Return To Work, PAL Men Ordered

Manila Bulletin

Friday, November 1, 1996

By E. T. SUAREZ

Acting Labor Secretary Cresenciano B. Trajano last night ordered the striking employes of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to return to work within 24 hours and for the PAL management controlled by Lucio Tan to accept the workers back under the same terms and conditions prevailing prior to the strike.

Trajano issued the three-page return-to-work order after efforts for a settlement from noon to 10 p.m. proved to no avail. He said the conciliation meeting had to be adjourned after several hours when the parties remained irreconcilable.

He ordered both parties to refrain from undertaking any or similar action that might worsen the situation.

"Furthermore, and in order to enhance the normalization of relations between the parties, the company is enjoined to cease and desist from imposing any disciplinary action in connection with the work stoppage," Trajano ordered.

Trajano deputized the Philippine National Police (PNP), the general manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and the Bureau of Air Transportation (BAT) to assist in the implementation of the return-to-work order and ensure the free ingress to and egress from the premises of PAL and all its operating units, outlets, and establishments nationwide.

Thousands of passengers bound for local and foreign destinations were stranded yesterday as members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) continued their strike.

“PALEA raised serious issues during the negotiations, but the most crucial one is the security of tenure for the striking workers,” labor officials said. “We hope that when the security of tenure issue is resolved, a consensus on the other issues can be reached and the striking workers agree to return to work.”

The other issues raised by PALEA are rampant contractualization of regular jobs aimed at displacing 4,000 workers, gross violation of the economic provisions of the collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), termination of the services of 183 union officials, and unilateral implementation of various job schemes.

Trajano and Buenaventura Magsalin, former National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Chief now on detail with Malacañang, led the negotiations with NCMB Officer-in-Charge Eliot S. Cojuangco.

They said that once the crucial issues are ironed out, the parties will meet in one room for the signing of the agreement.

Alexander Barrientos, PALEA President, said unless a return-to-work agreement is reached, the strike will continue, despite the threats of PAL management to dismiss the strikers unless they report to work today.

“Threats such as this only worsen the labor dispute," he said. “All we want is an honest-to-goodness collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and none of the deceit and false hopes. All we want is a CBA which is consistent with the labor standards and laws of the country.”

He said the strike will remain peaceful, pointing out that no single case of violence arising from the mass action was reported.

The other unions at PAL — the Airline Pilots' Association of the Philippines (ALPAP) and the Flight Attendants and Steward Association of the Philippines (FASAP) — were reported to be sympathizing with the strikers.

But PAL management said the strike was illegal and a violation of Labor Secretary Eduardo Quisumbing's order prohibiting any strike or lockout.

It noted that Quisumbing's Oct. 24 order provides that any strike or lockout, whether actual or impending, is prohibited.

Stranded

NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — The nationwide strike of Philippine Airlines employes which started Wednesday night stranded 20,000 international and domestic passengers all over the country despite a return-to-work order issued by PAL management yesterday afternoon.

PAL cancelled 27 domestic flights and seven international flights, causing confusion at the Manila Domestic Airport (MDA) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Hundreds of arriving passengers at the NAIA had to wait for at least four hours each before they could retrieve their luggage as replacement personnel for the PAL ramp employes who went on strike were overwhelmed by the many bags they had to process.

Arriving passengers, not only from PAL but also from other international airlines, virtually camped out at the NAIA arrival area.

Passengers on PAL Flight 311 from Hong Kong which arrived Wednesday evening were requested by PAL management to claim their bags the following day as nobody could unload them from their jet.

Mediator

The Senate leadership presented itself yesterday as a mediator in the strike at Philippine Airlines (PAL) as it suggested that President Ramos should interfere in the labor dispute because of the threat of it setting back the Chief Executive's own economic program.

Senate President Ernesto M. Maceda asked the Supreme Court to settle once and for all a pending four-year-old case involving a PAL flight union which the PAL management claimed is blocking the resolution of labor problems, particularly pay adjustments.

Maceda said he and Sen. Ernesto F. Herrera, former Chair of the Senate Labor Committee and Secretary-General of the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), are willing to act as mediators between the PAL management and its unions.