Philippine Airlines ordered to withdraw termination notices

THE Labor Department on Friday ordered Philippine Airlines’ management to recall all the notice of terminations  it issued to an estimated 3,500 workers last week, and following a mediation hearing presided by Undersecretary for Labor Relations Rosalinda Baldoz.

Airline officials led by president Jaime Bautista and unions officials headed by Gerardo Rivera agreed to meet again at the airline’s boardroom on  May 5, before the next meeting with Baldoz on May 7, according to a copy of the minutes of the mediation hearing.

A Labor Department official said airline officials discussed the carrier’s latest financial statement—copies of it were later furnished the Philippine Airlines Employees Association—which prompted the Lucio Tan-owned airline to decide to outsource non-core services like reservation, ground handling and catering.

An airline official later confirmed that the catering service had already been awarded to SkyKitchen Philippines, and not LSG Sky Chefs as earlier reported.

Leed by Cebu-based businessman Manuel Osmeña, SkyKitchen Philippines provides in-flight meals for Cathay Pacific, Qatar and Cebu Pacific.

Philippine Airlines said it expected to save about $1 billion a year in operating costs after it shall have spun off the catering and two other non-core services.

The airline on March 16 signed an agreement with ePLDT Ventus that authorized it to start taking reservation and other calls from the airline’s customers.

But after the Labor Department assumed jurisdiction over the outsourcing dispute, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque ordered both the labor union and the airline’s management to maintain the status quo and to “refrain from committing any act that might exacerbate the situation.”

As a result of the order, the airline assured the Commission on Elections of an uninterrupted transporting of passengers, cargo, ballots and other election materials leading to the May 10 elections.

“PAL’s scheduled spin-off and restructuring programs are on hold while the PALEA cannot engage in any mass action, work slowdown, stoppage or go on strike without violating the order of the Department of Labor and Employment,” the airline said in a statement. Vito Barcelo, Manila Standard Today