Union to Decide on PAL Agreement

Manila Standard
Wednesday, September 16, 1998

Despite serious infighting among their leaders, members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) will decide tomorrow whether or not to accept an agreement granting them 20 percent ownership of the flag carrier but suspending their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for 10 years.

Management sources said the union has been given until Friday to resolve the issue.

“They have been given a one-week deadline,” a PAL official who refused to be named said.

But union insiders denied plans of holding such a referendum, an apparent move to discourage those inclined to ratify the agreement.

Meanwhile, infighting within the PALEA leadership continued to escalate, with some leaders opposed to the agreement reportedly seeking the ouster of union president Alexander Barrientos.

PALEA Vice President Gerry Rivera said they will not surrender their rights by supporting the agreement, adding they will pursue all means to block its ratification.

“Presuming the agreement is valid, I don’t think we will let the agreement pass the ratification. I will campaign for its rejection if the need arises,” Rivera said.

A number of PALEA members claimed they were not consulted by union officials who signed the accord along with PAL Chairman Lucio Tan last Friday.

The airline management has ruled out the possibility of another strike even with the mounting protest against the accord, saying the union has promised.

“They vowed to maintain industrial peace,” the PAL official said. Angie Rosales