PAL Workers Continue Strike on Third Day

Manila Bulletin

Saturday, November 2, 1996

No more reason for Lucio Tan, says Maceda

By E. T. SUAREZ

Philippine Airline workers yesterday pressed their strike for the third day vowing not to return to work until their demands are met by the management led by Lucio Tan.

The Philippine Airlines Employees' Association (PALEA), the biggest among the three labor unions in the airlines, announced its decision to continue the strike despite a return-to-work order from acting Labor Secretary Cresenciano B. Trajano Thursday and threats from management to dismiss them.

Trajano had directed the strikers to return to work and the management to accept them back under the same terms and conditions prior to the strike.

PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jose Antonio Garcia gave the striking workers until noon yesterday to return to work to avoid dismissal, while DOLE directed them to return to work within 24 hours upon receipt of the order.

P.A.L.

Trajano said that as pointed out in earlier orders, DOLE'S intervention in the dispute is warranted by the fact that any work stoppage will have adverse effects on air transportation in the country, both in the domestic and international routes.

"Moreover, any strike in the company will put the country in a bad light in the global community as preparations for the forthcoming APEC summit are now in full gear," Trajano said. It is imperative that the situation in the company be normalized.

But the 9,000-strong PALEA remained unrelenting, pointing out that Labor Secretary Leo Quisumbing's assumption of the dispute did not contribute towards the eventual resolution of the dispute.

"It merely crippled the union from further exercising its rights guaranteed by law," PALEA President Alexander Barrientos said.”This is evidenced by the fact that Quisumbing failed to compel PAL management to comply with its duty to bargain collectively.”

PALEA Vice President Gerry Rivera said only the granting of their demands will make them stop their strike.

Rivera said among them are the reinstatement of 183 officers and members of PALEA, stoppage of rampant contractualization of regular jobs, and resumption of the negotiations for new collective bargaining agreements.

Maceda

Senate President Ernesto Maceda said yesterday that business tycoon Lucio Tan can no longer say now that he cannot make financial commitments to the striking employes because he was not yet in control of PAL management.

He said Tan now can make the financial commitment as he has been calling the shots at PAL after wresting control of its management about a month ago.

Through purchases and maneuvers that began several years ago, Tan has gained majority control over PAL from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Maceda said he would ask the Senate public services committee to look into reports that the Philippine Airlines (PAL) management has put planes and passengers at risk by short-cutting international safety standards.

Some of these shortcuts, according to Maceda, are:

Cutting the rest period for pilots and plane's crew in between international flights. The standard rest period is three to five days but some pilots and crew members allegedly fly the PAL planes after a 12- or 24-hour rest.

Allowing a junior pilot to occupy the third slot in the cockpit, which is usually occupied by an experienced pilot.

Reducing the regular number of cabin crew in international flights. The

regular number is 18.

Maceda lashed at PAL management over allegations by striking employes that it has failed to give salary adjustments over the past four years.

"Now, for the employes not to have pay adjustments for the last four years is really something that I think is not only unfair but un-Christian," he said.

Maceda said he knows of some PAL pilot acquaintances or friends of his sons who are "now really deep in debt" and have mortgaged their properties over the failure of the PAL management to adjust the pay of its workers.

He said some pilots had been forced to transfer their children from exclusive to ordinary schools because of sagging pay.

Maceda had offered the Senate labor committee headed by Sen. Marcelo Fernan as mediator between PAL management and the strikers.

Maceda also asked the Supreme Court yesterday to resolve immediately a case involving a labor union composed of flight attendants which PAL management has used for not resolving other problems.

Defiance

NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — Members of the Philippine Airlines Employees' Association (PALEA) yesterday continued to defy the return-to-work order of the Department of Labor and Employment, causing more delays and flight cancellations.

As of press time, only eight domestic flights flew from the Manila Domestic Airport (MDA) while 49 were cancelled, stranding hundreds who wanted to fly to the provinces for All Saints' Day.

Nine international flights were cancelled as PAL management concentrated on dispatching flights to the United States and Europe. Most flights to Hong Kong, Xiamen, Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Seoul, and Kaoshiung were cancelled.

While PAL management claimed that the three-day-old strike was starting to fizzle out with only 30 to 40 percent of the 9,000-strong PALEA supporting it, its effects continued to be felt up to late yesterday afternoon.

Tension gripped the picket lines of PALEA workers who said members of the airport police and other plainclothes lawmen tried to break up their barricades yesterday afternoon.

PALEA President Alexander Barrientos told a press conference at the PALEA headquarters that the Philippine National Police was moving in to break up the picket lines.

A check at the MDA showed that PALEA picket lines were still intact with the strikers on their feet, trying to attract attention to the threat posed by a group of airport policemen and plain-clothes lawmen manning the gates.

They (police) only backed off when you (mediamen) came. We're worried that they'll strike tonight once you turn your backs," a striker said.

With the reception area at the MDA still jampacked with passengers on the waiting list, neither PAL nor airport officials could assure the public that things will improve starting today when passengers are expected to trek back to Manila from the holidays. (Ronniel de Guzman)