SC asked to stop party-list raffle, qualify workers group

PRESS RELEASE

Partido ng Manggagawa Coalition

23 December 2012

In a petition filed last Friday, the newly-formed workers party-list Partido ng Manggagawa Coalition (PM Coalition) asked the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the scheduled raffle of party-list names and printing of the ballots in January pending a review of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution disqualifying the group. The Comelec is scheduled to raffle party-list slots on January 4 and start printing of ballots on January 20 if not stopped by any TRO’s.

Partido ng Manggagawa chairman and PM Coalition nominee Renato Magtubo said the group has complied with all the requirements for accreditation thus it finds no reason to be rejected by the poll body which has declared its intention to rid the party-list system of non-marginalized groups. 

PM Coalition Chair Ambrosio Palad averred that “Let us have another tragedy like Ladlad which was found by the Supreme Court qualified as a party-list organization but the decision came late and only after the ballots were already printed.”

PM Coalition cited Rule 44 in its petition which allows review of decisions of constitutional commission bodies. The group is protesting why a truly marginalized group and whose nominees  possess laudable track records in serving the working class is denied accreditation by the Comelec while highly questionable groups got blind approval.

 “Our coalition is composed of truly marginalized sector, the working class, and our nominees have indisputable track records as veteran leaders of big trade unions and labor organizations,” argued Magtubo, a long-time trade union leader and an activist himself.

Aside from Magtubo, PM Coalition nominees include PALEA president Gerry Rivera, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation Annie Geron, Central Negros Electric Cooperative union president Benjamin Tundag, and Philadelfa Burdeos, former president of the BPI union in Cagayan De Oro City. 

Palad explained that the group appealed before the Comelec En Banc after its application was denied by the Second Division based on misinterpretation in the group's application as a coalition. He said PM Coalition is a coalition of different labor organizations that want to participate in the 2013 partylist elections. “It is not a coalition of political parties like the UNA or the LP-NP-NPC-Akbayan alliance as grossly misunderstood by the Second Division.”

Palad said several unions and labor associations nationwide coalesced into PM Coalition to boost their chances of winning in the 2013 elections.  A party or a coalition of sectoral groups is allowed under the party-list law.

Groups under PM Coalition include duly registered groups such as the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), Partido ng Manggagawa, United Cavite Workers Association, Rosario Workers Association, Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino, Displaced Workers Association of Teresa,  Rizal, Nasudnong Katawhang Kabus in Cebu, Labor Power Council-Negros (LPC-Negros), Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Antipolo (SAMA), Samahan ng Manggagawa ng Parañaque (SMP), United Panay-Iloilo Truck Drivers Association (UPTDA), United Skilled Plumbers Association Inc. (USPA), CENECO Union of Rationale Employees (CURE), Samahan ng Mamamayan-Zone One Tondo Organization (SM ZOTO), Valenzuela Informal Settlers Federation (VISFED), and Yellow Bus Line Employees Union (YBLEU).

Workers party-list group petitions SC to overturn disqualification

PRESS RELEASE

Partido ng Manggagawa Coalition

21 December 2012

The newly-formed workers party-list Partido ng Manggagawa Coalition (PM Coalition) today filed a petition at the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the Commission on Elections resolution disqualifying the group. In its petition, PM also sought a temporary restraining order on the scheduled raffle of party-list names and printing of the ballots in January.

Partido ng Manggagawa chairman and PM Coalition nominee Renato Magtubo said the group has complied with all the requirements for accreditation thus it finds no reason to be rejected by the poll body which has declared its intention to rid the party-list system of non-marginalized groups. 

PM Coalition cited Rule 44 in its petition which allows review of decisions of constitutional commission bodies. The group is protesting why a truly marginalized group and whose nominees  possess laudable track records in serving the working class is denied accreditation by the Comelec while highly questionable groups got blind approval.

 “Our coalition is composed of truly marginalized sector, the working class, and our nominees have indisputable track records as veteran leaders of big trade unions and labor organizations,” argued Magtubo, a long-time trade union leader and an activist himself.

Aside from Magtubo, PM Coalition nominees include PALEA president Gerry Rivera, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation Annie Geron, Central Negros Electric Cooperative union president Benjamin Tundag, and Philadelfa Burdeos, former president of the BPI union in Cagayan De Oro City. 

PM Coalition Chair Ambrosio Palad explained that the group appealed before the Comelec En Banc after its application was denied by the Second Division based on misinterpretation in the group's application as a coalition.

