20/07/10
Save Our PAL’s jobs. Govt finds against union case, campaign continues

February 20, 2011 PAL profits belie outsourcing need>> Update: 13 January 2011 Your help needed to maintain pressure at this crucial time Following intensive national union mobilisation and international solidarity action, the office of President Aquino has taken over the jurisdiction of a petition by our affiliate, the Philippine Airline Employees' Association (PALEA), against mass dismissals at Philippine Airlines (PAL). Both the PAL management and PALEA have been directed to desist from any action while a solution is sought. ITF President Paddy Crumlin, and General Secretary David Cockroft, wrote to President Aquino on 20th December welcoming his intervention and urging him to find an acceptable resolution to the dispute that protects jobs. The ITF is asking all Civil Aviation affiliates to personally deliver solidarity letters to the Philippine embassy in their country in the week of 17 January to help PALEA maintain pressure on the government at this crucial time. A model letter has been provided to assist you in this action here >> Please let us know if you’ve sent a letter at aviation@itf.org.uk. Visit the new campaign page here>>

20 July 2010
Support Philippine Airline Workers Facing Lay-Offs and Contracting Out

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) is appealing to ITF affiliates for solidarity in their fight against layoffs and outsourcing plans by management that could affect up to 3,000 workers.

The union has informed the ITF that Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans to contract out airport services, in-flight catering and ticketing reservations, which could lead to the termination of 3,000 employees. These jobs would be outsourced to other companies. The workers would be laid- off only to be rehired for the same work in new companies and under new contracts. Regular workers would thus be replaced by contractual labour whose wages are cheaper, with fewer benefits and no security of tenure. Workers will be sacrificed to maintain profits.

As the affected workers are PALEA members and include the union’s officers, the move is also perceived as a union-busting measure.

PALEA is calling on the labour movement to demand that the Office of the Labour Secretary makes a decision on the PAL dispute that defends security of tenure, promotes regular jobs, respects labour rights and advances workers welfare as explicitly provided for in the Labour Code and the Philippine Constitution.

اتخذ إجراء: أرسل رسالة احتجاج

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Background

The Philippines recently elected its 15th President and a new administration has just taken over.  However, before leaving office, the previous Acting Labour Secretary found the planned mass layoffs to be ‘a valid exercise of management prerogative’.  The union believes that the order is a ‘midnight decision’ that is faulty on both substantive and procedural grounds.

The ITF General Secretary has written to President Aquino calling on him to intervene swiftly and decisively in this dispute to facilitate an acceptable resolution. He has also called for the incoming Labour Secretary to be given the right to revisit the labour dispute, and to make a decision in accordance with due process and on a just basis, given the potential social impact of the PAL management’s decision.  Read the ITF General Secretary’s letters to the Philippine President and the PAL management below.