PAL blames former workers for NAIA terminal scuffle

Trouble erupted at the Philippine Airlines (PAL) In-flight Center (IFC) near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City early yesterday after protesters blocked one of the airlines’ catering trucks from leaving the terminal.

The flag carrier, in a statement, said its former employees camping out in front of the terminal to protest PAL’s spin off program started the scuffle that resulted in some people being hurt from the side of the protesters and PAL security men.

PAL, nevertheless, warned its picketing former employees not to hamper the flow of business, stressing that they have no right whatsoever to prevent catering vans or any of PAL’s vehicles and workers from entering or leaving the PAL facility.

A thorough investigation has been requested by the management to determine the root cause of incident and at the same time determine possible legal actions it may take against the protesters.

PAL said in the the statement that one of its catering trucks which was about to exit PAL’s IFC along MIAA Road was blocked by protesting former PAL employees at about 6 a.m. yesterday.

“Wielding night sticks, planks with spikes and barbed wire, the protesters harassed the driver and set aflame a carton box in front of the truck to prevent the vehicle from exiting the compound,” the statement said.

A standoff ensued between protesters and PAL guards stationed at IFC’s Gate 1. Eventually, the catering truck and PAL’s shield-wielding guards

truck and PAL’s shield-wielding guards retreated.

One guard, Russel Tiongson, was rushed to San Juan de Dios Hospital after suffocating from the toxic fumes emitted by the burning box with kerosene.

“We decry this continuing harrassment of our drivers and employees. PAL has every reason to protect airline equipment, its workers and those of its service providers from threats or actual physical harm. The Constitution guarantees PAL’s right to free and unhampered access to and from its own facility,” the airline’s statement added.

As this developed, PAL management vehemently denied allegations that PAL hired “goons” to disperse protesters.

The flag carrier said it will never resort to extra legal means to remove the protesters even as the company denounced acts of harrasment of the ex-PAL employees against PAL Security personnel.

“Given their (ex-PAL workers) propensity to make up stories, it could even be surmised that the so-called ‘goons’ were actually hired by the protesters themselves to make PAL look bad in the public eye. The timing, in fact, is suspicious since there are thousands of PAL passengers going to the airport during this peak travel season. The commotion would certainly catch the attention of the riding public,” the company added.

PAL added that more than half of all its former workers affected by the spin-off and outsourcing program that the airline implemented to assure its survival have received their separation checks as of Oct. 26, 2011, belying earlier claims by former union leaders that separated employees are rejecting the separation package.

Close to 60 percent of the more than 2,300 former employees of the three outsourced PAL offices, including former union members participating at the protest camp-site in front of the PAL Inflight Center, lined up at seven distribution points where separation checks were released since Oct. 14. Distribution continues at PAL’s Recruitment Office.

“Our Human Resource Department at Pasay City accommodated 562 check claimants,” said PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna.

Of those who refused to transfer to PAL’s sservice providers, more than one-third have already claimed their checks.

Meanwhile, the more than 600 staff who chose to work with the three service providers comprise the first batch to receive their checks.

The separation checks, partly funded by a $50-million loan from a European bank, comprise the economic package of the P2.6 billion severance bundle ordered by the labor department and Malacañang to be given to the outsourced employees.

“The daily crowd of former PAL employees claiming their separation checks is the best proof against the former union officers’ assertion that they are rejecting the package,” added Villaluna.

In Mactan, Cebu, 178 out of the total 206 terminated employees already received their separation checks.

The checks of more than 300 union members who participated in the Sept. 27 wildcat strike at the NAIA Terminal 2 that grounded PAL flights for nearly 12 hours, are being withheld pending their final clearance.

Villaluna said components of the package are much higher than industry levels and more than the prescribed benefits under the Labor Code and PAL’s own Collective Bargaining Agreement with its ground workers’ union.

At the distribution points, emotions were high for those claiming their last paycheck. While some workers regretted their separation from PAL, most were thankful to the company for the opportunity to send their children to school.

One worker in his early 60s, who worked for more than three decades at the Catering Sub-Department, said there is no bitterness as he leaves PAL. He recounted that his recent expensive heart bypass was fully covered by the airline’s comprehensive medical benefits.

Since he has chosen to retire early and enjoy his retirement benefits, he has given his blessings for his son to join the airport service provider, Sky Logistics.

Another employee, a supervisor at the airport Central Baggage Services, felt disappointed at his colleagues’ decision to stage the September 27 wildcat strike. Despite getting separated from his long-time friends and co-workers, he chose to transfer early to the service provider as a gesture of gratitude for PAL’s medical benefit that also covered his hospital expenses after suffering from a stroke early this year.

Another case is that of a more than 60-year-old ramp equipment operator who has been with PAL for more than 30 years. With all grown-up children, he also decided to accept the package and retire early, using his retirement check to build a row of apartments. He plans a simple retirement, living off on the apartments’ monthly rent. –Daily Tribune