PAL talks collapse; air crew to strike

MANILA -- Talks between the management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association (Fasap) failed Tuesday, ending efforts to resolve the labor row.

As a result of the failed talks, Fasap is set to submit a notice of strike in the next two weeks.

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The management of the flag carrier refused to give in to the demands of the workers, according to the Fasap.

Fasap president Robert Anduiza said the hard-line stance of the management leaves them with no other option but to take their "final option."

"So, we are pushing through with the option of going on strike. It's our final option," he said, citing the strike may take place within the month.

"We withdrew from the talks because we no longer see any point in continuing with it. After more than 10 meetings, PAL has not budged on our requests," said Anduiza after coming from mediation talks held at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.

Fasap had been asking the management to reconsider its policy of forcing female workers hired after year 2000 to retire when they reach the age of 40, while those who began working for PAL after 1996 are forced to retire at the age of 45.

They also tagged the airline's policy that bars pregnant flight attendants from receiving any salary, as well as travel benefits while she is on maternity leave as "gender discrimination."

"PAL's present hard-line stance on these issues is indicative of bad faith considering that it has previously manifested in writing its erstwhile willingness to negotiate changes on the retirement age," said Anduiza.

He added that the airline company has not been giving explanation on why this "primordial" issue should not be immediately addressed.

Anduiza, however, is open for possible resumption of talks, saying they could go back to the negotiating table if it would be "conducted in good faith and in a reasonable and fair manner".

The PAL management, on the other hand, is not yet keen on discussing the primary issues raised by Fasap.

"PAL wants the early retirement issue to be discussed during the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covering the years 2010 to 2015," said the company.

PAL explained that the policy will not be taking effect until 2018 when the early retirement provision will affect any current cabin crew.

The firm also stressed that the policy being questioned was a scheme that was approved by the Fasap leaders themselves.

"Officers of the cabin crew union signed the CBA containing the provision setting an early retirement age not only once but three times in the past. They were not forced. They signed it voluntarily," noted PAL.

An earlier statement from PAL president Jaime Bautista, who was absent in the conciliation talks after feeling ill, said the labor department will not allow a strike to happen.

"Strike cannot happen because Dole (Department of Labor and Employment) would definitely not allow any disruption in PAL's operations," he said.

Bautista said the airline bore the brunt of the global economic crisis, after they incurred $320 million in losses in the last two years.

Meanwhile, party-list group Akbayan has urged the flying public to "temporarily abstain" from patronizing PAL as protest to its supposed anti-employee policies.

"Whenever possible or if there are other options, we encourage the public to temporarily abstain from using PAL or at the very least to make it their last choice of transportation," said Akbayan vice president Marie Chris Cabreros.

Akbayan on Tuesday held a demonstration before PAL's office in Manila to express support to the employees.

"PAL would like to depict the current labor row as a dispute restricted to its management and workers. They are trying to insulate the issue from the public's scrutiny. The public must get itself involved," she said.

Akbayan Representatives Walden Bello and Kaka Bag-ao reportedly filed a resolution asking the Committee on Labor and Employment of the House of Representatives to conduct an immediate investigation on the PAL's labor woes. (AMN/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)