Labor group urges labor Secretary Baldoz to resign

In a bid to support troubled members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association, an alliance of labor organizations has called for the resignation of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) is asking Baldoz to resign, even as it expressed concerns on the secretary’s decision confirming an earlier ruling allowing mass layoff of workers in the Philippine Airlines (PAL). It said Baldoz’s decision is anti-worker as it signals the death of job security, at least in the flag carrier. “If we were not mistaken, it was during the time of former President Corazon “Cory" Aquino that Labor Secretary Augusto Sanchez made an honorable exit when he was faulted for a decision that was judged as anti-worker. This time around, Secretary Baldoz came up with a decision that is not only anti-worker but also unconstitutional. All the more that she need not think twice. She is not worthy of being the Secretary of a supposed to be pro-worker government institution and should vacate her post." Leody De Guzman, BMP President said. But the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) defended Baldoz’s decision, saying that PAL is one of the companies severely affected by the global financial crisis, "and it is the management prerogative to do whatever it can to survive." DOLE spokesman Nicon Fameronag added, the ruling allowing PAL to outsource parts and parcels of its core and ancillary services is part of a bitter pill many airlines the world over are taking to cope with global financial crisis. BMP, on the other hand, vowed to step up their campaign to pressure Baldoz to immediately resign, even as it affirmed support to troubled PAL workers. “We will not only support the planned strike of PAL workers in the next few days but we will go all the way even to the legal arena of battle. We firmly believe that the DOLE Secretary’s decision will pave the way for more exploitation and hardships for the Filipino workers for such scenario would signal and trigger new trends in the labor sector. Similar situation arose in 1998 when a 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement moratorium was imposed on the PALEA workers that became a national nightmare." — Jerbert Briola/LBG, GMANews.TV