by Eric B. Apolonio
Manila Standard Today
April 11, 2011
THE Philippine Airlines Employees Association is going to use social networking sites such as Facebook to organize protests and strikes, group president Gerry Rivera said over the weekend.
“We plan to test the law and defy the assumption and certification order of the Labor secretary which has been abused to deny workers their means of defense,” Rivera said.
“We will be maximizing Facebook and social media in organizing the strike and other protests just as the people of Egypt and Tunisia did.”
The union is protesting the airline’s plan, approved by Malacañang, to lay off its ground workers and outsource its ground services.
The union says 2,600 ground workers will be cut as a result of it, but the airline says they will receive a generous severance pay and get hired by the outsourcing companies it will tap.
So far, the union has used Facebook to mobilize its members and gather public support.
“Since a majority of [the union’s] members are on Facebook, it is easy to connect with them,” Rivera said.
“We have tried it and it is effective. The Labor Secretary can abuse her power to suppress the right to strike, but the government cannot afford to shut down the Internet.”
Rivera said the union had asked the Office of the President to reconsider its decision to allow Philippine Airlines to proceed with its planned outsourcing.
He said labor groups, the airline’s flight crew, and even the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines were supporting the union’s plan to strike over the outsourcing plan.
Philippine Airlines, meanwhile, has assured its passengers it is ready for any work stoppage.
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