Fruitless meet between PAL, union

By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: November 09, 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its ground crew union Monday failed to reach an agreement on the first day of their conciliation meetings at the Department of Labor and Employment.

Members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) took the floor at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) and insisted that the notice of strike they filed on Friday had basis.

PAL allegedly tried to convince its members to agree to its outsourcing plan, which will also affect union leaders, they said.

“They actually had the floor, but we also responded,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said of the one hour meeting. The next hearing is on Nov. 11.

“They were explaining the two points behind the notice of strike, which is supposedly an offshoot of individual bargaining, coercing union members to accept the separation package which they view as tantamount to unfair labor practice,” Villaluna said.

“In response to that, we say we will confirm if such allegation is true or if it has basis.”
Villaluna said PALEA, which was represented by two of its board members, also raised the termination of union officers as basis for the strike notice.