MANILA: WPP Marketing Communications faces a USdollars 5.5 million
lawsuit filed by two siblings who alleged that the company dismissed
them without legal basis.
J. Walter Thompson's former client services director Rey Mendoza and
MindShare's former managing director Jocelyn Galera slapped WPP with the
country's biggest illegal dismissal lawsuit to date.
In his suit, Mendoza said he was forced to resign on January 8 as his
working conditions had been made stifling and uncomfortable.
Galera left her post at MindShare on April 15, while Mendoza's case was
being heard in the labour court. She claimed she was summarily dismissed
without explanation.
The pair have named as respondents JWT president and managing director
Mark Webster, JWT finance director Randi Lorica, MindShare Asia-Pacific
regional chairman John Steedman and Manila-based chairman and president
Minda Lansang.
Webster, who became JWT Philippines' chief last year, expressed surprise
at the suit. While he admitted to retrenching staff, he said this was
undertaken legally. "In the end, Mendoza filed for resignation," Webster
said.
Lansang also disputed the allegations, saying: "What's been said so far
is not entirely correct."
