Palace appeals to PAL workers not to go on strike

By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has appealed to the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) not to go on strike and instead go through the proper legal processes to settle their dispute with the national flag carrier.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang the PALEA was planning to elevate their case before the Court of Appeals as the Office of the President had upheld its decision allowing PAL to outsource some of its services, which would lead to the termination of more than 2,000 employees.

“We would like to appeal to them not to jeopardize the riding public. A lot of people are depending on Philippine Airlines so we hope the riding public will not be inconvenienced with their conflict with Philippine Airlines,” Lacierda said.

“Let’s have the courts decide the matter and in the meantime let’s not jeopardize the riding public,” he said.

The Office of the President has upheld the legality of PAL’s plan to cut 2,600 jobs to reduce costs despite the company’s recent return to profitability.

In a two-page decision signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Malacañang upheld the legality of PAL’s planned closure of three non-core departments, and subcontracting these services out to third-party providers.

The decision noted that PALEA had failed to raise new points to convince the OP to overturn its previous decision, which was an affirmation of a ruling made by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

The Palace decision said the government “took into account the national interest involved and the interest of labor,” adding that it took a “fresh look and reviewed its findings.” But the Palace said it found nothing “erroneous and unlawful in the aforementioned decision.”

PALEA on Thursday announced plans to file an appeal before the CA as it criticized the Palace’s decision, calling the decision PNoy’s “fire-all-you-can” policy.

PALEA said the OP turned a blind eye to the fact that PAL’s robust financial health belied the latter’s argument that outsourcing was necessary for the flag carrier to survive.

Following the Malacañang announcement, PAL said it would invite PALEA leaders to a dialogue and plan a smooth transition for the spin-off program. However, the labor union snubbed the dialogue with management.