PALEA states majority of members have voted in favour of strike
Philippine Airlines union PAL Employees Association (PALEA) stated the majority of members have voted in favour of launching strike action against what they claim are PAL's unfair labour practices, although final results from the ballot are yet to be confirmed (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 09-Dec-2010). As of 17:00 on 08-Dec-2010, all votes had been counted except for those from three small PAL offices. Union President Gerry Rivera stated the final results will be submitted to the Department of Labour and Employment (DoLE), but a seven day cooling off period will be upheld. Mr Rivera added PALEA's strike action is not aimed at putting pressure on the Philippines Government in arbitrating talks between the union and PAL.
Philippine Airlines welcomed (08-Dec-2010) Philippine Office of President Benigno Aquino, Malacanang's appeal to the PALEA to exercise restraint in their planned strike for the sake of the flying public. PAL believes that the Office of the President has primary and official jurisdiction over the PAL-PALEA labour case and maintained its position that the planned strike has no legal justification. The carrier also reassured passengers that the carrier plans to continue operating its normal schedule (GMANews.TV, 08-Dec-2010). [more]
Philippine Airlines: "PAL would like to thank President Aquino and Executive Secretary [Paquito] Ochoa for their immediate response to this potential labor crisis at Philippine Airlines. We all know that a work stoppage would not only hurt the company, related industries and the country's economy, but would also wreak havoc on the travel plans of thousands of local and foreign travellers. PAL defers and respects the good judgment of the President. We hope PALEA will do the same. We believe PALEA's complaints about individual bargaining should have been raised before the Office of the President before they conducted a strike vote. But while we believe that PALEA's actions 'have no leg to stand on' we leave it to the President to make a final determination on the legality of yesterday's exercise," Cielo Villaluna, Spokesperson. Source: Philippine Airlines, 08-Dec-2010.