Return Order on PAL Strike

The Philippine Journal

Saturday, November 2, 1996

THE government has ordered striking, ground workers of Philippine Airlines to return to work in order to avoid hampering preparations for a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders later this month.

Acting Labor Secretary Crecensiano Trajano gave the striking members of the 9,000-strong PAL Employees' Association up to late yesterday to return. He also ordered management to accept the workers without punishing them for joining the strike.

Trajano gave the order late Thursday after talks bogged down following nine hours of meetings at the labor office.

The strike, now on its third day, has affected local and international flights and stranded thousands of passengers. The union struck over alleged union-busting activities by the management and a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations.

"Our direct intervention in the present dispute is warranted by the fact that the work stoppage that will take place in the company will have adverse effect on air transportation in the country," Trajano said.

Trajano added the strike will put the country "in a bad light in the global community" as it prepares for the summit of the 18-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation late this month.

Trajano also ordered the police and airport officials to stop workers from blocking the airports.

But PALEA Vice President Gerry Rivera said workers will not return until they have received an official copy of Trajano's order.

Theodore Te, a PALEA lawyer, also criticized management for refusing to talk to the union until workers lift the strike.

"Management is insistent that the workers should return to work before they agree to talk," Te said. "(But) talk about what, they wouldn't say."

On Friday, the strike caused the cancellation of 49 domestic flights and international flights to Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Xiamen, Seoul, Taipei, Kaoshiung and Hong Kong.

Foreign airlines also suffered delays in departures and arrivals because most use PAL ground crews.

Workers barricaded entrances and exits at company premises, blocked the transfer of food for departing planes and cut off power at the cargo office.

The strike began as Filipinos prepared to travel to the provinces for a three-day holiday beginning on All Saints' Day on Friday. The airline said thousands of arriving passengers have been stranded because workers refused to unload baggage.

On Oct. 4, PALEA filed a strike notice with the labor department. Two other PAL unions representing pilots and flight attendants earlier filed strike notices.

The labor office assumed jurisdiction over PALEA's strike notice on Oct. 18 and issued an order banning the workers from striking and management from locking out workers.

Union leaders, however, said the law allows an immediate strike over a separate charge of union-busting against management.

The workers say one of their grievances is the hiring of contractual workers to do union work, thus undermining the union.

They also allege that PAL has tried to reduce its financial losses by creating spin-off companies to replace regular workers in catering, maintenance,cargo and engine overhaul operations.

AP