September 11, 2010, 4:16pm
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines (PNA) — The government is mapping out contingency plans should the flight attendants of Philippine Airlines (PAL) pursue their planned strike.
The plans intend to prevent any disruption to the riding public, which President Benigno S. Aquino III earlier vowed to protect from inconvenience and inability to reach their destinations.
Transportation and Communication Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus said in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan that the President has appealed to both parties to try to reach a settlement so as not to disrupt service to airline commuters.
Only last Friday at Sangley Point, the President reiterated his warning to impose open skies, or allow other foreign airlines to serve the routes of PAL, should the disagreeing parties failed to resolve their differences soon.
The flight attendants union earlier filed a notice of strike before the Department of Labor and Employment, which has yet to be acted on by the agency.
Between now and the time the motion for strike is decided on, the government is exerting its best to make both parties reach a settlement so that their flight schedules will not be compromised, de Jesus said.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa is now also involved in looking for a solution to the PAL management and labor union problem.
“We have been meeting to craft a contingency plan that will be in effect should both parties fail to settle,” de Jesus said.
As to PAL management’s position that the open skies policy will not do good for the country, de Jesus said “that is their position. Ours is just that we will do whatever is necessary to protect the riding public.”
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