PAL Workers End Strike

The Manila Times
Sunday, November 3, 1996
By ARIES RUFO
Reporter

STRIKING workers of the Philippine Airlines Employees' Association (PALEA) agreed yesterday to lift their picket lines and return to work after securing the airline management's commitment to stop alleged union-busting tactics and meet other major demands posed by the union.

The agreement ended almost 72 hours of work stoppage at the country's flag carrier which was declared shortly before All Saints' Day and saw thousands of passengers getting stranded.

The impasse was broken after Labor Secretary Leonardo Quisumbing arrived from Japan where he was on an official visit.

It also came after PALEA was able to win almost all its demands from management, including a stop to the contractualization of workers which, the association said, threatens the job security of its 8,500 union members.

Normal operations

The memorandum of agreement, whose signing was witnessed by officials of the Department of Labor and Employment, called for the resumption of work by the striking workers and the dismantling of picket lines nationwide.

Operations are expected to normalize by early evening today, particularly the resumption of domestic and international flights.

In return, management promised to suspend its subcontracting policy, including the formation of joint ventures with other companies. Philippine Airlines has tried to reduce its financial losses by creating spin-off companies to replace regular workers in catering, maintenance, cargo and engine overhaul operations.

It also committed the submission of its counterproposal to PALEA's proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement package by Tuesday, with both parties "exerting efforts and good faith to conclude a mutually acceptable agreement within 10 days from Nov. 11."

Good faith

In addition, the management gave its word that it will not retaliate against the strikers and will retract its earlier threat to consider as terminated those who did not report for work last Friday.
The agreement stressed that "PAL undertakes to accept all returning employees under the same terms and conditions before the strike," with both parties agreeing "to bind themselves to strictly and fully comply with their respective undertakings in good faith."

Representing the management during the signing of the agreement at the DOLE headquarters were Anton Corporate Secretary; Henry So Uy, Vice President, Assistant to the Chair and Chief Operating Officer; and Legal Counsel Louie Ermitanyo.

PALEA was represented by its president Alexander Barrientos, Vice President Gerry Rivera, and Secretary Jose Penas as co-signees.

PAL Chair and Chief Executive Officer Lucio Tan was at the meeting early morning yesterday, several hours after Quisumbing appealed to the parties concerned to come to terms. Other details on the visit of the PAL chief were not provided, however.

Apologies

In a brief press conference that followed the signing of the agreement, Ocampo apologized to the public which was affected by the strike. Majority of PAL passengers were bound for their respective provinces to observe the two-day special holiday.

"We have agreed to foster a harmonious relationship with the workers for the benefit of the riding public and we are now committed to serve them," Ocampo said.

On the other hand, Barrientos thanked the PAL management for agreeing to their terms.

PALEA officers said the agreement was reached mainly through the efforts of the union and the airline management.

They said the conflict actually worsened when DOLE officials belonging to rival factions intervened and tried to get their respective bosses into the limelight.

Delays expected

PAL officials said they will continue maximizing available manpower to mount as many international and domestic flights as possible. It canceled 36 domestic and eight international flights early yesterday morning.

Prior to the signing of the agreement, 18 domestic and 11 international flights out of Manila went on as scheduled while 15 flights were due to arrive from various international points.

PAL management said it would try to operate all flights as close to published schedules as possible but delays are to be expected.

—With a report from AP