Manila Bulletin
November 2, 2011
FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday said it would seek help from the country’s leading business organizations to press government for quicker and more decisive response against harassment of private enterprises.
In a statement, PAL said it is calling on business groups like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCI), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCI) and others to collectively appeal for better protection of businesses which are prevented from freely pursuing their trade.
PAL said it is in the best interest of all private businesses, big or small, to protect themselves against harassment like illegal blockades by former workers who have been validly and legally dismissed.
“The recent incident where PAL’s catering truck was blocked by protesting former workers armed with truncheons and planks with nails is one clear example of this kind of harassment seemingly tolerated by police authorities,” the airline stressed.
PAL expressed frustration that it has complained and sought the help of almost all relevant government agencies “to no avail”. Todate, it said the airline continues to suffer since its service providers and cabin crew are unable to use PAL’s facility along MIA Road, Pasay City where laid off workers have set up camp.
“Continuing police inaction against all forms of harassment perpetrated by dismissed workers only served to embolden these illegal occupants of PAL’s property,” it stressed.
Worse, the airline said it is now even on the receiving end of baseless and malicious accusations by these workers that it engaged outside elements to disperse their camp.
Leftist sectoral representatives have also been directly accusing PAL of harassing former workers while turning a blind eye on their documented transgressions. PAL added that it is being threatened with another congressional probe with no clear legislative intent and with only the plain objective of embarrassing PAL resource persons in attendance.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Exasperated, Philippine Airlines fights back
Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 2, 2011
By Daxim L. Lucas
Reeling from its dispute with former employees and their supporters, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday appealed to the country’s business organizations for help in pressing the government to come up with a quicker and more decisive response to the harassment of private enterprises.
In a statement, PAL called on groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Management Association of the Philippines, Federation of Philippine Industries, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., among others, “to collectively appeal for better protection of businesses which are prevented from freely pursuing their trade.”
Blocked
PAL pointed out that it was in the best interest of private firms to protect themselves from “harassment,” particularly by former workers who put up blockades and otherwise disrupt operations.
“The recent incident where a PAL catering truck was blocked by protesting former workers armed with truncheons and planks with nails is one clear example of this kind of harassment seemingly tolerated by police authorities,” the airline’s management said.
The airline expressed frustration its complaints and appeals for help from government agencies were “to no avail.”
It said its cabin crews and service providers were unable to use the PAL facility on MIA Road in Pasay City in front of which the former workers had set up a protest camp.
What goons?
“Continuing police inaction against all forms of harassment perpetrated by dismissed workers only serves to embolden these illegal occupants of PAL’s property,” the airline said.
Aggravating the issue, said PAL, was that it was now on the receiving end of “baseless and malicious accusations” by the former employees that it had hired goons to disperse their camp.
One bystander died of a heart attack and eight ex-workers were injured during the melee that ensued when about 50 men overran the camp.
November 2, 2011
By Daxim L. Lucas
Reeling from its dispute with former employees and their supporters, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday appealed to the country’s business organizations for help in pressing the government to come up with a quicker and more decisive response to the harassment of private enterprises.
In a statement, PAL called on groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Management Association of the Philippines, Federation of Philippine Industries, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., among others, “to collectively appeal for better protection of businesses which are prevented from freely pursuing their trade.”
Blocked
PAL pointed out that it was in the best interest of private firms to protect themselves from “harassment,” particularly by former workers who put up blockades and otherwise disrupt operations.
“The recent incident where a PAL catering truck was blocked by protesting former workers armed with truncheons and planks with nails is one clear example of this kind of harassment seemingly tolerated by police authorities,” the airline’s management said.
The airline expressed frustration its complaints and appeals for help from government agencies were “to no avail.”
It said its cabin crews and service providers were unable to use the PAL facility on MIA Road in Pasay City in front of which the former workers had set up a protest camp.
What goons?
“Continuing police inaction against all forms of harassment perpetrated by dismissed workers only serves to embolden these illegal occupants of PAL’s property,” the airline said.
Aggravating the issue, said PAL, was that it was now on the receiving end of “baseless and malicious accusations” by the former employees that it had hired goons to disperse their camp.
