PAL calls on union to ‘stop peddling lies’

Philippine Airlines called on (09-Nov-2010) officers of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) to stop "peddling lies" and produce documentary proof to show alleged links of PAL Chairman Lucio Tan to the three service providers that will take over PAL's Inflight Catering, airport services and call centre departments. The airline stressed that the three service providers namely, SPi CRM (the new name of e-PLDT Ventus, the call centre unit of PLDT-owned SPi Global) as well as Sky Kitchen and Sky Logistics "are not related in any way to the Lucio Tan Group of companies". PAL added that its lawyers are studying the airline's legal options and whether it can sue PALEA officers for spreading false information. As this developed, PAL said the bonuses that PALEA claims were given to top airline officials at a time when it is incurring losses actually represent the 13th month and 14th month pay that all other PAL workers received. PAL added it is ready to share its views and clarify issues regarding its spin-off programme during its scheduled hearing in Congress on 10-Nov-2010. The company stressed, however, that its officials are constrained from talking about cases that are still pending litigation as these matters are sub-judice in nature. PAL will also meet with PALEA and the Department of Laboor and Employment (DOLE) on 11-Nov-2010 over PALEA's filing of a new strike notice (GMANews.TV, 09-Nov-2010). [more]