Gov’t hopes for speedy resolution of PAL labor row

MANILA, Philippines – The government clarified on Tuesday that it will not take over flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).

Palace officials said they are ruling out the option even as the labor row between PAL management and the company’s resigned pilots remains unresolved.

“Government takeover is out of the question,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

On Tuesday, efforts continued to stem the PAL crisis.

Members of the Aquino Cabinet attended a meeting on the PAL row but the pilots, some of whom have left the country, sent their representatives instead.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) assured the public that the labor issue is being addressed.

“If the negotiations go well, we can still ask them to come back,” said DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus.

The Cabinet secretaries who attended the meeting were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa.

DOTC officials and PAL representatives are set to meet again on Wednesday before bringing the PAL management and the pilots together.

‘Dispute could have been avoided’

Meanwhile, former PAL pilot Henry Claveria said the ongoing dispute between pilots and the PAL management might have been avoided if the pilots had an organization that can negotiate with PAL officials for them.

“Walang formal pilots organization sa PAL. Ang intindi ko, ‘di sabi na bawal pero ‘di kami puwede mag-organize. If there is a group that can meet with management, ‘di mangyayari [ito],” Claveria said in an interview over ANC’s “Headstart.”

He also said that PAL pilots were not informed ahead of time about the airline’s plans for them to be moved to PAL’s sister company, Airphil Express.

He added that PAL should allow pilots to seek jobs in other companies since the options being offered by PAL are disadvantageous to them. He said the transfer to Airphil Express would lower their salary to around P30,000 or less. Plus, they will not be able to enjoy their PAL benefits anymore.

Twenty-five pilots resigned citing insufficient salary. There were also reports that a number of them would be moved to PAL’s sister company, Airphil Express, for a smaller salary and less benefits.

DOTC Undersecretary Dante Velasco stated, “We are hoping that in one week this will be resolved. It is affecting our economy.”

PAL admitted that they cannot match the salaries offered by foreign airlines. The airline earlier threatened to file charges against the resigned pilots for breach of contract if they failed to return to work.

But the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the pilots cannot be coerced to return to work.

“Philippine Airlines cannot force its pilots to fly and stop them from seeking higher-paying jobs overseas,” the TUCP said.

Flight attendants air woes

Meanwhile, flight attendants and stewards of PAL said they have been overworked recently.

Aside from being required to work on their days off,     they are also not allowed to take any vacation leaves just yet.

This is because PAL is understaffed by more than 200 cabin crew as a result of the mass resignation of their co-workers.

A new flight attendant in PAL receives a basic salary of P8,650 while the more senior flight attendants receive a salary of P30,000 to P50,000.

Roberto Anduiza, president of the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (FASAP), said: “Wala pa sa kalahati [sa suweldo sa ibang airlines]. You miss all the bdays, lahat ng pasko wala ka sa bahay mo. Nakatira ka na sa maleta mo.”

Another complaint of the attendants is the compulsory retirement age of 40.

This was agreed upon by former officials of the FASAP and the PAL management in 1998.

Because of this, flight attendants like Sahl Andrew Onglatco are very much concerned.

“Kasi at 40, I would start my family, on my 30’s. And then pagdating ng 40, wala ka na. So kawawa naman kami,” he said.

The attendants are now asking the company to change the retirement age to 60 instead. They are also asking the company for a 10% raise in their salaries.

If PAL does not address their concerns, the flight attendants and stewards threatened to protest to show they mean business.

The group said they will inform the management when they will hold the strike to minimize inconvenience to passengers. – With reports from Caroline Howard, ANC, Mimi Ong, ANC, Jenny Reyes, ABS-CBN News and Apples Jalandoni, ABS-CBN News