PAL attendants seek favorable ruling

FLIGHT attendants at Philippine Airlines (PAL) appealed to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to rule in favor of the discrimination issues lodged against the flag carrier.

Andy Ortega, vice president of the Flight Attendants and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (Fasap), said the labor department should end the implementation of unfair policies against women workers.

“Basing on Baldoz’s statement in the media, Fasap is hopeful that the Dole (Department of Labor and Employment) will finally rule on the three issues of the case before Christmas, the economic, pregnancy and maternity benefits and most especially the discriminatory retirement age. Fasap eagerly awaits Baldoz’s decision with optimism,” he told Sun.Star.

Baldoz has repeatedly said her office will resolve the labor dispute before Christmas.

Under the existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA), male and female flight attendants who were hired before November 1996 would be retired once they reach 60 and 55 years old, respectively.

Those hired from 1996 and beyond would be retired at age 45 for both males and females while those recruited after November 2000, will be retired by the age of 40 for both males and females.

Fasap president Roberto Anduiza, for his part, said that “majority” of their 1,600 members felt unsecure of their future.

“They fret that once they reach 40 years old, all their plans and ambitions for their family will be lost because of PAL's retirement policy. How will they secure their children’s future? How will they build their homes?” he said.

The CBA between PAL and Fasap expired in July 2007 with the latter accusing the management of acting on bad faith.

Baldoz entered the scene last October 6 after negotiations talks bogged down at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB). The assumption order also forced the union to abandon its strike plan, which was supposed to be last month. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)