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DOLE looking into PAL working conditions


The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now looking into alleged problems with the working conditions in the Philippine Airlines (PAL), Malacañang said Wednesday. At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Cabinet officials' meetings with the pilot representatives revealed alleged problems with their contracts and working conditions. Earlier, the mass resignation of 25 pilots caused PAL to cancel and reschedule flights. "[The talk] wasn't only limited to the resignation, it's apparently part of a deep-seated problem which has been festering according to the pilots," Lacierda said. Malacañang has met separately with the PAL management and the pilots' representatives. Cabinet officials are currently brokering dialogues between the two parties to reduce the impact of the dispute on the tourism industry and the Philippine economy. "We're getting more and more info on the conditions of both sides. In the pilots' case we thought it was just a simple case of mas mataas ang sweldo sa labas kaya sila nagsialisan. Marami silang nilahad na kanilang mga problema. Ganun rin sa PAL management, nilabas nila ang kanilang position sa problema," said the Palace spokesman. (We thought it was just a simple case of higher salaries that's why they left. They revealed a lot of other problems. The PAL management has stated their position regarding these problems.) Asked whether the DOLE will intervene in the issue, Lacierda said "they are looking into it," adding that DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz was present during the meetings. Among the concerns reportedly raised by pilots was PAL's plan to transfer some pilots to AirPhil Express, where they will be getting much lower salaries. However, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna earlier clarified that the pilots who had been meeting with the government are all regular employee pilots of the flag carrier, and not those who were supposed to be transferred to AirPhil. Disgruntled flight attendants Lacierda said Malacañang also hopes to communicate with the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (FASAP), which has threatened to stage a strike in protest of "gender discrimination" within PAL and the non-raising of flight attendants' salaries. "We were informed that there was going to be a planned strike. We're hoping to get in touch with the flight attendants," he said. Currently, he said the Palace has no concrete plans yet about addressing the FASAP's concerns as they have not filed any complaint before the DOLE or the National Labor Relations Commission. The FASAP alleged that the PAL management gave pay increases to management officers, pilots, and other ground personnel, except the flight attendants for the years 2007 and 2008. The group also alleged that PAL has a "no motherhood policy," so pregnant flight attendants are forced to take a leave from their third month of pregnancy until childbirth without getting pay. The pregnancy leave without pay period, which normally lasts a year, is also deducted from the flight attendant’s years of service, affecting her retirement pay, Christmas bonus, and 13th month salary, the FASAP alleged. The pregnant employee is also disallowed from the monthly rice subsidy enjoyed by employees, the group said. Villaluna said those who plan to go on strike should think about it twice, as "this could affect [their] jobs, job security, and [their] families who depend on PAL for your day-to-day existence." She said the PAL management is willing to talk things over with the disgruntled flight attendants. No gov't takeover Despite the numerous problems besetting the flag carrier, Lacierda said the government has stricken out of its options the possibility of taking over PAL operations. He said the decision was arrived at after a meeting among Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Transportation Secretary Jose "Ping" de Jesus. "We're looking at other options," said Lacierda without giving further details. The PAL management has "normalized" its flight schedules despite the problems with its employees, although it has reduced the number of flights. “We have come up with a new schedule and we have informed the public of this schedule. Nabawasan lang ang flights (the number of flights were reduced), but we will be flying to the same destinations," said PAL president Jaime Bautista Tuesday, adding that larger aircraft will be used to fly to these destinations to accommodate passengers affected by the flight cancellations. The flag carrier said in a statement Tuesday that around 160 daily domestic and international flights continue to “operate normally and as scheduled." –VVP/KBK, GMANews.TV

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