Labor group denounces PAL use of 'goons' to disperse PALEA protest

A labor group coalition on Thursday criticized Philippine Airlines (PAL) management for “continuously spreading the malicious claim that former employees are harassing them." Koalisyon Kontra Kontraktwalisasyon (KONTRA), a coalition of labor groups against contractual employment, argued in their statement that on the contrary, PAL was harassing the PAL Employees Association (PALEA), alleging that PAL had used goons to “attack" picket lines. PALEA alleged that PAL had brought in “hired goons" to stage a “violent daybreak attack" on protesters. They also said that the “attack" resulted in the death of one bystander and injuries of several PALEA members. PAL, meanwhile, said that PALEA’s blockade was preventing service providers and cabin crew from using the service facility in Pasay City. PAL recently received flak for serving meal boxes in recent flights. “For food safety, we have temporarily switched to meal boxes," PAL said in a tweet. “The recent incident where PAL’s catering truck was blocked by protesting former workers armed with truncheons and planks with nails is one clear example of this kind of harassment seemingly tolerated by police authorities," the flag carrier said in another statement. The Labor department is currently investigating PALEA’s claim. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the alleged attack was “uncalled for" since police were told to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with protesters. PAL has only itself to blame Josua Mata, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) secretary general and KONTRA co-convenor, said that PAL has only itself to blame for the ongoing protests. PALEA claims that the terminated employees comprise 70 percent of the total number of rank-and-file employees who are PALEA members and 62 percent of the union leadership. The groups said that the outsourcing scheme was meant to deliberately interfere with an already due CBA negotiation resulting from the airline exiting the rehabilitation program in 2007. “Truth is, the outsourcing program is a complete failure but the airline management is trying to bounce back by relying on dirty public relations trick. That is why, it is in the best interest of the public that we continue to campaign for the people to boycott this airline," Mata said. The group also opposed the ruling of President Benigno Aquino III in March to uphold PAL’s decision to outsourcing their non-core operations. “Malacañang, in upholding this wanton denial of workers’ rights, is even worse. President Aquino bought all the lies perpetuated by the airline management jeopardizing the lives and livelihood of PALEA members," Mata claimed. —BC/MRT/VS, GMA News