THE Labor Department has assumed jurisdiction over the outsourcing dispute within Philippine Airlines, stopping the labor union from striking and ordering its management to “refrain from committing any act that might exacerbate the situation.”
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque also summoned representatives of the airline and the PAL Employees Association to appear Friday before Undersecretary for Labor Relations Rosalinda Baldoz for a new round of dispute resolution.
Roque’s April 23 order directed PAL to hold off the planned outsourcing of in-flight catering, call center reservations and cargo handling services.
The airline’s union filed a notice of strike in late January to protest the flag carrier’s plan to outsource around 3,500 jobs.
But airline president Jaime Bautista said the carrier needed to trim its 7,000-plus workforce to around 4,000 by the end of the year to survive.
The call-center contract with ePLDT Ventus, which started taking calls from the airline’s customers on March 16, was not covered by the Labor secretary’s April 23 order, Bautista said.
Union president Gerardo Rivera said his group was not open to any agreement with the carrier other than retaining their employment under its management.
“We have no choice but to fight back,” Rivera said in a telephone interview.
An airline official said the carrier had already chosen LSG Sky Chefs, a Lufthansa subsidiary, to provide catering services, and Sky Logistics for ground and cargo-handling services starting June 1.
The airline said outsourcing the three non-core services would save up to $1 billion in operating costs.
The carrier reported a net loss of $40.2 million in the first nine months of the fiscal year ended in December from a net loss of $330.2 million a year earlier.
Revenues rose 15 percent to $1.08 billion, but expenses, at $1.1 billion, squeezed the cash flow, threatening debt payments to foreign creditors.
The airline carried 7.02 million passengers during the period, up 7.3 percent from 6.54 million. –Jeremiah F. de Guzman with Vito Barcelo, Manila Standard Today
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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