PALEA slams DOLE decision on layoff of 3,000 employees

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) is ready to go to the Court of Appeals following Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz’s decision upholding the plan of the management of the flag carrier to layoff some 3,000 employees.

In a press release, PALEA President Gerry Rivera said: “The Department of Labor and Employment’s go signal for the retrenchment of half of the workforce means the death of job security at Philippine Airlines.”

Baldoz recently affirmed the previous order of then acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman giving the management the green light to layoff ground crew members from PAL’s Inflight Catering, Airport Services, and Call Center Reservation Operations.

Baldoz said it was a “management prerogative.”

Rivera said Baldoz’s decision totally disregarded the union’s arguments.

“Baldoz’ order means the green light for contractualization at PAL via a retrench-rehire scheme. PAL will retrench 3,000 regular unionized workers who will be rehired as contractuals by service providers that are partly owned by Lucio Tan,” he claimed.

Baldoz’s decision provides for a gratuity of P50,000 per employee and 125% separation pay.

“The order is not a win-win solution that balances the interest of workers for job security and management for financial viability. Instead it is simply management’s slightly improved offer disguised as DoLE’s decision,” Rivera said.

PALEA will hold mass actions on Monday.

“Baldoz’ decision released on the eve of All Souls’ Day is symbolic for it will conjure up 3,000 zombie positions which will have cheaper wages, less benefits, no security of tenure and no protection by a union,” he said. –abs-cbnNEWS.com