PAL retirement, pay issues with flight attendants still unresolved

With about two weeks left before the 30-day cool-off period lapses, only two "sticky" issues remain to be tackled in attempts to prevent a strike from crippling flag carrier Philippine Airlines. PAL claimed on Friday the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) had "agreed in principle" to pregnancy-related benefits. "Two sticky issues on retirement and compensations are still up for discussion," PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said in an interview on dwIZ radio. She said PAL management had proposed to raise the mandatory retirement age for flight attendants to 45 from 40, but this was way below FASAP's proposal of 60. Villaluna said PAL management expects to discuss the matter with FASAP in the next hearing of the Labor Department this coming week. "On the side of PAL, management's proposal of 40 to 45 [mandatory retirement age] is still, as we both know, way below the retirement age proposal of 60," she said. But she said both sides had "agreed in principle" with regards to pregnancy-related benefits. "We will thresh out the details in the next hearing. At least on this respect, the talks between management and the union are progressing," she said in Filipino. Asked if PAL management will make attractive offers on compensation package and mandatory retirement in the next hearing, Villaluna declined to give comments. "I would like to use prudence in responding to that. Abangan natin ang next round (Let us just wait for the next round of talks). We do not want to preempt the outcome of the continuous conferences," she said. On the other hand, Villaluna acknowledged the 30-day cooling-off period will end on October 9. FASAP filed a notice of strike last September 9. The Labor Department had supervised hearings between the two sides last September 13, 17, and 22, she said. Far form over But in a statement last Thursday, the FASAP said the row is far from over, and that PAL must "adapt to the times and correct the discriminatory retirement policies against its flight attendants." "The proposals of PAL to increase the rice allowance of flight attendants to equalize the amounts to what all other PAL employees are receiving are not yet firm offers. It is being made contingent to the other major issues," it added in the statement posted on its website. FASAP scored PAL management for insisting on its "unreasonable and discriminatory retirement age limits." "Despite mounting pressure coming from the public, PAL still refuses to explain why it wants to retire the flight attendants at 40 or 45 years old," it said. FASAP noted Cathay Pacific's retirement age has increased from 45 to 55 years old. Thai Airways, according to sources at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the retirement age is 60 years old, it added. In most developed countries in the US and Europe, the retirement age of flight attendants range from 60-70 years old because these countries frown upon any form of discrimination in the workplace, it added. "As Asia's first airline and the Philippine's flag carrier, PAL should adapt to the times and correct the discriminatory age limits for its flight attendants," it said. The next hearing at the DOLE is on September 28. FASAP accused PAL of "playing hard-ball, especially on the retirement age," despite the Labor Department's efforts to resolve the issue. — LBG, GMANews.TV