PAL crew to go on strike end October following collapse of labor talks

(philstar.com) Updated October 05, 2010 06:05 PM

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Department of Labor and Employment-National Conciliation and Mediation Board's (DOLE-NCMB) last ditch effort to reconcile the differences between flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) management and its cabin crew union on labor issues failed today.
In a statement, the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) said that it will push with its planned strike by the end of October and first week of November.

"The union will now prepare for the holding of its strike as mandated by law," FASAP said.
The group said the conciliation meeting ended in a deadlock after PAL maintained its hardline stance, refusing to address the discrimination issues against flight attendants.

"While PAL is trying to make themselves look reasonable by supposedly offering a financial package, the truth is it is being made contingent on discriminatory policies on retirement," the 1, 600-FASAP members said.

The PAL management is preparing its manifestation to DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for her to assume jurisdiction of the PAL labor row, PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.
Villaluna said with labor chief's assumption of jurisdiction this means that FASAP could not push with its planned strike.

"Hopefully the labor secretary will assume jurisdiction of the case," she said.
Villaluna said that PAL is also preparing for contingency measures like endorsing their local passengers to Air Philippines Express, an affiliate of PAL.