Another ‘strike’ looms, this time for Customs employees at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines – While local carrier Philippine Airlines is dealing with a threat of strike among its ground crew members, another work stoppage looms and the Lucio Tan-led airline is also involved.

The Customs employees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila has threatened to not to work overtime on Friday due to unpaid overtime fees.

Unlike the PALEA labor union which has painted PAL management as one that harasses union members into agreeing to a separation package, the Bureau of Customs has praised PAL for being supportive in the financial issues with Customs employees detailed at the airport.

According to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, PAL is already in the process of preparing the checks for the unpaid overtime fees of the Customs employees.

The PAL checks amount to at least 5-month worth of overtime service rendered.

The remaining 11 months out of the 16 months of unpaid overtime fees will be subject to another round of discussion between Customs and the Board of Airline Representatives, according to Alvarez.

The commissioner is optimistic that the balance will be paid to the employees before the end of January 2011.

“Nag-a-appeal ako sa kanila na wag naman ganun (mag-strike on Friday). Gumaganda na ang developments. PAL is already preparing the cheque,” he said.

The employees had warned that they will not go on overtime work after Friday if the airline companies would still refuse to pay the corresponding fees.

At least around 600 employees are affected with the non-payment of overtime pays in the 3 terminals of NAIA and their work stoppage would result into operational paralysis inside the airports.

Alvarez says to avoid this problem in the future, the government is taking over the payment of overtime pays starting next year with more people being hired to make the three-shifting 8-work schedule possible.

“Seventy-eight new staff will be hired on 3 shifts and the government will be the one paying their salaries,” Alvarez said.

The appellate court has earlier ruled that the Customs employees at the airport cannot claim overtime fees from the BAR members. – with reports from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News