Palad said PM Coalition is a coalition of different labor organizations that want to participate in the 2013 partylist elections. “It is not a coalition of political parties like the UNA or the LP-NP-NPC-Akbayan alliance as grossly misunderstood by the Second Division.”

Palad said several unions and labor associations nationwide coalesced into PM Coalition to boost their chances of winning in the 2013 elections.  A party or a coalition of sectoral groups is allowed under the party-list law.

Groups under PM Coalition include duly registered groups such as the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), Partido ng Manggagawa, United Cavite Workers Association, Rosario Workers Association, Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino, Displaced Workers Association of Teresa,  Rizal, Nasudnong Katawhang Kabus in Cebu, Labor Power Council-Negros (LPC-Negros), Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Antipolo (SAMA), Samahan ng Manggagawa ng Parañaque (SMP), United Panay-Iloilo Truck Drivers Association (UPTDA), United Skilled Plumbers Association Inc. (USPA), CENECO Union of Rationale Employees (CURE), Samahan ng Mamamayan-Zone One Tondo Organization (SM ZOTO), Valenzuela Informal Settlers Federation (VISFED), and Yellow Bus Line Employees Union (YBLEU).

Justice served with stiff penalties against fraudulent teacher recruiter

Partido ng Mangggagawa (Labor Party) - USA

Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP)

Bantay - Los Angeles

Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC)

Joint Press Statement

December 18, 2012

We, members of the Filipino community and different Filipino-American groups here in the US, extend our congratulations to the hundreds of Filipino teachers for their victorious struggle against their deceitful recruitment agency Universal Placement Inc. (UPI) and its owner Lourdes Navarro. We are happy that after four years of brave and sustained efforts on different fronts and winning different battles along the way, the case has reached the federal court which found these defendants liable for engaging in fraudulent practices.

In the federal class suit against Los Angeles-based UPI and Navarro, the jury awarded the teachers $4.5 million in damages for violation of the California Employment Agency, Employment Counseling and Job Listing Act; for violation of the Unfair Business Practices under the California Business and Professional Code; and for misrepresentation under the California Civil Code.

We commend the persistent efforts and unwavering resolve of the Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana (FEFL) who spearheaded the efforts on behalf of all the teachers. We also applaud the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the law firm Covington and Burling LLP and other advocates who supported the teachers in their quest for justice.

From 2007 to 2009, more than 300 teachers from the Philippines were recruited and deployed in different school districts in Louisiana to teach science, math and special education under the H1B visa program. After a selection process in the Philippines, the UPI’s shady recruitment scheme required each teacher to pay an amount of more than $5,000. The recruiters made it appear that this is all that they will have to pay. However after receiving the initial payment, the recruiters demanded more and more for different kinds of fees and charges.

Having sold their properties and borrowed money to cover for the initial excessive payment, the teachers cannot back out as the recruiters would not refund those fees. The recruiters would then threaten to give their slots to other applicants if additional payments were not made immediately. In violation of the laws of the Philippines, the state of Louisiana, and now it is proven that it violated the laws of the state of California as well, each teacher ended up paying an exorbitant amounts of $16,000 and even more.

This is a ground breaking class action lawsuit and this should serve as a strong message to shady labor contractors who prey on the vulnerabilities of foreign workers whose main aim is to provide a brighter future for their respective families. Migrant workers rights should be respected, defended, and promoted as fervently as any human right. We should not allow these greedy recruitment agencies to deceive and take advantage of the dreams of migrants for their children and their families.

While the decision fell short in not finding that UPI and Navarro violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, we believe that what they orchestrated was a human trafficking scheme that systematically victimized hundreds of Filipino teachers and their families. Human trafficking is the recruitment and transportation of human beings for commercial exploitation by means of force, fraud, threats, deception, coercion or other means. Trafficking is characterized by taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of victims and can include different forms of exploitation such as forced labor or involuntary servitude among others.

Indeed, here there were no physical force or violence employed to coerce the teachers, but certainly another type of force was used - a force that is equivalent to economic duress. UPI and Navarro utilized different coercive and fraudulent methods to threaten serious economic harm to these teachers and their families who are already deep in debt by virtue of the exorbitant fees they were made to shoulder.

We strongly believe that the jury erred in this regard. Simply because the experiences of these Filipino teachers are not to the degree that involves violence or forced labor, it does not mean that this case is not a case of human trafficking. While our common notion of trafficking involves loading humans into the back of a van at gun point or coercing women and children into sex slavery, trafficking in any form is trafficking and should be punished to the utmost degree. The fact that what happened to these teachers does not fall into our ordinary notion of trafficking, does not diminish the atrocities of UPI, PARS and Lourdes Navarro.

