Aquino orders DOLE to solve PAL labor row

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09/11/2010

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno has ordered the Departments of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and of Transportation and Communication to ensure a settlement of the dispute between the management and worker of the flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).

“I appeal to both sides, both labor and management, to go to the bargaining table with the end in view of really achieving that agreement,” President Aquino said.

Mr. Aquino warned that routes that PAL might fail to serve as a result of the labor dispute could be given to other airlines.

This developed after the union of PAL stewards filed a notice of strike before the Department of Labor and Employment.

“At this point there is no expectation that services will be interrupted,” Mr. Aquino told reporters in an interview in a Philippine Navy base in Cavite.

“But even on that expectation … there has been a notice by the (Civil Aviation and Aeronautics Board) to other airlines of potential slots that they will be given to replace the slots that PAL will not be servicing if they go on strike,” he added.