operator absorbs 300 terminated workers

The new operator of the Skyway said yesterday that around 300 employees terminated by the previous management are now working for them.

Chito Borromeo, officer-in-charge of the Skyway Operations and Maintenance, said several of the employees belong to the rank-and-file who submitted their applications to Skyway O&M as early as December.

“Their application papers have immediately been processed, that is why they are now with us. Those who would still want to become part of the company can simply apply,” Borromeo said, adding that several of those who joined the protest action are tellers, clerks and those who were with the traffic management section.

As for the return to work order issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to the terminated workers, Borromeo said it should be the Philippine National Construction Corp. or PNCC-Skyway Corp., the Skyway’s previous operator, which should deal with it.

“The Skyway Corp. is still existing somehow and if there is still something that its officials can give them as assignment then they are the ones to work it out,” he said.

Borromeo said the previous operator has already turned over the tolling areas to Skyway O&M though administrative section personnel are still reporting for work because there are still tasks they need to fulfill.

Last Monday, workers of the PNCC-Skyway Corp. staged a protest action against the alleged termination of around  800 employees of the company on Jan. 1.

Rene Soriano, president of the PNCC Skyway Security Department Workers’ Organization, said the takeover by the Indonesian-owned firm Citra of the Skyway operations, is questionable.

“While we face the grim reality of joblessness by the New Year, the riding public would also be slapped with higher toll fees as Citra would be allowed to jack up its collection by up to 150 percent,” he said.

Skyway O&M is a corporation wherein Citra is a minority shareholder, owning less than 40 percent of shares.

Meanwhile, the DOLE has ordered an investigation into the alleged illegal termination of 800 employees.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said DOLE’s National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) is looking into allegations that labor regulations were violated in the dismissal of PNCC employees.

But based on NCMB’s initial verification, Brion said the PNCC employees were given notice of termination prior to the scheduled Jan. 1 takeover of the new management, Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corp.

Brion added that results of initial investigation showed that the PNCC management offered the affected employees a separation pay beyond what is required by law.

While the investigation is ongoing, Brion said, PNCC employees are officially “on forced leave” while awaiting their termination to take effect on Jan. 31.

“The status of the PNCC employees is still subject to on-going investigation but they are now under a legal situation in which they have no relationship with the new management,” Brion said.

“Unless there is an agreement that the new management will hire them, the affected employees are officially employees of PNCC, thus their tie is with the PNCC and not with Citra,” he added.

In an order issued last Dec. 31, Brion ordered all PNCC employees to return to work and the management to resume operations and readmit the workers under the same terms and conditions prior to the mass action.

Jose Apollo Ado, PNCC Skyway Corp. Employees Union president, said the workers are willing to return to work but the management refuses to take them back.

But Brion said the PNCC employees may still negotiate with Citra to hire them in case there is no agreement for their possible absorption to the company.

He also noted that DOLE regional offices are providing job facilitation, skills training and other assistance to displaced workers.    – With Mayen Jaymalin