At any rate, this is a big victory for the teachers who are now free from the onerous contract forced upon them by these labor contractors, which was declared void by the court. And the $4.5 million in damages is a potent lesson that UPI and Navarro will surely learn from. Further, this is a victory for all migrant workers and an inspiring story of sacrifice, courage and unity.

Signed:

Ian Seruelo

US Liaison Officer

Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party)

+1-281-455-2462

ianseruelo@yahoo.com

Filipino teachers vindicated with class suit verdict

Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana (FEFL)

PRESS RELEASE

December 19, 2012

The Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana (FEFL) are elated on the result of

Monday’s decision on the federal class action suit filed more than two years ago against recruitment agency Universal Placement International (UPI) and its owner Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro. “This victory is a product of the continued vigilance and unrelenting efforts of teachers who converted their victimization into a struggle for justice,” declared Ingrid Cruz, the FEFL founding president.

In a verdict read before the court, the jury unanimously ruled and awarded $4.5 million in damages to the members of the class of migrant Filipino teachers recruited from 2007 to 2009 by UPI to work in different school districts in Louisiana under H-1B visas. The federal jury found that UPI and Navarro violated the California Employment Agency Act, the Unfair Business Practices Act and for negligent misrepresentation.

“While the jury did not find that UPI and Navarro violated the Trafficking Violation

Protection Act (TVPA), we feel vindicated with the verdict. The bottom line is that we have proven that UPI and Navarro committed unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business practices to deceive migrant teachers,” underscored Cruz.

One of the main objectives of the teachers in their quest for justice is to have the unfair and lopsided contracts force upon them by UPI nullified and they were able to achieve that as a result of this case. “So on top of the damages award, these unfair contracts were declared void and the countercharges filed by UPI and Navarro against the teachers were dismissed,” added Cruz.

FEFL pledged to continue their advocacy for migrant workers rights. “Schemes of this nature must be stopped and no other migrant worker should be subjected to such an anomalous and fraudulent process which offers the American dream yet ends up as a nightmare”, Cruz also asserted.

Cruz further said that Filipino teachers are indebted and are grateful to the Southern Poverty Law center (SPLC), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the Covington and Burling Law firm who represented them in their cause.

FEFL also acknowledged the Filipino-American community and Filipino organizations that assisted and supported their efforts.

Approved for release:

FEFL Executive Committee

Eva Adolfo – FEFL Secretary

+1(225) 650 4774

Women workers to mobilize again for passage of RH

PRESS RELEASE

17 December 2012

 

Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) members joined women’s groups under the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) at both the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure that the reproductive health (RH) bill is enacted into law. 

 

“We cannot let our guard down, especially at this crucial stage of the fight for the passage of the RH bill.  The 15^th Congress has presented the best opportunity closest to victory.  And President Aquino has finally certified the RH bill as urgent.  We will not let this opportunity go to waste.  The passage of the RH bill has to happen in this Congress, and we will make sure that it does happen before the Christmas break,” declared PM Secretary General Judy Ann C. Miranda.

 

“The Catholic Church has been equally vigilant, and that is good.  Its vigilance and statements have kept us consistently active and as unyielding with our position.  The difference in viewpoint is a reality and should be respected.  However, when this viewpoint has turned into acts that infringe on women’s rights i.e. reproductive health, the women will not put up with it.  As so with legislators so full of themselves and their machismo, hence, cannot accept women as co-equal in society.  We will continue to mobilize and fight for what is rightfully ours,” added Ms. Miranda.

 

For more than a decade, PM has been consistently working with women’s groups in the struggle for women’s right to reproductive health.

Airline unions demand reinstatement for PALEA in Global Day of Action

Photos of action at Melbourne airport at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.484791838239903.123818.100001272721169&type=1

Press Release

December 12, 2012

PALEA

Airline and other unions worldwide are demanding the reinstatement of members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) in a Global Day of Action today. The supporters of PALEA leafleted Philippine Airlines flights out of the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong in a show of international solidarity.

“A win for PALEA’s fight against outsourcing and contractualization will be a win for all airline workers,” asserted the unions abroad that joined in the Global Day of Action. Meanwhile PALEA members staged a mass action near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport today in participation at the day of action.

The management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) under the new president Ramon Ang opened talks with PALEA last October after a year of protests in the country and abroad. But talks have stalled over the demand for reinstatement. Thus in the last few weeks, PALEA and the labor unity coalition Nagkaisa have launched four rallies at the San Miguel Corp. headquarters in the Ortigas central business district.

