Supreme Court asks PAL to rehire flight attendants

The flight attendants union of Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Monday hailed the “final” Supreme Court ruling reinstating 1,400 of its members who were terminated in 1998.

Bob Anduiza, Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap) president, said they received on Monday the high court’s decision denying PAL’s two motions for reconsideration and ordering the reinstatement of the flight attendants.

“The victims of PAL’s illegal retrenchment have suffered for so long and they deserve this relief from the Supreme Court! It took this long to fight for justice for the 1,400 flight attendants, finally, this sad episode ends in favor of the oppressed,” Anduiza said.

On July 22, 2008, the high tribunal  ordered the reinstatement of the workers “with full back wages” but PAL appealed the court’s ruling.

Last September 7, the Supreme Court’s 2nd Division upheld its previous ruling and said it would no longer entertain further appeals.

“The court resolves to deny with finality respondent PAL’s second motion for reconsideration. No further pleadings shall be entertained. Costs against the respondents. Let entry of judgment be made in due course,” the tribunal said.

“This case has dragged on for so long and we are now  more than duty-bound to finally put an end to the illegality that took place; otherwise, the illegally retrenched employees can rightfully claim this court has denied them justice,” the court added.

The flight attendants were retrenched during the pilot strike in 1998.

Anduiza said that around 400 of the affected flight attendants had been “recalled” but as “new hires.”

“So, their seniority was affected. They were also not given their back wages. There are still another 500 who were never recalled,” Anduiza said.

“We are ready to sit down with PAL to discuss if they should be rehired or be paid. We are more than willing to talk to ensure a smooth process,” he added.