MANILA -- Disgruntled crew members of flag carrier Philippines Airlines (PAL), following government’s move to take over the labor dispute, halted a planned strike originally set at the end of October or early November.
The Flight Attendants and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (Fasap) said they received a faxed order from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday night.
“We will abide with the government’s move to step in,” said Fasap vice president Andy Ortega in a phone interview.
The association, which represents 1,600 members, has filed a notice of strike on September 9, and the process calls for a 30-day cooling off period and the strike vote.
Fasap rejected PAL’s offer of P105 million compensation package and the change of retirement age from 40 to 45 as the group reiterated its stand on alleged discriminatory work provisions before unilaterally declaring a deadlock in the negotiations.
The collective bargaining agreement between PAL and Fasap expired in July 2007.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz took over the dispute on Wednesday after talks between PAL management and Fasap failed. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)