One bystander died of a heart attack and eight ex-workers were injured during the melee that ensued when about 50 men overran the camp.
PAL scores detractors for ‘wild’ accusations
Business Mirror
November 2, 2011
PHILIPPINE Airlines on Tuesday lashed out against its detractors for hastily laying the blame on the airline management for Saturday’s confrontation at the PAL Inflight Center (IFC) in Pasay City.
In a statement, PAL said those who know nothing better than make wild and baseless accusations against the airline should shut up and let the police do the investigative work.
The airline said it was grossly irresponsible for some left-leaning sectoral representatives to accuse PAL management of harassing laid-off workers.
“It was clear from news reports and photographs taken from the scene that former PAL workers barred the airline’s catering truck from leaving its own facility. They were armed with rattan truncheons, planks with nails and even burned a carton box, all with the aim of inflicting harm should the truck driver insist on leaving PAL’s Inflight Center. So who’s harassing who?” PAL asked.
PAL said it was also lamentable that police authorities “were nowhere to be found” when its truck was being blocked by protesters, but conveniently “arrested” someone who claims to have been hired by PAL management to “disperse” its former employees’ camp.
“Worse, authorities were reportedly unable to apprehend those responsible for the death of a hapless bystander,” PAL said.
As to the stench allegedly emanating from its Inflight Center, PAL said protesting former PAL workers have only themselves to blame. “They won’t allow our trucks to leave the facility; even a garbage truck from Pasay City’s waste management office was prevented by protesters from picking up garbage unless these were brought to the IFC gate. And now they complain that the area stinks? Let them have a dose of their own medicine,” PAL stressed.
On PAL’s alleged refusal to provide protesting former workers with free tickets, it said: “PAL reserves the right to refuse conveyance to those who make false and malicious claims that the airline is unsafe and whose ultimate goal is to bring down the company.”
Meanwhile, PAL staff members based in the airline’s North America regional office in San Francisco denounced the picket staged on October 27 by American unionists in the Bay Area in support of dismissed PAL workers in Manila.
The San Francisco-based PAL union members expressed collective support to the airline’s efforts at normalizing operations after implementation of its outsourcing program on October 1.
In a signed manifesto, 10 US-based PAL unionists rejected calls to join the October 27 picket held in front of the Philippine Consulate led by members of the Burlingame, California-based International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.
(Recto Mercene)
November 2, 2011
PHILIPPINE Airlines on Tuesday lashed out against its detractors for hastily laying the blame on the airline management for Saturday’s confrontation at the PAL Inflight Center (IFC) in Pasay City.
In a statement, PAL said those who know nothing better than make wild and baseless accusations against the airline should shut up and let the police do the investigative work.
The airline said it was grossly irresponsible for some left-leaning sectoral representatives to accuse PAL management of harassing laid-off workers.
“It was clear from news reports and photographs taken from the scene that former PAL workers barred the airline’s catering truck from leaving its own facility. They were armed with rattan truncheons, planks with nails and even burned a carton box, all with the aim of inflicting harm should the truck driver insist on leaving PAL’s Inflight Center. So who’s harassing who?” PAL asked.
PAL said it was also lamentable that police authorities “were nowhere to be found” when its truck was being blocked by protesters, but conveniently “arrested” someone who claims to have been hired by PAL management to “disperse” its former employees’ camp.
“Worse, authorities were reportedly unable to apprehend those responsible for the death of a hapless bystander,” PAL said.
As to the stench allegedly emanating from its Inflight Center, PAL said protesting former PAL workers have only themselves to blame. “They won’t allow our trucks to leave the facility; even a garbage truck from Pasay City’s waste management office was prevented by protesters from picking up garbage unless these were brought to the IFC gate. And now they complain that the area stinks? Let them have a dose of their own medicine,” PAL stressed.
On PAL’s alleged refusal to provide protesting former workers with free tickets, it said: “PAL reserves the right to refuse conveyance to those who make false and malicious claims that the airline is unsafe and whose ultimate goal is to bring down the company.”
Meanwhile, PAL staff members based in the airline’s North America regional office in San Francisco denounced the picket staged on October 27 by American unionists in the Bay Area in support of dismissed PAL workers in Manila.
