DoLE takes over PAL row, warns vs work stoppage

By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 10/07/2010

MANILA, Philippines — With the government’s assumption of jurisdiction over the labor dispute at Philippine Airlines (PAL), any strike or work stoppage by its disgruntled flight attendants would be illegal, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Wednesday.

Baldoz said she would issue a return-to-work order if a strike occurs and warned union officers and workers that they would face penalties such as dismissal from employment if they initiate or participate in an illegal strike.

PAL management thanked the government for taking over the dispute and issued a statement Wednesday telling passengers that they “may now confidently firm up their travel plans” for the coming holidays.

The militant labor federation Kilusang Mayo Uno, on the other hand, blamed the labor department for the collapse of mediation talks between PAL management and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) by undermining the workers’ main bargaining strength—their right to strike.

But Baldoz said she would resolve the dispute as soon as possible. She gave the company’s management and cabin crew union panels 10 days to submit their final position papers.
“After that, we’ll consider the case submitted for resolution. I will resolve the issues,” Baldoz told reporters.

Baldoz said her office will look into FASAP’s charges of gender discrimination in the company’s maternity and retirement policies.

Female members of FASAP complained they don’t have paid maternity leaves, while both male and female crew were forced to retire at the age of 40.

Baldoz said the period of resolution might be lengthened if the parties file supplemental pleadings and motions for reconsideration of other decisions that the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) may issue.

The Labor Code allows the secretary to take over all labor disputes in industries that are “indispensable to the national interest.”
PAL grateful

In a statement Wednesday, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the company was “grateful” for the AJO because the looming strike caused grave concern among PAL clients.

“Since FASAP is banned from staging a strike or any work stoppage, our passengers are assured of unhampered operations. We advise them to book early for their flights especially for the coming semestral break and All Saints/Souls Day holidays,” she added.

Villaluna said PAL hoped Baldoz would “judiciously resolve the contentious issues soonest so that PAL can operate smoothly and efficiently without threats of any work stoppage that unnecessarily scare away customers and investors.”
KMU protests

KMU chair Elmer Labog said the government’s AJO was a clear message that the Aquino administration was “standing by the anti-worker and anti-women policies” in the Lucio Tan-owned flag carrier.

He said bargaining negotiations had virtually collapsed as early as Oct. 3 because Baldoz already announced DoLE’s readiness to issue an AJO.

“The government has undermined the flight attendants’ impending strike and threat of strike and has therefore seriously impaired their bargaining strength in the mediation talks,” Labog said.