PAL pilots seek 10% pay hike, security of tenure

PHILIPPINE Airlines’ pilots are seeking a 10-percent increase in their pay to make them stop looking for better-paying jobs abroad, the head of a pilots’ union said Wednesday.

“To stem the tide of pilots going out, just give them job security and a small increase,” said Elmer Peña, president of the Airline Pilots Association of the Philippines.

He made the statement even as airline president Jaime Bautista and Transport Secretary Jose de Jesus are set to meet today to try to resolve the labor row that has hampered the carrier’s operations since Saturday.

The airline has had to scramble to ferry stranded passengers following the resignation of 25 of its pilots to join other airlines abroad, which had offered them higher pay.

“If the case is not resolved amicably, it will be forwarded and referred to the Department of Labor and Employment for mediation,” De Jesus told dzMM radio.

Peña said retaining the pilots’ 20-percent retirement fund and 5-percent professional disability fund would also keep them from leaving.

“I am not aware if these are being granted, but some pilots told me they were not getting them,” he said.

“These are one of the reasons pilots stay here. They don’t have to go out because they have a retirement scheme.”

But Peña said the airline could not stop all pilots from leaving because they did not feel secure in their jobs.

“Definitely, some pilots are leaving; you cannot prevent that. Job security is a major issue.” –Eric Apolonio, Manila Standard Today