Palea to stage nationwide strike

The Manila Times
April 2, 2011
Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Airlines Employees Association (Palea) on Friday said it was “all systems” for its first nationwide strike in 13 years.

In a statement, Palea said a nationwide strike would push through any day after today.

“Palea is 100-percent ready for a strike that will paralyze the operations of PAL that in cahoots with the Aquino government wants to deny workers the right to regular jobs and a collective bargaining agreement [CBA]. The only thing that can prevent a strike is for PAL to heed the demand to stop outsourcing and open CBA negotiations without preconditions,” Gerry Rivera, Palea president said.

Palea filed a notice of strike on March 7 and on March 25 a strike vote revealed that 95.44 percent of the employees were supported the planned strike.

After a seven-day “strike ban” period, Palea expects a strike on April 2.

“PAL will earn $1.6 billion in profit this year. Yet it refuses to share the fruits of production with its employees via a CBA. PAL’s workers have already sacrificed with a 12-year CBA suspension that has resulted in the stagnation of wages, benefits and working conditions. In contrast Lucio Tan has become even richer as a result of CBA moratorium and outsourcing,” Rivera said.

On Friday, Malacañang upheld the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment upholding the legality of PAL’s spin-off of three non-core units.

PAL’s spin-off package rose to P2.75 billion after Malacañang ordered a doubling of the gratuity to P100,000 from P50,000 for each employee.

PAL said that contingency measures were in place to keep its airplanes flying in case members of the Palea stage an illegal strike.

The Lucio Tan-owned airline said flights will continue to be operated according to published schedules while all ticket offices and other sales and airport facilities in Metro Manila, the provinces and stations abroad will maintain regular business operations.

In a separate statement, the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines said the Labor department affirmed its decision granting salary increases to its members, increases of rice allowance, raising the compulsory retirement age to 60 years old and improvements on pregnancy and maternity benefits.

“We hope that PAL management will accept this decision and finally put to rest the dispute with Fasap. The competition in the airline industry will heighten, and it would be best for PAL to unite with its front liners, mend the bruises and work together to reclaim its rightful place as the number one Airline in the country,” Bob Anduiza, Fasap president said.