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
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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