The San Francisco-based PAL union members expressed collective support to the airline’s efforts at normalizing operations after implementation of its outsourcing program on October 1.
In a signed manifesto, 10 US-based PAL unionists rejected calls to join the October 27 picket held in front of the Philippine Consulate led by members of the Burlingame, California-based International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.
(Recto Mercene)
PAL seeks allies to fight ‘harassment’
The Philippine Star
November 2, 2011
FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday said it would seek help from the country’s leading business organizations to press government for quicker and more decisive response against harassment of private enterprises.
In a statement, PAL said it is calling on business groups like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCI), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCI) and others to collectively appeal for better protection of businesses which are prevented from freely pursuing their trade.
PAL said it is in the best interest of all private businesses, big or small, to protect themselves against harassment like illegal blockades by former workers who have been validly and legally dismissed.
“The recent incident where PAL’s catering truck was blocked by protesting former workers armed with truncheons and planks with nails is one clear example of this kind of harassment seemingly tolerated by police authorities,” the airline stressed.
PAL expressed frustration that it has complained and sought the help of almost all relevant government agencies “to no avail”. Todate, it said the airline continues to suffer since its service providers and cabin crew are unable to use PAL’s facility along MIA Road, Pasay City where laid off workers have set up camp.
“Continuing police inaction against all forms of harassment perpetrated by dismissed workers only served to embolden these illegal occupants of PAL’s property,” it stressed.
Worse, the airline said it is now even on the receiving end of baseless and malicious accusations by these workers that it engaged outside elements to disperse their camp.
Leftist sectoral representatives have also been directly accusing PAL of harassing former workers while turning a blind eye on their documented transgressions.
November 2, 2011
FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday said it would seek help from the country’s leading business organizations to press government for quicker and more decisive response against harassment of private enterprises.
In a statement, PAL said it is calling on business groups like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCI), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCI) and others to collectively appeal for better protection of businesses which are prevented from freely pursuing their trade.
PAL said it is in the best interest of all private businesses, big or small, to protect themselves against harassment like illegal blockades by former workers who have been validly and legally dismissed.
“The recent incident where PAL’s catering truck was blocked by protesting former workers armed with truncheons and planks with nails is one clear example of this kind of harassment seemingly tolerated by police authorities,” the airline stressed.
PAL expressed frustration that it has complained and sought the help of almost all relevant government agencies “to no avail”. Todate, it said the airline continues to suffer since its service providers and cabin crew are unable to use PAL’s facility along MIA Road, Pasay City where laid off workers have set up camp.
“Continuing police inaction against all forms of harassment perpetrated by dismissed workers only served to embolden these illegal occupants of PAL’s property,” it stressed.
Worse, the airline said it is now even on the receiving end of baseless and malicious accusations by these workers that it engaged outside elements to disperse their camp.
Leftist sectoral representatives have also been directly accusing PAL of harassing former workers while turning a blind eye on their documented transgressions.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
PAL asks detractors to stop wild, baseless accusations
The Philippine Star
November 1, 2011
By Aurea Calica
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday lashed out at its detractors for hastily laying the blame on airline management for Saturday’s confrontation at the PAL Inflight Center in Pasay City.
In a statement, PAL said those who know nothing better than to make wild and baseless accusations against the airline should shut up and let the police do the investigative work.
The airline said it was grossly irresponsible for some left-leaning sectoral representatives to accuse PAL management of harassing laid off workers.
“It was clear from news reports and photos taken from the scene that former PAL workers barred the airline’s catering truck from leaving its own facility. They were armed with rattan truncheons, planks with nails and even burned a carton box, all with the aim of inflicting harm should the truck driver insist on leaving PAL’s Inflight Center. So who’s harassing who?” PAL asked.
PAL said it was also lamentable that police authorities “were nowhere to be found” when its truck was being blocked by protesters, but conveniently “arrested” someone who claims to have been hired by PAL management to “disperse” its former employees’ camp.
“Worse, authorities were reportedly unable to apprehend those responsible for the death of a hapless bystander,” PAL said.
