Estrada urges restraint over PAL labor dispute

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development and of the congressional oversight committee on labor and employment, expressed concern on the ongoing labor dispute between the country’s national flag carrier, the Philippine Airlines (PAL), and the ground crew union PAL Employees Association (Palea).

Estrada called on both PAL and Palea to exercise sobriety and utmost restraint in their conduct pending the resolution of Palea’s petition before the appellate court.

To stress the tense situation, the management of PAL requested yesterday for heavier police presence in and around NAIA Terminal 2 due to numerous complaints of harassment and acts of violence against PAL volunteers and service providers.

PAL said it requested the Aviation Security Group and Southern Police District to deploy more policemen especially in areas where PAL workers pass on their way to and from work.

“Inasmuch as the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Office of the President (OP) have upheld the validity of PAL’s outsourcing program and that there is a pending petition filed by Palea before the Court of Appeals to annul and set aside the DoLE and OP’s resolutions and decisions, both parties should await the resolution of the petition and avoid actions which would aggravate the situation,” Estrada said.

As of today, there are reports that members of Palea will continue to occupy the flag carrier’s in-flight center. Estrada issued an appeal to the Palea leadership and its members to rethink their position and allow the unhampered entry and exit of the service providers to avoid disruption and delay in the efficient and smooth operation of the airline.

“While we recognize the rights of Palea, we should not lose sight of our primary goal which is to ensure the safety and convenience of the riding public,” Estrada added.

“We deplore, in the strongest possible terms, the harassment perpetrated by former PAL employees against our volunteers and service providers. These workers selflessly share their time and skills to keep PAL flying. They deserve protection from authorities,” the airline said in a statement.

PAL’s management said it received numerous complaints and is documenting all cases of verbal abuse and, in some instances, damage to vehicles of PAL volunteers and former union members who decided to join PAL’s new service providers.

“This morning, ex-PAL employees led by former Palea leaders, stormed Charter House Hotel in Makati with a very open and clear intention of harassing PAL volunteers from various outstations. This and many other forms of abuse are the kind of harassment we’re talking about,” PAL said.

The company stressed that PAL volunteers from its provincial stations — composed of licensed ground equipment operators — are not “scabs” but legitimate workers performing official functions.

“These volunteers want to help PAL and the riding public that’s why they volunteered during the transition period. They are the workers who quietly toil everyday to ensure that PAL continues to fly. Palea wants them to leave their posts because it’s now obvious that these skilled volunteers are competent and licensed to operate PAL’s ground equipment contrary to Palea’s repeated claims,” the airline added.

PAL also asked the police to watch out for former PAL employees who take buses and jeepneys enroute to NAIA Terminal 2 with the aim of verbally abusing PAL workers and volunteers on their way to work.

The Supreme Court also agreed to take up again a case already decided on by a lower court ordering the award of compensation to some 1,400 cabin crew personnel of the national flagcarrier PAL. –Benjamin B. Pulta, Daily Tribune