Hong Kong labor groups call for PAL boycott, support PALEA cause

Two Hong Kong groups on Friday called on Filipinos working in the island to boycott Philippine Airlines (PAL), criticizing management for “spreading lies and employing all sorts of tactics to discredit the PAL Employees Association (PALEA)." In a statement, the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Union and the Alliance of Progressive Labor-Hong Kong (APL) also criticized the Philippine government for “failing to protect the rights" of PAL workers in Malacanang’s decision to uphold PAL’s decision to outsource its airport service, in-flight catering and call center operations. PAL Corporate Communications editorial consultant Jonathan Gesmundo, meanwhile, downplayed the groups’ call to boycott the flag carrier. “PAL believes that its customers patronize the airline for its brand of service and safety record and not based on what noisy groups like the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Union and (APL) have to say about PAL and its management prerogatives," he said in an email to GMA News Online. 'Attack on all workers' On Friday, the two groups joined a picket at the PAL ticketing office in Kowloon, Hong Kong to show solidarity with PALEA members. “An attack against the workers anywhere in the world is an attack to all workers in every part of the world," they said in a statement. “[President Benigno Aquino III] defended the outsourcing even if the implication of such will be the loss of livelihood of thousands of other workers and their families who face the threat of suffering the same fate as the PAL employees," said Grace Sheila Aquino Estrada, APL-HK chair. They also said that PAL workers “were left with no other recourse" but to take part in protests in order to defend their right to job security, unionize and engage in Collective Bargaining Agreements. “When the government promotes outsourcing or contractual employment, doesn’t that put the livelihood of the workers’ families on the line that getting out of the country will become a necessity rather than a choice?" added Estrada. Outsourcing is nothing new Gesmundo said that PAL’s outsourcing program was perfectly legal, adding that it had been upheld twice by the Labor Department and twice by the Office of the President. “Unless Hong Kong-based Filipino trade unions have any more compelling arguments, it should shut up and leave it to the Philippine Court of Appeals to decide whether or not PAL's outsourcing program stands on valid legal grounds," he said. He also explained that PAL is not alone in its decision to outsource services, because in Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia, “most, if not all" airlines have resorted to outsourcing. “It wouldn't be surprising if some of these outsourced jobs were even taken over by Overseas Filipino Workers or by union members themselves," he added. Gesmundo also pointed out the irony in the two groups’ call to action because their members’ jobs “are courtesy of their host island's outsourcing and contracting-out policy." Ongoing protests On Thursday, a local labor group coalition criticized PAL management and Aquino for the outsourcing decision. PAL has accused PALEA’s recent protest activities as harassment because their blockade has allegedly been barring PAL’s service providers and cabin crew from using the service facility in Pasay City. Meanwhile, PALEA has claimed that PAL management had brought in “hired goons" to disperse protesters. They also alleged that the “attack" resulted in the death of one bystander and injuries on several PALEA members. The Labor department is currently investigating PALEA’s claims. — VS, GMA News