Gov't pushes PAL row resolution

Manila Bulletin
November 4, 2011
By Genalyn D. Kabiling and Bernie Cahiles

MANILA, Philippines — The government has pushed for the resolution of the labor row involving the Philippine Airlines within the law amid calls to be more quick and decisive like what Australia had done in the case of its troubled flag carrier, a Palace official said Thursday.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the government exerted efforts to settle the conflict between PAL management and its workers while preventing potential clashes that may trigger anxiety among passengers and investors.

"We believe that we have settled the matter according to what the law dictates and according on the evidence that was presented before the Office of the President," Valte said.

Valte was referring to a Palace decision that upheld the outsourcing proposal of Philippine Airlines that displaced more 2,000 workers. Only a fraction of the workers accepted reassignment in the third party contractors while most employees continued their protest action.

"We have also likewise exerted efforts to make the two groups come to the table and come to an agreement," Valte added.

This developed as the management of PAL has also joined Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz's call for a fair and impartial investigation of the incident at the PAL Inflight Center last October 29.

The airline also wants a thorough probe of baseless claims by its former employees that PAL allegedly instigated the tearing down of the protesters' tents and streamers outside the facility.

"The public deserves to know the truth. Only an honest-to-goodness impartial investigation would put an end to all speculation and malicious accusations being hurled against management by its former workers," PAL stressed.

Also, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) has called for government action on PAL case.

"It will be difficult for ECOP and all employers to ignore the continuing travesty of justice being committed by PALEA against PAL," said ECOP President Eduardo Lacson in a statement.

While ECOP's member-associations and employers recognize the rights of labor to air their grievances, "this right is not absolute and must be staged within the bounds prescribed by (the Labor Department's) rules," he said.