PAL Strikers Told To Return To Work

Today

Friday, November 1, 1996

By RICHARD ARBOLEDA

Reporter

THE Department of Labor and Employment issued a return to work order to striking Philippine Airlines employees after the two parties ended conciliation meetings without reaching a consensus late last night.

Acting Labor Secretary Cresenciano Trajano issued the order after the management and employees belonging to the PAL Employees' Association (Palea) failed to come up with any point of agreement on the issues raised by the ground employees.

Trajano said the department was forced to issue the return to work order to employees of the flag carrier to save the country from international embarrassment.

"Any strike in the company will put the country in a bad light in the global community as preparations for the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit are now in full gear," he said.

Trajano added that "our direct intervention in the present dispute is warranted by the fact that any work stoppage that will take place in the company will have adverse effects on air transportation in our country."

Earlier, PAL warned striking members of Palea that they would be out of their jobs if they continued to picket the company.

"PAL management has advised striking personnel to return to work not later than Friday, November 1, or be deemed terminated from the company," said a company statement yesterday.

Management filed an urgent motion for a court order to lift the picket lines and "prevent further damage to the company and inconvenience the public."

The toll on domestic and international operations is 33 flights canceled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The airline said 12 international and 10 domestic flights had taken off yesterday.

Management also played down the effects of the strike, claiming only 300 to 400 of maintenance workers and airport ground staff, members of the 9,000-strong Palea, are involved.

Palea and two other airline unions want a new wage package worth P3.2 billion over the next two years. PAL has rejected this demand, offering instead to sell PAL shares worth P477 million at P5 per share to the employees.