THE Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) last week welcomed President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to intervene in the PAL labor case but remained opposed to the airline’s outsourcing plans that would lead to the sacking of 2,600 employees.
A meeting between the union and the management is set at 11 am today (November 15) in Malacañang.
Aquino, who was in Japan over the weekend for the 18th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation economic leaders’ meeting, said he has intervened in the labor dispute and saw "promising" signs a strike could be stopped.
PALEA legal counsel Marlon Manuel who met with President Aquino in Malacañang last Tuesday said he told the President the union was open to a dialogue with airline management but "within the context of the collective bargaining agreement."
PAL president and COO Jaime J. Bautista in a separate interview said, "The President spoke his mind about the PAL spin-off and asked many questions on how best to strike a balance between the concerns of workers and management."
"Apparently, Malacañang is waiting for the official communication from PALEA. As far as PAL is concerned, we’re also waiting for PALEA’s action on whether it will challenge the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) decision in the Court of Appeals or the Office of the President," he said.
PALEA filed a notice of strike last week after Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on October 29 declared PAL’s plan to outsource its in-flight catering, airport services and call center reservation operations legal.
Last Friday, the union also filed a petition for intervention at the Office of the President to formally ask Aquino to reverse Baldoz’s decision.
