Thursday, 30 September 2010 00:00
BY DARWIN G AMOJELAR SENIOR REPORTER
THE MANILA TIMES
THE cabin crew union of Philippine Airlines (PAL) said that they will proceed with their planned strike by the end of October or the first week of November after the union withdrew from conciliation meetings with the airline’s management. In a statement, Bob Anduiza, president of the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (Fasap) said that conciliation talks were deadlocked at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“PAL is playing games and is insisting on its unreasonable retirement age limit. They are not serious in resolving the dispute. PAL is just playing deaf and blind to the concerns of the flight attendants,” he added.
PAL urged Wednesday that the government take immediate steps to avert a planned strike by its flight attendants.
”PAL would like to assure our passengers that a strike will not happen overnight. Management is asking DOLE to immediately step in to avert the strike and protect the interests of the riding public,” Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesman said in a statement.
President Benigno Aquino 3rd earlier stepped into the labor row and ordered the Labor department to mediate.
But on September 20, Fasap filed a notice of strike before the Labor department, citing issues such as the refusal of PAL management to bargain in good faith and age, gender and salary increase discrimination issues.
Anduiza said PAL’s proposals to move the retirement age from 40 to 45 on condition on drastic work-rule changes to mix the domestic and international operations will result to retrenchment of the airline’s workers and mega-profits for PAL.
The airline earlier requested that its domestic cabin crew will be allowed to fly in international destinations to experience flying abroad, and to earn more in terms of per diems and other allowances.
Anduiza also said that PAL is refusing to correct the minimum wage levels on the flight attendants’ basic salaries.
“It clearly showed that the PAL flight attendants’ entry level pay of P8,605 is way, way below the present P12, 288 minimum wage.” he said.
Anduiza said the union finds no more need to meet with PAL and will now concentrate on preparing for the strike.
“PAL misses the point. This is not about making money. This dispute is about discrimination. The Philippine Commission on Women has already pronounced that PAL’s policy towards its female flight attendants is discriminatory. The Commission on Human Rights chair, Ms. Etta Rosales, has also pointed out that PAL’s retirement, pregnancy and maternity provisions for flight attendants are sexist and discriminatory, in violation of their human rights,” he added.
Surprised by strike decision
The management of PAL said that they were surprised by Fasap’s turnaround by announcing their decision to strike.
“It was upon DOLE’s recommendation that PAL and the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines agreed to a recess and to meet again next week,” Villaluna said.
She added that PAL has been negotiating in good faith and has bent backwards to accommodate some of Fasap’s demands.
“It is the union that is playing hardball, dismissing outright management’s offers without even a second glance,” Villaluna said.
Given the threat of Fasap to go on strike, Villaluna said PAL is preparing emergency measures in case the mass action will push through.
“PAL is hopeful that DOLE will immediately step in to avert any work stoppage that can wreak havoc to the economy,” she said.
Villaluna added that from day one, Fasap has not shown any intention to consider anything short of their demands.
“A negotiation is like a two-way street; it’s give and take. It’s very difficult to deal and negotiate with a party who only wants things to go their way,” Villaluna said.
Earlier, PAL said its offer of a P105-million economic package from P80 million is the best offer given massive losses of $312 million or over P15 billion in the last two years.
The airline added that the early retirement age is “benchmarked” on PAL’s major competitors in the region whose cabin crews are retired between the age of 35 and 45.
The planned strike is the latest in a string of labor problems to hit the airline.
Last month, 25 pilots and first officers on PAL’s short-haul aircraft suddenly quit for higher paying jobs abroad, forcing the abrupt cancellation of several flights.
WITH REPORTS FROM JOMAR CANLAS AND AFP
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