Aquino orders DoLE to assume PAL row

President Aquino directed yesterday Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to assume jurisdiction over the dispute between the management of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its cabin crew union Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (Fasap) after negotiations between both collapsed anew yesterday.

The Labor chief, meanwhile, said the government will not allow Fasap members to proceed with their planned strike.

Aquino also advised airline passengers who may be affected by a planned strike of PAL workers “not to panic” since he remains hopeful that the issue can still be resolved.

“We’re not yet (getting into an) irreconcilable (situation). The anticipated damage to the economy by the loss of the carrier capacity isn’t there yet. So we’re still hoping that this can be resolved and that we don’t go into the open skies policy because it’s still being studied completely. But let us not think that that PAL (flight attendants) would already strike tomorrow or the day after that. It’s not like that…that’s why there is a 30-day (cooling off) period,” Aquino told reporters after gracing the 10th National Philippines Employment Service Office Congress held in Tagaytay City yesterday.

Baldoz who is also at the event said she expects the PAL management to submit a manifest that would submit the case for compulsory arbitration which the Fasap union will not object to.

She added that once the case reaches her office, she will summon both parties again to engage them in a last minute conciliation.

Malacañang, for its part, said it has entirely entrusted the resolution of this lingering dispute between PAL and Fasap in the hands of Baldoz. Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte expressed confidence that the Labor secretary can handle the situation even without Malacañang’s intervention.

In a press statement released by the Fasap last Sept. 29, it indicated its intent for a full-blown strike this month after their previous conciliation meeting with the PAL management at the DoLE National Conciliation and Mediation Board ended in a deadlock.

“Fasap accuses PAL management of muddling the issues but the union officers have not been forthright in telling the public that it has junked all of PAL’s offers. They even rejected the mixed crew proposal that would benefit their younger colleagues in terms of international flying assignments, higher per diem and allowances,” PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said.

Fasap vice president Andy Ortega said there are the only two interventions they will heed. “President Aquino can intervene or Labor Secretary Baldoz can take jurisdiction of the case to avert the strike. Those are the two options we are open to.”

PAL assured the passengers that a strike will not happen. “Management is asking DoLE to immediately step in to avert the strike and protect the interests of the riding public,” Villaluna said after the meeting.

She said PAL management is putting in place contingency measures to minimize the effects of should the strike push through.

“If the strike becomes full-blown, we have measures in place. We will use management crew to take over as flight and cabin crew although their services will be limited. We are taking all steps to avert a bad situation stemming from the strike,” she said.

Villaluna said PAL has been negotiating in good faith and has bent over backwards to accommodate some of the Fasap’s demands.

“It is the Fasap that is hard to please, dismissing the management’s offers without even a studying over it.”

“Contrary to Fasap’s claims, there will be no layoffs as a result of the mixed crew scheme. There will also be no reduction in flight assignments and pay of international cabin attendants, she insisted.

On PAL’s early retirement age policy, early retirement age is negotiable, it is by no means illegal nor immoral,” she said.

The 1,600-member Fasap is demanding a pay rise, paid maternity leave and an end to a company policy that forces female cabin crew to retire at the age of 40. –Aytch de la Cruz, Mina Diaz, Daily Tribune