As to the stench allegedly emanating from its Inflight Center, PAL said protesting former PAL workers have only themselves to blame. “They won’t allow our trucks to leave the facility, even a garbage truck from Pasay City’s waste management office was prevented by protesters from picking up garbage unless these were brought to the IFC gate. And now they complain that the area stinks? Let them have a dose of their own medicine,” PAL stressed.
On PAL’s alleged refusal to provide protesting former workers with free tickets, it said: “PAL reserves the right to refuse conveyance to those who make false and malicious claims that the airline is unsafe and whose ultimate goal is to bring down the company.”
PAL staff based in the airline’s North America regional office in San Francisco denounced the picket staged last Oct. 27 by American unionists in the Bay Area in support of dismissed PAL workers in Manila.
The San Francisco-based PAL union members expressed collective support to the airline’s efforts at normalizing operations after implementation of its outsourcing program last Oct. 1.
In a signed manifesto, 10 US-based PAL unionists rejected calls to join the Oct. 27 picket held in front of the Philippine Consulate led by members of the Burlingame, California-based International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.
“We do not approve of such demonstration and refuse to participate. In these hard and difficult economic times, let us not aggravate the situation with noisy and disruptive demonstrations,” said the group in reply to a letter-invitation by union steward Danilo Mirabucao.
The letter was signed by the following PAL union members: Jennifer del Rosario, Maria Josephine Encarnacion, Editha Gelasio, Teresa Jante, Carmencita Macante, Shirley Ong, Edwin Perez, Emilyn Roxas-Liwag, Rosita Tobes and Theresa Jasmin Houwer of the San Francisco station.
‘Casualty not involved in row’
Meanwhile, Malacañang maintained yesterday that the lone casualty who was caught in the clash between protesting dismissed workers from the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) was not involved in the labor row affecting the flag-carrier.
“They (authorities) were able to determine that the lone casualty (had nothing to do with the labor issue). Unfortunately, he was just caught in the middle of the riot because he was near, but he was not part of the picket line,” clarified deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.
Valte was referring to Arvin Macalalad who died of cardiac arrest when he was caught in the middle of the PALEA strike and that of a still unidentified group who attacked the picket line over the weekend in Pasay City.
She nevertheless said that the incident is already being investigated by the Department of Labor and Employment under Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and developments on the situation are being monitored.
PALEA employees had been separated from the flag-carrier since Oct. 1, in line with an outsourcing program that no less than President Aquino has approved. PALEA has questioned the legality of PAL’s outsourcing in the courts.
The Palace official said they understand the concerns of both parties, and have called on them to “exercise sobriety in their dealings with each other” so that similar incidents would not happen again.
Valte said they did not know when the standoff would end, citing the pending legal issues that have been raised, but that as far as the Office of the President is concerned, Aquino has already made a decision upholding PAL’s outsourcing program.
Aquino stood pat on his decision, even if it meant more PAL employees would be displaced and dismissed as a result of the outsourcing program, noting that “the airline is in distress, they need a reformatting of their corporation to survive.”
“We would like to sympathize with those in PALEA who were going to get into their collective bargaining agreement. But the interests of the 10 million OFWs far outweigh the thousands or the 2,000 or so that were affected by PALEA,” he pointed out.
“There is no perfect solution to this mess but it is part and parcel of the changing realities with the economic situation in the entire world,” he told foreign journalists in a forum last month.
“What is the national interest? If you define the national interest, there are 10 million Filipinos overseas. With what has been happening in the Middle East, one would want airlines capable of going to the Middle East to fetch our citizens,” Aquino stressed.
“We could not allow the national flag carrier and the only other airline capable of reaching those destinations to become non-entities and lose that ability to do it, if there was a need to repatriate our countrymen,” he explained.
November 1, 2011
By Aurea Calica
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday lashed out at its detractors for hastily laying the blame on airline management for Saturday’s confrontation at the PAL Inflight Center in Pasay City.
In a statement, PAL said those who know nothing better than to make wild and baseless accusations against the airline should shut up and let the police do the investigative work.
The airline said it was grossly irresponsible for some left-leaning sectoral representatives to accuse PAL management of harassing laid off workers.
“It was clear from news reports and photos taken from the scene that former PAL workers barred the airline’s catering truck from leaving its own facility. They were armed with rattan truncheons, planks with nails and even burned a carton box, all with the aim of inflicting harm should the truck driver insist on leaving PAL’s Inflight Center. So who’s harassing who?” PAL asked.
