DoLE leaving PAL labor case to Aquino

By SAMUEL P. MEDENILLA
Manila Bulletin
December 7, 2010, 9:59pm

MANILA, Philippines – It is now up to President Aquino to decide the legality of the strike notice filed by Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) ground-based labor union.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said in a telephone interview Tuesday that the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) could no longer process any of the issues related to its labor dispute with its management since the case is now being reviewed by Malacañang.

“Before they could file the notice at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) to conduct a strike notice balloting they should have file the same notice to Malacanang, where the case is now pending,” Baldoz said.

“I have ordered the NCMB to issue a statement saying that the issue is now beyond the jurisdiction of DoLE,” Baldoz added.

Baldoz said that President Aquino has already requested NCMB to transfer all of the documents related to PAL-PALEA labor dispute to the Office of the President for consideration, which effectively removed it authority over the case.

She said DoLE will now be on stand-by in case Malacañang would request for conciliators for the case.

PALEA filed a notice at the NCMB last Tuesday morning to hold a strike vote Tuesday in preparation of a strike regarding the alleged unfair labor practice from the PAL management.

“In form the strike vote is simply an exercise of the freedom of speech. We want to gauge the sentiments of PALEA members. More than that, the strike vote is also a requirement of the law,” PALEA President Gerardo Rivera said in a statement.