PALEA may face charges if strike pushes through, says Malacañang

Malacañang on Saturday warned the ground workers union of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) of possible charges if they push through with their strike, saying that the case is now under "compulsory mediation." Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said that Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz issued a certification order placing the row between PAL and PAL Employees' Association (PALEA) under the jurisdiction of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board. "Naglabas ng certification order si Sec. Baldoz, certify niya na for compulsory mediation ang PAL at PALEA. So hindi sila pupuwede mag-strike habang dinidinig ng NCMB ang kaso," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. (Baldoz issued a certification order stating that the row between PAL and PALEA will be under compulsory mediation. So PALEA cannot hold a strike while the NCMB hears the matter) PALEA on Friday said it is ready to push through with its strike, which it said stemmed from PAL management's refusal to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. Valte indicated that PALEA may face prosecution if it defies the compulsory mediation of the Labor Department. "Sa aking pagkakaintindi, pag-undergoing compulsory arbitration or mediation 'di sila pwede mag-strike (From what I understand, if a case is under compulsory arbitration or mediation, they cannot stage a strike)," she said. For its part, PALEA said it is ready to defy the Labor Department's order that enjoined the planned paralyzing strike at PAL. "We are ready to defy the order of Labor Secretary Baldoz any time we deem it necessary to go on strike in order to prevent layoff and contractualization at PAL. Baldoz' latest order is a bad April fool’s prank. But the order has not stopped a strike at PAL, it has merely postponed it to a date that PAL and the government cannot now know in advance," PALEA president Gerry Rivera said. PALEA lambasted the certification order Baldoz signed, which the union was served when a mobilization of some 2,000 PAL employees and supporters snarled traffic at the airport area. Rivera said the order is the last nail in the coffin of labor rights in the country. He said the Aquino administration is "executing one by one the Constitutionally-guaranteed rights of workers to security of tenure, collective bargaining and peaceful concerted action including strikes." "PNoy has not only legalized the actions of Lucio Tan but also illegalized the action of PALEA through Baldoz' order. But PALEA will resist being a victim of PNoy's anti-labor policy," Rivera said. Rivera called on the 3,700 members of PALEA to remain vigilant and ready to go on strike any time. PALEA plans to hold protests next week against the DOLE order in coordination with a labor unity coalition of moderate to militant workers groups. It plans to picket the DOLE Intramuros main office and tear a copy of the order from Baldoz. PALEA also said it may take to the International Labor Organization what it called the government's suppression of the conventions on the right to self-organization and collective bargaining. The union said its complaint will be stronger with the latest DOLE order as further evidence. — TJD/VS, GMA News