PAL workers prefer job security, not P1-M separation benefits

Published by rudy Date posted on November 5, 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Where will P1 million get you if you don’t have a job?

The ground crew union of Philippine Airlines (PAL) Thursday said it was fighting for job security and not for a higher separation pay, in response to the PAL management announcement that retrenched employees would be getting almost P1 million in separation benefits.

The retrenched ground crew members may indeed be getting almost P1 million, but they will become contractual employees and could end up jobless after only a few months, said Gerry Rivera, the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) president.

“Job security is priceless and cannot be bought by P1 million worth of separation. Such entitlements may well be above the separation pay mandated by law and our collective bargaining agreement but it nonetheless cannot provide for a decent life to those facing the prospect of long-term unemployment,” Rivera said in a statement.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) early this week approved PAL’s decision to lay off 2,600 employees as a result of the planned sale of its in-flight catering, airport services and call center reservation operations.

The employees to be retrenched, who represent half of PAL’s entire labor force, are to be absorbed by the service providers that will be taking over the services that PAL will be outsourcing.

Rivera disputed the claim of PAL management and the DoLE that none of the affected workers would end up jobless.

“All the employees to be retrenched by PAL may be absorbed by the service providers but only as contractuals. We are not assured of being regular workers in the service providers,” he said.

“As contractuals, we would enjoy no security of tenure and thus can be legally fired at the whim of the service providers. Without a union, we would have no protection and no voice as employees in the service providers,” he added.

Rivera said that they will be doing exactly the same work at the service providers “but for cheaper wages, fewer benefits, no security of tenure and no protection of a union.”

“Where is the justice in that? If this is not contractualization, then what is it?” Rivera said.

PALEA also accused PAL president Jaime Bautista of “engaging in doublespeak” and insisted it was PAL workers and not management who was “being forced to swallow the bitter pill.” –Philip Tubeza, Philippine Daily Inquirer

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

 

15 July – World Youth Skills Day 

17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day

30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.