Labor chief to take jurisdiction over PAL row—Aquino

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 10/05/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has been instructed to take jurisdiction over the labor dispute between the flag-carrier Philippine Airlines and the union of flight attendants, President Benigno Aquino told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

The President, nonetheless, urged the riding public not to be alarmed by news of a possible strike. He added he would not push for an open skies policy to make up for the lack of air transport if PAL were to be grounded by a stewards’ strike.

Aquino made the remarks after the talks between the PAL management and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines failed to produce an agreement between the two sides.
“The labor secretary will assume jurisdiction,” President Aquino told reporters when he was asked what the administration would do after the dialog failed.

He added: “We are not yet irreconcilable. The anticipated damage to the economy has yet to materialize…. Let’s not expect that tomorrow PAL is already on strike.”

“We’re still hoping that this can be resolved. We don’t need to go into the open skies policy,” he added.