PAL ready for possible strike

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) said yesterday it is ready for any threat by its labor union as Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas III reminded PAL to prepare a contingency plan in view of a possible strike by members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA).

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the national flag carrier has an existing contingency plan which will be implemented in the event of a work stoppage. Among the measures that will be taken are the following:

• Augmenting the PAL workforce by utilizing management or administrative staff;

• Utilizing the help of sister company Airphil Express;

• Tapping catering service-providers to provide food provisions for our flights; and

• Seeking help from PAL’s interline partners.

“We believe that a strike should be the last thing on the minds of the workers affected by the spin-off. As Malacañang has pointed out, soon after the release of its decision regarding PAL’s spin off plan, the ground workers union should resort to legal remedies available to them.” Villaluna said.

PAL said it will commence a company-wide information drive about the spin-off program after its workers’ union rejected management’s offer for a dialog.

In a statement, the airline management said PAL employees deserve to know the real score about Malacañang’s recent order upholding PAL’s spin off program and how it directly affects their future.

“It’s unfortunate that the union rejected management’s calls for sober and professional discussions on how best to implement the spin-off plan, including the transition process. The dialog would have helped thresh out many questions and uncertainties on their members’ minds,” Villaluna said.

Villaluna added that PAL spin-off plan has been upheld as legal and valid, not once but four times, twice by the Department of Labor and Employment and twice by Malacañang. It has been ruled upon as a legal and valid exercise of management prerogative. –Rudy Santos (The Philippine Star)