Palace to PAL: Normalize operations at the soonest

Malacañang asked flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Friday to normalize its operations as soon as possible for the sake of the public and the nation’s economy. “We would [like to] ask all parties to be level-headed and come up with a resolution on this impasse," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. In a press briefing, Lacierda said the PAL flight cancellations have inconvenienced the public. Lacierda also said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning secretary Ramon Carandang was unable to address the Media Nation Forum in Cebu because his flight was cancelled at the last minute. Fight for rights Meanwhile, more than 2,000 protesters of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) and other labor groups blocked a road leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). PAL cancelled 60 domestic flights to 18 destinations, as well as nine international flights. Even if they were marking their last day of service in PAL, the employees still called on the airline’s management to stop its outsourcing plan. “Sana naman ang ibigay sa amin hindi punishment na tanggalan kundi naman kaunting pabuya. Ang pabuya lang naman na aming hinihingi ay hindi kami mawawalan ng trabaho bilang regular na empleyado ng Philippine Airlines," PALEA president Gerry Rivera told reporter Lia Mañalac in GMA-7’s “24 Oras". Both Malacañang and the PAL management called on the PALEA to air their grievances in proper venues. “We respect their right to voice it out, but we would like to ask them to strike in the proper places," Lacierda said. “Hindi naman po puwedeng ma-affect ‘yung passengers at malaki ho ang nawawala sa ating ekonomiya dahil diyan." The PAL administration likewise asked protesters to stop blocking passengers who are catching their flights. ‘Legal and valid’ In a statement, PAL president Jaime Bautista said their plans for outsourcing will push through because “the law is on our side." http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/pal_defends_outsourcing.jsp “We’re implementing the outsourcing program not on a mere whim or caprice but on the basis of legal and valid orders from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Office of the President," he said. Bautista added that PAL is doing this to “save the airline from financial ruin" and to retain 5,000 other employees. He added they will no longer sit with PALEA to negotiate because time for that “has long passed." The management also said PAL’s normal operation might resume after two weeks. Outsourcing The airline’s outsourcing program, which begins Saturday, will bump off some PALEA members out of their jobs. PAL has offered regular jobs to laid-off workers at companies that provide catering, cargo, ramp, and airport services. Some 720 of the affected employees agreed to transfer to the outsourcing service providers. “Twenty-three years na ang serbisyo ko tapos matatanggal pa," said PALEA member Mario Montemayor. “Marami nang dugo’t pawis ang nawala sa akin." — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino /MRT/ELR, GMA News