DoLE says labor row on PAL revolved this week

Manila Bulletin
December 20, 2010
By Samuel P. Medenilla

Philippines – The labor dispute between flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its cabin crew union will be resolved by the end of this week, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz made the announcement during a media conference last Friday in which she said that she will release her decision on the pending strike notice filed by the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (FASAP)  before Christmas.

“In the case PAL, only the issue with FASAP remains in the jurisdiction of the (labor) department. I’ve already committed myself to release the resolution before Christmas,” Baldoz said.

DoLE has earlier issued an assumption of jurisdiction last October over the said labor dispute after FASAP filed a notice of strike at DoLE’s National Conciliation and Mediation Board, where its negotiations for its new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the PAL management bogged down.

Among the issues that were discussed during the series of conciliation meeting in the NCMB between PAL and FASAP were economic benefits, gender issues, and retirement age.

In a previous interview, Baldoz said PAL and FASAP continuously held mediation meetings after she issued the AOJ to allow both parties to submit their position papers regarding the labor dispute.