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30-Sep-2010 9:04 AM

PAL attendants to go ahead with strike, carrier urges DOLE to intervene

Philippine Airlines urged (29-Sep-2010) the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to take immediate steps to avert a planned strike by its flight attendants. PAL made the appeal following the decision of its cabin crew union to withdraw from the conciliation talks and its announcement to proceed with its planned work stoppage. The carrier stated it has been negotiating in good faith and has bent backwards to accomodate some of FASAP's demands, adding its PHP105 million offer is hardly unreasonable considering the airline's staggering losses in the past two years. PAL also denied that its offer to raise the retirement age to 45 if the union would allow junior cabin crew members to fly international along with their senior counterparts will result in job cuts. The carrier is now preparing emergency measures. [more]

Philippine Airlines: "PAL would like to assure our passengers that a strike will not happen overnight. Management is asking DOLE to immediately step in to avert the strike and protect the interests of the riding public. It was upon DOLE's recommendation that PAL and the Flight Attendants' and Stewards' Association of the Philippines (FASAP) agreed to a recess and to meet again next week. PAL management was surprised by FASAP's sudden turnaround by announcing their decision to strike ... It is the union that is playing hardball, dismissing outright management's offers without even a second glance ... 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. Why is FASAP so averse to the idea of their younger members earning a little more? PAL maintains that while the early retirement age is negotiable, it is by no means illegal nor immoral. A negotiation is like a two-way street; it's give and take. It's very difficult to deal and negotiate with a party who only wants things to go their way," Cielo Villaluna, Spokesperson. Source: Philippine Airlines, 29-Sep-2010.

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