Aquino Wants Win-Win Solution to PAL Row

September 11, 2010, 2:01pm
Manila Bulletin

SANGLEY POINT, Cavite City (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday renewed his appeal to officials and employees of Philippine Airlines to go to the bargaining table and find a win-win solution to the row that has affected the country’s airline and tourism industry.

The President issued the directive a day after the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines, which boasts of a membership of about 1,600, filed a notice of strike at the Department of Labor and Employment.

The move comes on the heels of a serious disruption in PAL flights two weeks ago when some 25 of the airline’s pilots abandoned their jobs to seek greener pastures abroad. The move was seen by PAL management as a breach of contract.

"I appeal to both sides, both the labor and the management, to go to the bargaining table with the end in view of really achieving that agreement because at the end of the day I guarantee you, we will not sacrifice the public interest,“ he said. “If I have to choose between the PAL and the Filipino people, I think the choice is obvious. So I want to remind them of that."

To help solve the crisis, the President ordered Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Transportation and Communication to help ensure that PAL and its attendants would reach a favorable agreement.

The President also said the possibility of adopting an open skies policy is now being considered by the government should the impasse continue.

“If it is necessary we will do it to minimize disruption to the riding public," he said.
In preparation for the possible strike of the flight attendants, the Civil Aviation Board, according to the Chief Executive has already issued a notice to other airlines that they will be given potential slots should a disruption occur.