Palace still hopes for PAL row mediation

BusinessMirror 
News
Sunday, 03 April 2011 20:32
by Mia Gonzalez, Estrella Torres

MALACAÑANG expressed hope on Sunday that Philippine Airlines management and employees can still iron out their differences through compulsory mediation so that their labor row would not have to be brought before the International Labor Organization (ILO) for resolution.

In an interview with state-run Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte said that while it is the right of the PAL Employees Association (Palea) to raise their case before the ILO, “our part, we hope that it will be resolved. Even if it has become apparent that the two groups are clashing on the issue, we are hoping for a good resolution.”

She also reiterated that PAL workers may face possible charges if they go on strike as their labor row with PAL management has been “submitted for compulsory mediation.”

Valte added, “They should avail themselves first of compulsory mediation from the National Conciliation and Mediation board....We are hoping that the compulsory mediation of the two groups would bear good results.”

She said that under the certification order released by Baldoz, any strike may be deemed illegal if the case involved has been submitted for compulsory mediation.

Palea members are set to hold a picket rally in front of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) office in Manila on Monday to protest the issuance of a certification order stopping the workers’ strike that seeks to stop the dismissal of some 2,600 workers of the flag carrier.

Palea president Gerry Rivera said the holding of the strike was postponed over the weekend but will be continued with a picket at the DOLE office.

PAL workers were protesting the airlines’ move to outsource services occupied by some 2,600 regular workers and were planning to hold a strike to paralyze the airline operations. On the eve of the planned workers’ strike on Friday, Baldoz issued a certification order that referred the PAL dispute to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

“I have intervened and certified the dispute to the National Labor Relations Commission on the ground of national interest ,and particularly the riding public,” Baldoz said late Friday.

She said the National Conciliation and Mediation Board conducted a series of con-ciliation talks between PAL and Palea, but both sides failed to reach an agreement even until Friday, the last day of the strike ban period prescribed by law.

(Mia Gonzalez, Estrella Torres)