Aquino steps into airline row

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 13:17:00 08/01/2010

MANILA – President Benigno Aquino on Sunday said the government would intervene in a labor dispute between pilots and flag carrier Philippine Airlines which had caused flight cancellations.
Aquino said ministers from the departments of justice, transportation, labor and his chief aide were to meet separately with airline executives and representatives from the pilots union on Monday to resolve the row.

"Hopefully we will be able to come up with a resolution so that the riding public is not inconvenienced and the economy does not suffer because of what is an inter-company dispute," Aquino told reporters.
PAL cancelled several domestic and international flights beginning Saturday, saying it was forced to do so after some pilots resigned to join airlines abroad.

Three flights to Hong Kong and at least eight domestic flights were cancelled, PAL said in a statement.

It said the surprise resignations had violated employment contracts.

The company said it would file charges against the pilots, but did not say how many had walked out.
Aquino said labor officials would study whether the pilots violated their contracts.

"If this was not warranted, then they lay themselves also open to appropriate charges," Aquino said.