‘Mayday, Mayday:’ CAAP employees protest nixed salary increase

‘MAYDAY’ CAAP employees hang a ‘mayday’ streamer to protest the scrapping of a resolution which increased the workers’ pay. ANTHONY ESGUERA/INQUIRER.net

By hanging black “Mayday, Mayday” streamers on at least 23 airport control towers nationwide, the labor union of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Friday called on President Benigno S. Aquino III to address their salary woes.

Mayday is an international distress signal used by plane, sea vessel and radio operators.

The Caap Employees Union (CAAPEU) was protesting the issuance of Notice of Suspension of Salaries and Disallowance of Bonuses to technical personnel scrapping the CAAP Board issued Resolution 2012 – 053, which increased the salaries of technical employees.

READ: CAAP employees protest scrapping of P1B in benefits

“As a result, a regular technical employee is bound to return an amount ranging from Php 800,000.00 to 1,000,000.00 and increasing as the issue remains unresolved,” CAAPEU said in a statement sent to INQUIRER.net.

The salary increase, according to the union, was part of the measures to patch significant International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) findings on “CAAP’s inability to recruit and sustain competent technical personnel.”

“CAAP was able to attract and hire capable individuals when salaries were set competitively against private entities. Additionally, it lessened the number of employees leaving the country for greener pastures,” the labor union added.

Bonuses were also granted to CAAP officials and employees after the removal of the “Significant Safety Concerns” of the ICAO, lifting of the European Union’s ban on Philippine carriers and reinstatement of Philippines Civil Aviation to Category 1 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA.)

However, a COA Audit Observation issued on June 1, 2015 has blocked the implementation of the new salary structure adopted for technical position to support the payments effective October 1, 2012.

COA recommended CAAP management to secure approval from the President through Governance Commission for Government-owned and –controlled corporations (GCG).

“GCG cannot support, much less, favorably recommend to the President, CAAP-Employees Union’s request for the post facto approval of the foregoing benefits that CAAP has already granted to its officials and employees,” the union said.

The group cited congressional commendation issued in a form of resolution in June 2014 acknowledging CAAP’s efforts which may serve as guide for the GCG in recommending to the Office of the President the incentives may deem necessary and commensurate in consideration of the good performance of the CAAP under the Republic Act No. 10149.”

“CAAP has run out of options and is left with only one lifeline – the approval of the President on CAAP’s present Salary Structure and Bonuses. COA, GCG and even Congress have their hands down and are unanimous in their recommendation that there is no other way but through the Executive Power of the President,” it added.

The group also noted that President Aquino cited in at least two of his State of the Nation Addresses the significant contribution of CAAP in economic growth through civil aviation industry.

The labor union warned that “further inaction from the President will result in stronger forms of mass action from among the CAAP employees and/or may trigger resignation of a significant number of CAAP employees,” which could affect the operations of airports nationwide. IDL