PALEA: Virtual strike to take place ‘very soon’

The ground crew labor union of flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Saturday said it will pursue its planned strike “very soon," with an immense help of social networking sites. In an interview with GMA News Online, Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) national secretary Bong Palad said the union will “test the law very soon" via virtual strike or the use of popular social networking site Facebook to organize the strike. “Hindi na namin pwedeng sabihin kung kelan mangyayari ‘yung strike. Basta very soon. Gagamitin na lang namin ‘yung Facebook para sabihin sa mga empleyado na mag-walkout na sila. They know what to do," he said. The strike, originally scheduled to start in April 2, was postponed on account of a certification order placing the labor dispute under compulsory mediation. Last Wednesday, PALEA president Gerry Rivera said the union will “defy" Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz’s certification order, which effectively prohibited work stoppage resulting from the strike. Rivera said at the time the strike is necessary to prevent layoff and contractualization at Asia’s oldest airline. Internet value The union noted that in at least two big rallies it called — one in Makati last Nov. 25 and one at the airport last April 1 — it had used Facebook to mobilize its own members and gather support from the public. “Since majority of PALEA members are on Facebook, it is easy to connect with them… We have tried it and it is effective," according to the union. PALEA said Baldoz can abuse her power to suppress the right to strike, “but the government cannot afford to shut down the Internet." The 3,700-member union said it currently has 700 members on its Sulong Paleans! Facebook group while PALEA’s women’s committee Facebook group has more than 200 members. The union pointed out that the Nov. 25 and the April 1 rallies were announced through Facebook, where the public was invited to attend. “Besides the PALEA Facebook groups, the protest campaign is also echoed in the pages of allied organizations. The Facebook group of Partido ng Manggagawa mirrors many of the exchanges, images, and videos posted on the PALEA pages," PALEA said. “The Facebook of blogger Juan Manggagawa similarly carries the content of PALEA’s campaign against contractualization," it added. The union said its campaign is also featured on the website of the International Transport Workers Federation, composed of 4.6 million members of various unions.—With Jesse Edep/JV, GMA News