MANILA, Philippines—Not so fast. The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (Palea) warned the airline’s management on Saturday against “prematurely implementing” the retrenchment of more than 2,600 workers.
In a statement, Palea said Malacañang’s approval of the retrenchment plan was not yet executory, adding that it would seek redress from the Court of Appeals.
“Palea will act accordingly to defend the jobs and future of PAL employees should management make the mistake of hastily laying off workers,” said Gerry Rivera, Palea president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).
The union also dismissed Malacañang’s appeal to the union not to paralyze PAL operations with a strike.
“Why is P-Noy (President Aquino) so concerned that PAL’s profitable operations go unhampered but is so unconcerned about thousands of workers losing their regular jobs?” Rivera said.
“If the Palace is concerned about a strike at PAL then they should have heeded the demands of its workers instead of acceding to management’s plans,” he said.
Palea said it would file a petition in the Court of Appeals while protests by PAL employees and their allies would continue.
“We are ready to defend our jobs and the union if PAL does not back down on forcing employees to accept the retrenchment plan. We call on Palea members to be ready to act on a moment’s notice. Palea members would rather die standing than be killed on our knees,” Rivera said.
Malacañang defended its decision affirming Philippine Airlines’ cutting of 2,600 jobs and subcontracting the work to cut costs.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte was reacting to a remark by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo who was quoted as saying that the government showed insensitivity to the plight of the airline company’s employees.
“It’s not a function of sensitivity, it’s a matter of what was presented in the proceedings and the evidence that was adduced. It’s not because we are antipoor or antiworker. That was not the situation,” Valte said over government radio dzRB.
“Of course it was a legal proceeding and as such the Office of the President decided based on the case that was presented. And this was not originally resolved by the Office of the President. It just affirmed the decision of the secretary of labor,” she said.
In a two-page decision signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Malacañang upheld PAL’s plan to close three non-core departments and hire the services of third-party providers.
The Palace said Palea failed to raise new points to convince it to reverse its earlier decision affirming the ruling of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.