PAL Strike Ends

Manila Standard

Sunday, November 3, 1996

New CBA in effect by November 21

The crippling strike of the Philippine Airlines Employees' Association (PALEA) ended yesterday, three days after ground personnel of the country's flag carrier launched a protest action, with the assurance that their major concessions will be considered by the management.

A formal agreement was reached by both parties after 20 hours of continuous negotiations held recently at the Century Park Sheraton Manila.

Antonio Ocampo, PAL Senior Vice President-Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary told the Manila Standard that the airline's operations are expected to normalize early evening today as workers were given until noon to return to their posts.

PAL officials said they will continue maximizing available manpower in order to mount as many international and domestic flights as possible. The airline cancelled a total of eight international and 36 domestic and eight international flights early yesterday morning.

Prior to the signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA), 18 domestic and 11 international flights out of Manila operated as scheduled while 15 flights were due to arrive from various international points while 23 were expected from domestic points.

PAL management said it will try to operate these flights as close to published schedules as possible but delays were still to be expected.

Those representing the management included Ocampo, Henry So Uy, Vice President and Assistant to the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer; and Louie Ermitanyo, legal counsel.

PALEA had Alexander Barrientos, Union President; Gerry Rivera, Vice President; and Jose Penas, Secretary as co-signees.

PAL's Chairman and CEO Lucio Tan was at the meeting early morning yesterday, several hours after Labor Secretary Leonardo Quisumbing appealed to the parties concerned to come into terms. They, however, refused to provide other details on the visit of the PAL official.

Ocampo, during a brief press conference following the MOA signing, made a public apology particularly to the riding public affected by the strike. Majority of PAL passengers were bound for their respective provinces to observe the two-day special holiday.

"We have agreed to foster harmonious relationship with the workers for the benefit of the riding public and we are now committed to serve them," he said.

Barrientos allayed fears of staging another similar action if the conditions stated in the MOA will not be implemented as agreed upon with the management.

Ocampo assured the union that they will submit their complete counter proposal by Tuesday to meet the workers' benefit package raised by PALEA and vowed to come into "mutually acceptable agreement" within 10 days from Nov. 11.

No retaliatory actions shall likewise be taken by the management against PALEA members and officers who staged the strike.

In return, the union agreed to immediately lift the pickets at the company premises. At least 15 stations were picketed by the employees.

PAL promised to accept all returning employees under the same terms and conditions existing prior to the protest action.

Simultaneous with the signing of the agreement, members of the Pasay police force started dismantling picketers' tent along the Manila Domestic Airport as early as 1:30 p.m., without any resistance from PALEA members.

In appealing to the strikers to return to work, Quisumbing said "the public interest is paramount."

"For the benefit of the public, let us return to normal."

Labor Undersecretary Cresenciano Trajano earlier said the strike would put the country "in a bad light in the global community" as it prepares to host a summit of the 18-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum later this month.

The union, which represents 9,000 ground personnel and mechanics, struck late Wednesday over alleged union-busting activities by the management and a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations. (Angie Rosales/AP)