Wildcat Strike Hits PAL

MALAYA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1996

WILDCAT STRIKE HITS PAL (2)

Some ground personnel of Philippine Airlines early last night staged a wildcat strike at the Manila airports, resulting in the cancellation of eight international and 13 domestic flights.

The strike was pulled off by the Philippine Airlines Employees' Association in defiance of labor department orders. PAL management said it would reduce flights on domestic routes where a competing domestic carrier is operating and redirect available resources to points where PAL is the sole carrier.

The management said this is part of contingency measures to minimize inconveniences to passengers and insure continuous service to the provinces.

The management said it was saddened by the decision of PALEA to defy the law by staging the illegal strike.

The situation is expected to get worse today. International flights of other carriers may also be affected as the strikers have barricaded the In-flight Center which prepares in-flight meals.

Cargo and baggage services will also be affected although PAL intends to tap other ground service handlers.

PALEA had filed a notice of strike, alleging unfair labor practice, but Labor Secretary Leonardo Quisumbing assumed jurisdiction, saying the alleged labor code violations were not grounds for holding a strike.

The complaints, Quisumbing said, were in the nature of grievances that could be handled by the grievance machinery.

Quisumbing had warned any acts of the union that may exacerbate the situation "would be dealt with accordingly."

PALEA, however, said in a statement it was "not bound by the secretary of labor's assumption order."