Labor Dep’t sends arbitration team to PAL

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines – Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Tuesday sent a team of conciliators to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to try to reconcile the management of Philippine Airlines and its ground crew union, which has mounted a work stoppage.

Baldoz said the team, led by Nida Romulo, chief of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board’s National Capital Region office, would verify reports of the work stoppage and find means to resolve it.

“I sent them to verify the reports about this sit-down strike. We also have inclement weather so we want to find out if the flight cancellations were due to the inclement weather or due to the strike,” Baldoz said in an interview.

“If it is confirmed that there’s a strike, the team would call a conference to reach a settlement as soon as possible so as not to inconvenience our riding public,” she added.