Palace to PAL workers: Strike threat won’t do

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:19:00 12/04/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Airlines Employees Association better wait for the result of Malacañang’s review of the Department of Labor and Employment’s decision to uphold the validity of the PAL’s spin-off plans.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made the remarks after the Palace reaction was sought on the reported plan of employees to hold a strike vote next week if Malacañang upholds the DOLE position.

“It would be best for them (Palea) to wait for the decision before making any prejudgments on the issue,” she added.

PAL management has said that the planned strike vote of its workers' union despite its pending appeal before the Office of the President is an arm-twisting tactic meant to pressure the President into deciding in their favor.

‘Blackmail’

“Palea was the one who decided to bring the spin-off issue on appeal to President Aquino,” the airline management said in a statement.

“Union officers and lawyers should—out of respect and legal courtesy—give the President a free hand to decide on the matter instead of issuing strike threats. To say that they will stage a strike if the President upholds the spinoff is tantamount to blackmail,” it added.

At the House of Representatives, Vanenzuela Representative Rex Gatchalian said the only way for smaller airlines to compete with big national and international airlines is through partial open skies policy being pushed by President Aquino.

Pocket ‘open skies’

Gatchalian has filed House Bill No. 1601 promoting a “pocket open skies policy” in the country.
In an interview, the lawmaker lamented that his colleagues, particularly members of the House transportation committee, had missed the point.

On Wednesday, the House transportation committee held a hearing in which some lawmakers expressed support for the Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) opposition to the open skies policy that the Aquino administration is pursuing in order to increase tourist arrivals.

PAL and House members at the hearing seemed lukewarm even to a partial open skies policy.
Their position was bolstered by an admission of an official of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) that open skies would not ensure more passengers.