Makati traffic snarled as laborers hold protest

The traffic in parts of Makati City was snarled on Thursday afternoon as labor groups held a protest march against "contractualization." Radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported that parts of streets leading to the business district were crowded with labor groups marching toward Ayala Avenue in Makati City. One group began its march from the city fire station while another marched from Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Taft Avenue in Pasay City. Another group marched from Baclaran, Parañaque. Cloudy skies and the threat of rains did not stop the workers. Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), one of the labor groups taking part in the march, said Thursday's protest was against contractualization. Among the labor groups that have confirmed attendance in the march were the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Koalisyon Kontra Kontraktwalisasyon (KONTRA), Labor Alliance for Better Order and Reform (LABOR), and the Church-Labor Conference (CLC). According to PM, the protest was also a show of support for employees of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL). “This is now a fight that is beyond PAL. In factories, shops, offices and malls contractual workers are working side-by-side with regular employees in doing the same job for lesser pay and worse working conditions," said PAL Employees Association president Gerry Rivera, who is also PM vice chairman, said in an entry on PM's blog site. "We demand that government institute reforms to enhance job security and stop contractualization schemes," Rivera added. Some 2,600 PAL workers stand to lose their jobs after the Labor Department issued an order upholding PAL's decision to outsource its non-core services. In a statement issued earlier (November 12), PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said the spin-off is based on solid legal grounds. "The DOLE upheld PAL's position not only once but twice," he said. He stressed that the spin off is not for profit but for the "survival" of the company. "We are retiring 2,600 workers in order to save the jobs of the other 4,000 that will remain in PAL and to ensure continuing service to the nation and PAL's 10-million passengers," Bautista said. Bautista also assured Malacañang that all affected PAL workers will receive separation pay equivalent to three times than those provided by the Labor Code and 25 percent more than the current PAL-PALEA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Aside from the separation pay, the laid off workers would also receive separation benefits. They will also be hired by the third party service providers of PAL, Bautista said. – VVP, GMANews.TV