By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10/06/2010
MANILA, Philippines—The group of flight attendants protesting alleged unfair labor practices at the Philippine Airlines said Wednesday it would not push through with its planned strike should the Department of Labor decide against it.
"In the event that the DOLE will prevent the group from exercising its lawful right to go on strike, the union will be obligated to respect this decision," said Bob Anduiza, president of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap).
Anduiza's statement came a day after talks with the management of PAL ended in a deadlock, with the airline company not acceding to the requests of the labor group.
In Tuesday's meet, Fasap turned down PAL's offer of P105 million in salaries and allowances, expanded maternity benefits, and the increase of the retirement age from 40 to 45 years old.
In an earlier statement, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said PAL's monetary offer hould be viewed in the context of the company's "huge losses" in the past two years.
"Management has bent backwards to give part of Fasap's demands but they want nothing short of their original demands," she said.
Anduiza reiterated, however, that the labor union was not interested in money.
"It is about discrimination," he said.
Anduiza said the group had yet to receive any order from DOLE on its assumption of jurisdiction over the matter.
"Fasap hopes that she will resolve the dispute immediately, especially the gender and discrimination issues in retirement age, pregnancy and maternity policies," Anduiza said.
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