MANILA, Philippines?Philippine Airlines Tuesday disputed claims made by its flight attendants? union that the flag carrier had unilaterally imposed unfair labor practices, saying current employment terms were approved by the employees? union itself.

In fact, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime J. Bautista said the Flight Attendants? and Stewards? Association of the Philippines (FASAP) approved two such agreements that reduced the retirement age of female flight attendants to 40 in 2006.

?The old CBA (collective bargaining agreement) provides that female flight attendants hired before Nov. 22, 1996 shall be retired at the age of 55, while their male counterparts shall be retired at age 60,? Bautista said. ?This was changed during the next round to 45 years of age regardless of gender for those hired between 1996 and 2000.?

CBA signatory

?The last CBA, which expired in 2006, further lowered the age of retirement to 40, of which the union was again a signatory,? he pointed out.

FASAP had earlier complained that the airline?s labor practices unfairly discriminated against its female flight attendants by forcing them into retirement even while they were still able to fulfill their responsibilities.

The airline countered that the reduction in the retirement age was meant to ensure that only the fittest flight attendants serve as air crew?an important consideration in the event of aircraft emergencies.

FASAP also raised the issue of PAL?s allegedly ?discriminatory? and ?unlawful? maternity policies, where pay is withheld from pregnant flight attendants.

To this, Bautista replied that the forced leave of absence of pregnant flight attendants ?is also in the same CBA the union and management approved.?

?They are receiving pay and benefits in accordance with the law and the CBA,? he said. ?In addition, management pays for their hospitalization.?

Perks

The PAL chief pointed out that the airline?s policies were even more generous than that of its regional peers where flight attendants are forced to go on unpaid leave immediately once pregnancies are detected.

?In PAL?s case, we only ask them to go on leave after the first trimester,? he said. ?This is also for the [mother and the] baby, so as not to endanger their health by exposing them to thin air environments [during flight].?

Finally, Bautista disputed the union?s claim that its members received salaries below the minimum wage level as prescribed by law.

?The basic salary represents the compensation they are receiving for being idle,? he said, explaining that the rates were again discussed with and approved by the union in past years.

?In short, once a FASAP member starts performing in-flight duties, he or she receives additional compensation in the form of productivity allowance at the rate of P320 per hour for domestic cabin attendants, P434.50 per hour for international cabin attendants and P560 per hour for pursers. In addition, they receive per diem, transportation, monthly rice allocation,? he added.