PAL Strikers Defy DOLE Order

The Evening Paper

Thursday, October 31, 1996

Flights cancelled, delayed

By MANING SILVA

Members of the Philippine Airlines Employees' Association (PALEA) continue to defy the order of Labor Secretary Leonardo Quisumbing to return to work, causing delays in PAL's international operations and stranding thousands of passengers at the domestic airport, mostly those going home to their provinces for All Saints' Day.

PAL Assistant Vice-President for Domestic Operations Jose Medrano told The Evening Paper that as of 6:00 this morning, PAL has cancelled six Airbus operations for Cebu, Davao and General Santos.

The Boeing 737 flights for Masbate, Bacolod, Virac, San Jose, Mindoro, Naga, Laoag, Tagbilaran, Catarman, Daet, Calbayog and Surigao and 12 Fokker flights serving Tacloban, Legazpi. Zamboanga, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Cotabato, Bacolod and Kalibo were also cancelled.

PAL spokesman Rolando Estabillo said PALEA's intransigence has immensely inconvenienced a lot of passengers, stranding them by the thousands at the Manila domestic airport. He added that PAL management is saddened by the decision of PALEA to defy the law by staging an illegal strike which started at 6:00 p.m. last night.

Estabillo further said management has given an ultimatum to strikers to return to work: failure to report until noon tomorrow, November 1 will mean termination.

According to VP for Passenger Services Manuel Panlilio, while it is true PAL is short of manpower, especially those handling specialized equipment in the ramp area, international operations are normal other than delays of a few hours.

For this morning, flights to Hong Kong, Narita, the Middle East, Korea and Singapore will depart with slight delays.

Meanwhile, PALEA striking group picketing the NAIA terminal said they are not bound by Secretary Quisumbing's return-to-work order and will continue picketing until management gives in to their demands, which include a P3.2-billion increase in their salaries, and for management to sit down and settle their collective bargaining agreement.

Earlier, Quisumbing invoked national interest in issuing his order, calling attention to preparations for the historic APEC summit meeting in the country next month.

He said any strike in PAL at this time would embarrass the country before the international community.