PAL to employees: Think twice before ‘wildcat’ strike

As employees of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) began counting the ballots from their strike vote, PAL management appealed to them to think twice before holding a "wildcat" strike. PAL spokeswoman Cielo Villaluna reminded the employees that there are many ways to solve the situation, including a dialogue that will be brokered by Malacañang. “Hanggang di nareresolba ang issue sa management at [PAL Employees Association], sana wala silang gagawing hakbang such as a wildcat strike hanggang maresolba ang issue," she said in an interview on dzBB radio. (Until management and the PAL Employees Association can have a chance to work things out, we hope they will not take drastic steps like a wildcat strike.) She said PALEA should "heed the call to meet us," noting that the Palace is brokering the talks between both sides. She added that while the process is in full swing, the PAL employees' union should "exercise restraint" in issuing statements. "We are appealing to our friends in PALEA to exercise restraint in issuing statements and heed the call to go back to talks, this time officially brokered by Malacañang through dialogue," she said. For its part, the PALEA said it remains open to talks with management to avert a strike. PALEA’s Gerry Rivera, however, said on Thursday afternoon that majority of the union's members favor the strike. "Anything is possible, kung ano ang mangyari pag may intervening events that can hold off ang welga," he said. Besides, he said the strike vote is only in compliance with the requirements of the law. Citing initial "results" of the vote, he said majority are in favor of the strike, but said the PALEA will present the results to the Labor department. Villaluna said PAL management maintains there is no legal basis for the strike vote. - KBK, GMANews.TV