Tuesday, 05 October 2010 00:00
THE MANILA TIMES
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said it would exert more efforts to work with the private and labor sectors to strengthen tripartite cooperation and promote industrial peace by preventing the escalation of labor disputes into work stoppages or strikes with the impending labor dispute in Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz made the statement in the middle of the negotiation between the management and the officials of PAL.
The Flight Attendants Association of the Philippines (Fasap) is expected to hold its last meeting before Labor department and with the management of PAL on Tuesday.
The said meeting would determine if the workers’ notice of strike would push through, which would eventually paralyze the operation of the flag-carrier airline company.
The meeting between the two groups remained deadlock.
Fasap President Bob Anduiza said that they are questioning PAL’s mandatory retirement for flight attendants upon reaching the age of 40. Anduiza stressed that since the year 2000, they wanted to adjust the retirement age to 60 years old.
But PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna urged Fasap not to implement the said strike for it is untimely after the death of eight Hong Kong nationals during the tragic hostage crisis.
For Jimmy Bautista, PAL president and chief operating officer, they stood firm with their agreement with Fasap and they have not committed any illegal acts.
He pointed out that they are confident that the Labor department will not tolerate any plan of the employees to strike because the PAL management is honoring their existing contract and agreement.
Bautista pointed out that the retirement age provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreeement should not be discussed since it would continue from 2010 up to 2015.
He said that those who will be affected by the retirement age provision will be on 2018. The PAL official said that there would be benefits to those affected employees, which is approximately 1,600 personnel, in the amount of P80 million.
Recently, Baldoz said that she would assume jurisdiction once the strike of the workers push through. It is a power given to a Labor secretary under the Labor Code of the Philippines to assume jurisdiction to companies, which are considered of “national interest.”
Baldzo stressed that the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) will be reconstituted to provide for inclusive representation and participation of more worker groups in the council.
She pointed out that the reconstitution of the TIPC is part of the reforms being initiated by the department in line with its pursuit of President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s labor and employment agenda.
“The agenda seeks the enhancement of tripartite cooperation aimed at ensuring industrial peace which is essential in business and investments growth and the preservation and generation of jobs,” Baldoz said.
Towards this end, she said the National Conciliation and Mediation Board settles notices of strike/lockout before they erupt into actual strikes.
Jomar Canlas
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