PAL defends outsourcing, lashes at critics

Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday defended the implementation of its spin off/outsourcing program against critics, pointing out that the company is well within its right to restructure operations to ensure long-term survival and to save the jobs of its 5,000 remaining employees.

Some 2,600 members of PAL Employees Association (Palea), also yesterday called on the PAL management to resolve the dispute, but at the same time threatened to stage more strikes near the airport, even as as Palea also challenged PAL to open talks with them.

Yesterday was the last day of work for the 2,600 Palaea members who have been considered terminated.

In a statement, PAL President Jaime Bautista said detractors of the plan see the loss of jobs for some 2,400 members of the Palea but conveniently turn a blind eye on the 5,000 office personnel, cabin crew and pilots that PAL is trying to save.

He stressed that they have been taking steps that are all legal.

“The law is on our side. We’re implementing the outsourcing program not

on mere whim or caprice but on the basis of legal and valid orders from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Office of the President. We’re doing it to save the airline from financial ruin,” Bautista said.

He added that the PAL management will no longer go back to the negotiating table with Palea.

“The DoLE and the President have spoken; Palea has filed their appeal with the appellate court. Let’s just wait for the CA’s action on this matter. We have nothing more to talk about. The time for diplomacy is long over, especially after the union’s wildcat strike,” he said.

Bautista also lashed out against critics of PAL’s outsourcing plan who say nothing other than angry words and mere rhetoric to justify their opposition.

He said PAL is determined to implement the spin off/outsourcing program today.

“The time for negotiation has long passed. We invited Palea to a dialog after the Office of the President threw out their petition seeking to invalidate PAL’s outsourcing plan.

“Palea members only have their intransigent leaders to blame for their current predicament,” he stressed.

Bautista said there is no doubt in everyone’s mind that the concerted refusal of Palea members to perform their official duties in the early morning of Sept. 27 is a strike.

“They refuse to check in passengers, load cargo and cater food – functions which they are paid to perform while on official duty – yet, they insist it is merely a form of ‘protest’ and not a ‘strike’. “That’s the kind of ‘double-speak’ Palea leaders have been dishing out since Day One of the debate on the spin off/outsourcing plan,” he said.

Bautista said the Palea members’ refusal to work forced management to cancel flights for more than 16 hours Tuesday which caused untold suffering to more than 14,000 PAL passengers. “This doesn’t include the millions of dollars PAL lost as a result of Palea’s illegal acts,” he added.

PAL Friday canceled at least nine international and 60 domestic flights due to the labor row with the union.

But in a radio interview, Cielo Villaluna said PAL will go ahead with its 57 international flights and 28 domestic flights.

The cancelled international flights are mainly the regional flights to Hong Kong and back. Fukoko and its return flight, Manila-Macao-Manila and Manila Singapore-Manila

Also cancelled were domestic flights to Roxas, Tagbilaran, Dipolog, Cagayan, Ozamiz and Iloilo.

PAL hopes operations return to normal in a months’ time. –Daily Tribune