If It Were Only Lucio Tan's Money...

Malaya

Friday, November 1, 1996

Editorial

THE ground employes of Philippine Airlines called a wildcat strike in defiance of two labor department orders.

And all over what? An across-the-board increase of P5, 000 on top of government mandated increases, for starters. Plus 10 days of additional sick and vacation leaves to bring their benefits to an even one month of sick leaves and one month of vacation leaves. That makes for 10 months, less days off, on the job a year. Not even that because they are also demanding a seven-day honeymoon leave, another seven-day paternal leave, a three-day family leave and a one-day a month menstrual leave for women.

Are these people for real? Do they still have time to, uh, work?

They say the new majority PAL owner, Lucio Tan, is simply oozing with money. He can buy 36 brand new planes. How come Tan could not throw their way P3.2 billion in additional economic benefits?

The net worth of Tan is between him and his accountant. But Tan won't be shouldering the P3.2 billion the unionists are asking for. It's us, the plane-riding public, who'll be paying for the pampering of these spoiled brats.

The PAL unionists said two equally big unions have expressed sympathy for their strike. These are the unions at the Philippine Long Distance Co. and the Manila Electric Co.

What a laugh. The employes of PAL, PLDT and Meralco are the highest paid in the land. They got there not because they are more industrious than the rest. These three companies were monopolies not a long while back. Every time their unions threatened a strike, the managers would back down. After all, the companies could always pass on the added cost to the public.

These PAL, PLDT, and Meralco unionists are the aristocracy of the working class. Now they're trolling for sympathy from the public, the very same people who stand to be gouged by their outrageous demands.

What cheek.