PAL workers’ union to hold strike vote

Tuesday, 07 December 2010 00:00
The Manila Times
By Darwin G. Amojelar, Senior Reporter

THE Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (Palea) said that it will hold a strike vote today, having filed a notice of strike before the Department of Labor and Employment.

In a statement, Gerardo Rivera, the president of Palea, on Monday said that they submitted the notice of strike vote before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) of the Labor department on Monday morning.

“With a copy furnished the Office of the Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz at 8:55 a.m. [Monday], this means that Palea can proceed with the strike vote from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight tomorrow [today],” he added.
Rivera said that the strike vote is compliance with requirements of the law.

Palea is protesting a plan of flag-carrier Philippine Airlines to spin off part of its operations, a move that will result in the airline letting go some 3,500 of its 7,500 workforce.

“If management does not desist from harassing Palea members to avail of the separation offer, which is tantamount to individual bargaining and therefore illegal, then we will be forced to actually hold the strike,” Rivera said.

He added that PAL management continued to violate its own promise during mediation held on November 8 where PAL managers said that they will refrain from discussing the issues with Palea members.

“We don’t make strike threats. We just do it when needed. That is why we are preparing the requirements for a strike, which will happen at the appropriate time. A majority support of members assessed via a strike vote is necessary to hold a legal strike,” Rivera said.

He added that Palea explained that the strike vote does not constitute a transgression of the mediation efforts of the Office of the President (OP).

“We are not blackmailing Malacañang to favor our position but we are warning management for its illegal acts. It was Palea that asked for the intervention of President Benigno Aquino 3rd in the PAL-Palea dispute and so it is illogical that we will sabotage it. The issue pending at the OP is separate though related to the case from which proceeds the strike vote,” Rivera said.

PAL question

In a separate statement, PAL questioned the legality and propriety of the planned strike vote of Palea.
It said that the notice of strike vote filed with the NCMB “is without basis” and that conditions that justify holding of a referendum calling for a work stoppage are not present.

The airline added that Malacañang has not decided on the union’s pending appeal for government intervention in the PAL-Palea labor dispute.

Despite the row, PAL assured its passengers that flights remain normal and continue to operate as scheduled.
“A work stoppage does not happen overnight. PAL will exhaust all legal means to prevent any disruption that could hurt the economy and cause inconvenience to the riding public,” Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesman said.
While PAL management has received assurances from various PAL employee groups that they will not join any strike, Villaluna added that the flag-carrier has contingency measures in place.

“PAL has made arrangements with sister airline Airphil Express and other local carriers to help carry domestic passengers, while PAL’s 134 interline partners are also ready to lend a hand in our international routes. To ensure the steady supply of food and other amenities, PAL also made arrangements with several catering firms to supply meals,” she said.

“Conciliation talks before the NCMB remain pending and have not bogged down. In fact, it was upon mutual agreement by PAL and Palea to suspend conciliation meetings to allow the Office of the President to act on Palea’s appeal to reverse an earlier ruling of the Department of Labor and Employment,” Villaluna added.