The ground crew of flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Friday declared "all systems go" for its first nationwide strike since 1998, even as PAL management expressed confidence it is prepared for a worst-case scenario. During Friday’s torch parade staged by PAL Employees' Association members and supporters from several labor groups, PALEA National Secretary Bong Palad said work stoppage could begin on the fist minute of Saturday.
PALEA's march rally that began at 5 p.m. Friday was heading for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 when police blocked its way. Meanwhile, synchronized mass actions were also conducted at international airports in Cebu and Davao. “PALEA is 100 percent ready for a strike that will paralyze the operations of PAL that, in cahoots with the Aquino administration, wants to deny workers the right to regular jobs and a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The only thing that can prevent a strike is for PAL to heed the demand to stop outsourcing and open CBA negotiations without preconditions," PALEA president Gerry Rivera said in a press release issued before the rally. Later during the rally, Rivera said, We did not come to an agreement," adding, “Kung kami ay naglunsad na ng welga, sisiguraduhin naming paparalisahin ang operasyon ng Philippine Airlines (Once we go on strike will make sure that PAL operations will be paralyzed)." But the PAL management on Friday evening assured its passengers the national flag carrier is ready for a "worst-case scenario" – an actual work stoppage.
DOLE affirms flight attendants’ retirement age at 60 yrs-old and not 40
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Friday affirmed her December 23, 2010 decision, favoring the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (FASAP) in its CBA dispute with PAL which raised the retirement age of all flight attendants to 60 years old. She also directed PAL to reinstate the Flight Pursers who were retired during the pendency of this case. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE ) December 2010 ruling also allowed for the granting of salary increases to FASAP members and increases of rice allowance, as well as improvements on flight attendants’ pregnancy and maternity benefits. The PAL-FASAP CBA dispute covers the period from July 2007 to July 2010. The negotiations reached a deadlock and FASAP filed a notice of strike in October 2010. The strike was averted after the DOLE Assumed Jurisdiction of the case.
It said it is ready to implement contingency measures to minimize flight disruptions and avoid passenger inconvenience in case a threatened walkout by its ground workers pushes through. “Many PAL administrative employees, and even union members themselves, believe that a strike will not do the company any good. As such, they are ready to man posts to be vacated by protesting workers," PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said in a
news release posted on PAL's website Friday evening. “We apologize to our passengers for whatever anxiety and inconvenience threats of work stoppage have spawned. Rest assured we are doing everything we can to ensure that your flights will proceed as scheduled," he added. Bautista said PAL continues to appeal to its workers to respect and remain within the legal conciliation process. “But make no mistake, PAL is also ready to exercise its legal options in case any work stoppage is declared illegal by proper authorities," he stressed.
Legal bases for and against strike Rivera insisted PAL would earn $1.6 billion in profits this year, but the company refuses to share the fruits of production with its employees through a CBA. He said PAL’s workers have already made enough sacrifices with a 12-year CBA suspension that has resulted in the stagnation of wages, benefits, and working conditions. In contrast, Rivera said PAL owner Lucio Tan has become "even richer as a result of CBA moratorium and outsourcing." On the other hand, Bautista said the planned strike has no legal basis. “First, it’s not true that management refuses to convene negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement as claimed by PALEA. Second, the union’s claim that there is no justifiable reason for the spin-off of three units – Airport Services, In-flight Catering and Call Center Reservations – likewise have no leg to stand on," he said. Bautista said PAL submitted its counter-proposal to the collective bargaining agreement last March 28 at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB). “This is the best proof that PAL is willing to negotiate with its union. Meanwhile, the planned spin-off which was recently upheld by the Office of the President, is not the subject of any notice of strike as this has just been recently resolved by Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr.," he added. Also, PAL pointed out its spin-off plan was thrice upheld as legal and valid by the labor secretaries of the past and present administrations. Last March 25, the Office of the President likewise upheld PAL’s right to spin off its three units to third party service providers.
— MRT/LBG, GMA News 
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