PAL said it was also lamentable that police authorities “were nowhere to be found” when its truck was being blocked by protesters, but conveniently “arrested” someone who claims to have been hired by PAL management to “disperse” its former employees’ camp.
“Worse, authorities were reportedly unable to apprehend those responsible for the death of a hapless bystander,” PAL said.
As to the stench allegedly emanating from its Inflight Center, PAL said protesting former PAL workers have only themselves to blame. “They won’t allow our trucks to leave the facility, even a garbage truck from Pasay City’s waste management office was prevented by protesters from picking up garbage unless these were brought to the IFC gate. And now they complain that the area stinks? Let them have a dose of their own medicine,” PAL stressed.
On PAL’s alleged refusal to provide protesting former workers with free tickets, it said: “PAL reserves the right to refuse conveyance to those who make false and malicious claims that the airline is unsafe and whose ultimate goal is to bring down the company.”
PAL staff based in the airline’s North America regional office in San Francisco denounced the picket staged last Oct. 27 by American unionists in the Bay Area in support of dismissed PAL workers in Manila.
The San Francisco-based PAL union members expressed collective support to the airline’s efforts at normalizing operations after implementation of its outsourcing program last Oct. 1.
In a signed manifesto, 10 US-based PAL unionists rejected calls to join the Oct. 27 picket held in front of the Philippine Consulate led by members of the Burlingame, California-based International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.
“We do not approve of such demonstration and refuse to participate. In these hard and difficult economic times, let us not aggravate the situation with noisy and disruptive demonstrations,” said the group in reply to a letter-invitation by union steward Danilo Mirabucao.
The letter was signed by the following PAL union members: Jennifer del Rosario, Maria Josephine Encarnacion, Editha Gelasio, Teresa Jante, Carmencita Macante, Shirley Ong, Edwin Perez, Emilyn Roxas-Liwag, Rosita Tobes and Theresa Jasmin Houwer of the San Francisco station.
‘Casualty not involved in row’
Meanwhile, Malacañang maintained yesterday that the lone casualty who was caught in the clash between protesting dismissed workers from the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) was not involved in the labor row affecting the flag-carrier.
“They (authorities) were able to determine that the lone casualty (had nothing to do with the labor issue). Unfortunately, he was just caught in the middle of the riot because he was near, but he was not part of the picket line,” clarified deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.
Valte was referring to Arvin Macalalad who died of cardiac arrest when he was caught in the middle of the PALEA strike and that of a still unidentified group who attacked the picket line over the weekend in Pasay City.
She nevertheless said that the incident is already being investigated by the Department of Labor and Employment under Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and developments on the situation are being monitored.
PALEA employees had been separated from the flag-carrier since Oct. 1, in line with an outsourcing program that no less than President Aquino has approved. PALEA has questioned the legality of PAL’s outsourcing in the courts.
The Palace official said they understand the concerns of both parties, and have called on them to “exercise sobriety in their dealings with each other” so that similar incidents would not happen again.
Valte said they did not know when the standoff would end, citing the pending legal issues that have been raised, but that as far as the Office of the President is concerned, Aquino has already made a decision upholding PAL’s outsourcing program.
Aquino stood pat on his decision, even if it meant more PAL employees would be displaced and dismissed as a result of the outsourcing program, noting that “the airline is in distress, they need a reformatting of their corporation to survive.”
“We would like to sympathize with those in PALEA who were going to get into their collective bargaining agreement. But the interests of the 10 million OFWs far outweigh the thousands or the 2,000 or so that were affected by PALEA,” he pointed out.
“There is no perfect solution to this mess but it is part and parcel of the changing realities with the economic situation in the entire world,” he told foreign journalists in a forum last month.
“What is the national interest? If you define the national interest, there are 10 million Filipinos overseas. With what has been happening in the Middle East, one would want airlines capable of going to the Middle East to fetch our citizens,” Aquino stressed.
“We could not allow the national flag carrier and the only other airline capable of reaching those destinations to become non-entities and lose that ability to do it, if there was a need to repatriate our countrymen,” he explained.
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