PNB retirees fight for pension, benefits

BAGUIO CITY — Retirees of all the Philippine National Bank branches here and in Benguet province are now up in arms as they lamented that they should be given benefits and compensations from their years of service just like any government employees in the country.

In a peaceful mobilization last 7 November by the group of PNB retirees in the main streets of Baguio City, they justified their reasons for participating in what they said a national day of action.

According to them, the peaceful assembly joined by retirees of all PNB branches in the country is an action against what they say unfair treatment they received in return to the years they rendered to the bank.

They added that the bank is allegedly employing delaying tactics in their supposed compliance to the decision of the Courts on the payment of the employees' Cost of Living Allowance and Special Amelioration Allowance.

The group also complained the illegal deductions of Government Service Insurance System gratuity pay from their separation or retirement pay.

They explained that the bank allegedly paid separation or retirement pay based on their basic salaries before and after the privatization of PNB instead of last basic salaries decried the dissolution of their employees' provident fund.

The retirees added that the GSIS should pay retirement benefits and pension based on total years of government service as they sought a legislation granting them lifetime pension to former employees who they disclosed were forced to received gratuity pay arising from PNB's privatization.

"Instead of a one-time gratuity from their 20 years of government service, PNB employees who received gratuity pay from PNB's privatization should be granted lifetime pension just like government employees who are receiving monthly pension after rendering at least 15 years of service," the former employees said.