PLDT Supervisory Staff Escalate CBA Demands as Company Posts Strong Financial Performance
The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights has voiced its unwavering solidarity with the supervisory employees of telecommunications giant PLDT Inc. in their ongoing battle to secure a more equitable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the period spanning 2026 to 2028. The organization is urgently calling upon PLDT's management, under the leadership of billionaire Manny V. Pangilinan, to engage in genuine and earnest negotiations with its workforce to advance fundamental labor rights and improve working conditions across the board.
Stalled Negotiations Spark Series of Protests
Formal CBA discussions between PLDT management and the worker-supervisors, who are represented by their union Gabay ng Unyon sa Telekomunikasyon ng mga Superbisor sa PLDT (Guts-PLDT), commenced on November 28, 2025. However, after fifteen intensive rounds of talks, no substantial agreement has been reached, leaving critical issues unresolved. This CBA is set to cover approximately 4,000 PLDT employees nationwide, highlighting its broad impact on the company's operational backbone.
In response to the deadlock, Guts-PLDT has organized a series of coordinated protests to amplify their demands. Demonstrations were held on January 9, 16, 23, 29, and 30, with the January 29 action seeing workers march directly to PLDT's corporate headquarters located in the Ramon Cojuangco Building in Makati City. There, they conducted a program to publicly assert their rights and call for management accountability.
Company Prosperity Contrasts with Worker Demands
Amidst a rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape, PLDT continues to demonstrate robust financial health. The company reported a net income of PHP 32.31 billion in 2024, marking a substantial 21 percent increase compared to its PHP 26.61 billion net income in 2023. Furthermore, PLDT announced a growth of PHP 25.1 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone, underscoring its profitability and market dominance.
CBA negotiations fundamentally revolve around enhancing the state of workers' labor rights, including improvements in wages, benefits, job security, and union protections. As a major corporate entity in the Philippines, PLDT serves as a critical case study in how employers are responding—or failing to respond—to legitimate worker demands. Companies with significant financial capabilities, like PLDT, have a clear responsibility to offer tangible improvements that reflect their success and support their workforce.
Worker Unity and Historical Struggle for Rights
PLDT employees across the country are demonstrating remarkable unity and militancy, leveraging social media platforms to share their experiences and mobilize support. These actions should serve as a clear indicator to PLDT management of the pressing need to improve working conditions and treat CBA negotiations as a vital opportunity to address employee concerns proactively.
Guts-PLDT boasts a long and storied history of advocating for workers' rights, proving that even large employers do not grant improvements on a silver platter. Workers must often take united and resolute actions to achieve even modest gains, facing threats such as retrenchment and other challenges along the way. The truth remains that employers typically do not enhance working conditions voluntarily; sustained effort and collective action are essential.
Even as it continues its struggle for better conditions, Guts-PLDT stands as an inspiration to the vast majority of Filipino workers who remain ununionized. The union's perseverance highlights the importance of organized labor in securing fair treatment. There is a hopeful call for more workers to form and join unions, empowering themselves to fight for their rights and ensure that corporate prosperity translates into shared benefits for all employees.
