September 9, 2010, 4:57pm
Manila Bulletin
Manila Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) Thursday ascertained its operations will continue amidst the decision of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) to file a notice of strike before the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
“I assure the public there will be no flight interruptions within the next 30 days,” PAL president Jaime Bautista told Manila Bulletin in a telephone interview.
He stressed that negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is not altogether closed, saying that “we’re still open for discussions.”
In a statement, PAL said the notice of strike filed by its cabin crew union is ill-timed as it would scare tourists and cause further damage to the flag carrier’s fragile finances.
PAL also assured its passengers that airline operations remain normal and all flights are operating as scheduled.
“There is no immediate work stoppage due to the union’s filing of a strike notice. It only commences a legal process by which the two parties, with guidance from the labor department, would find ways of striking a balance between what the union wants and what management can afford and is prepared to give,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.
Meanwhile, a FASAP official said the union was also still willing to continue CBA negotiations if the company shows “some proof of good faith.”
“We are willing to withdraw our notice of strike, if the management will just show some proof of good faith,” FASAP president Bob Anduiza said.
“We understand PAL’s finances. We don’t want PAL to close down. But we can’t let the abuse to go on. The management can easily grant our demands,” he said.
Under the law, parties are given a 30-day cooling-off period after the filing of a notice of strike during which the labor secretary will exert all efforts at mediation to effect a voluntary settlement. Since PAL is a public utility imbued with public interest, the labor secretary may take jurisdiction over the dispute and issue a return to work order to prevent any work stoppage.
“We are saddened by the union’s decision, but we recognize their right to file a notice of strike,” Villaluna said. She added that the union’s move is untimely especially in the wake of thousands of Hong Kong and Chinese tourists cancelling their PAL forward bookings in the aftermath of the bungled rescue operations last August 23. “A strike threat doesn’t help in efforts to lure back tourists to the country.”
“The PAL management is ready and willing to sit down again with FASAP leaders to discuss and settle the issues that have prevented both parties from finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement for the years 2007 to 2010,” she added.
Villaluna said FASAP’s claims that they are overworked and underpaid are without factual basis. “PAL domestic and international cabin crews, as well as pursers receive a gross pay ranging from P30,000 to P80,000 per month. They also enjoy enviable rest periods.”
She also refuted accusations of age and gender discrimination. “The early retirement age was a negotiated agreement that FASAP union leaders signed not once but twice. They likewise complain about the alleged inequity of early retirement provisions when in fact older generation FASAP members, including the union leaders themselves, have been receiving and enjoying financial benefits in exchange for the younger retirement age of their colleagues,” Villaluna said.
On FASAP’s claim that PAL discourages pregnancy among its female cabin attendants, Villaluna said there were at least 65 female cabin attendants that went on maternity leave last year. “All of them received maternity benefits in accordance with the Labor Code and the CBA. PAL even advanced P30,000 in SSS benefits before they gave birth,” she said.
She added that pregnant cabin crew – upon diagnosis by PAL physicians that they are on the family way – are prevented from taking flight assignments to protect both mother and child. “The first trimester of pregnancy is critical for the child’s brain development. Hence, the thin air environment while in flight exposes the fetus to possible congenital abnormalities.”
The fact that pregnant cabin crews are not paid from the time they have exhausted their vacation leave credits until they give birth is consistent with the “no work, no pay” principle which applies even to ground personnel, Villaluna said. (Samuel P. Medenilla)
No comments:
Post a Comment