The bitter labor row between PAL and PALEA and the continuing protests in the Philippines and around the world threatens to upset the ambitious refleeting and expansion plans of the flag carrier.

Aside from reinstatement, PALEA and its global supporters are calling for the dropping of criminal and civil charges against workers. Two PALEA members, including a single mother, have been arrested and detained while warrants remain outstanding for 37 other workers.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) declared that “We frequently hear the alibi that outsourcing is an international trend that workers have no choice but to bear. But the reality is that resistance to outsourcing is a global phenomenon.”

Participating in the Global Day of Action are the unions IAM Local 1781 in the San Francisco airport; CAW-TCA Local 2002, IAM Local 2323, CUPE Local 4092 in Toronto’s Pearson airport; the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Maritime Union of Australia, the Victorian Trades Hall Council and the Australia Asia Workers Link in Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport; and the Hong Kong Congress of Trade Unions and the Alliance of Progressive Labor at the Hong Kong international airport. Unite-HERE Local 5 in Honolulu staged the leafleting earlier last Saturday.

The unions have vowed to continue leafleting PAL flights until the demand for reinstatement is met. PALEA and Nagkaisa have planned weekly protests to bring the long running labor dispute over outsourcing and contractualization to a conclusion favorable to the workers.

“We have endured 14 months at the picketlines, two attempts to disperse the campout and several typhoons because this is a fight for the future of the present and future generation of workers. PALEA will never give up until its members are back to their regular jobs,” Rivera insisted.

PALEA & Nagkaisa hold Jericho March at San Miguel in celebration of human rights day

NAGKAISA!

PRESS RELEASE

December 10, 2012

Reference: Alnem Pretencio

09209543634

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Workers hold Jericho March at San Miguel in celebration of human rights day

Invoking the principle “Workers’ rights are human rights!”, members of the broad labor coalition Nagkaisa! celebrated today’s International Human Rights Day looking for justice for the long-suffering members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA).

But instead of a traditional march to Mendiola, Nagkaisa! members held a ‘Jericho March’ at the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation (SMC)  in  Pasig City to reiterate its demands for the reinstatement of locked out workers of PAL and the dropping of criminal charges against several  leaders and members of PALEA.

Aside from labor, the human rights community lead by the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) also joined the protest.  Both argued that PAL’s outsourcing/contractualization of regular jobs was in gross violation of the workers’ constitutional right to security of tenure.

PALEA members had been fighting a desperate battle for reinstatement after the old management of the flag carrier locked them out in September last year after 2,400 regular workers refused to be outsourced in another service company.

SMC President Ramon Ang took control of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) in April this year after the beer giant infused at least US$500 million of fresh equity to the ailing flag carrier.  Upon his takeover of the captain’s seat, he declared that one of his top priorities was to resolve the lingering labor dispute in PAL.

“One year was too long a wait for justice that PALEA members rightfully deserved. Their rights have been violated and we in the labor movement wanted to see if the new management under Ramon Ang will keep true his pronouncements to find a just resolution to the dispute,” said Eva Arcos of the Association of Labor Unions (ALU)-TUCP, a convenor of Nagkaisa!

Nagkaisa! is bothered lately when instead of having marathon negotiations to end the dispute, warrant of arrests came out against the 39 members of PALEA, creating signals that the dispute is actually far from getting resolved.

On his part, PALEA president and Partido ng Manggagawa vice chair Gerry Rivera, reiterated his appeal for the new management to fast track the negotiations so that both parties, including the riding public, can again fly PAL with pride.

He added that PALEA after more than one year of struggle continues to enjoy wide support from the local and international trade union movement.    In fact beginning December 12, international unions will also be holding solidarity actions for PALEA at several airports where PAL has regular flights.

Rivera said labor and human rights groups’ support to PALEA will never end until the ‘walls of Jericho’ that is preventing their reinstatement crumble. 

He added that the policy of contractualization demonstrated in PAL’s outsourcing plan is the latest form of modern-day slavery that the labor movement wants eradicated.

Photos of event @ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=pcb.10200934365020464&type=1

Workers to hold Jericho March at San Miguel in celebration of human rights day

PRESS RELEASE

December 09, 2012

Invoking the principle workers’ rights are human rights, members of the broad labor coalition Nagkaisa! will be celebrating the International Human Rights Day tomorrow, December 10. 

But instead of a traditional march to Mendiola, Nagkaisa! members is holding a ‘Jericho March’ at the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation (SMC)  in  Pasig City to lend support to PALEA’s year-old battle for reinstatement and labor justice. 

“The labor and human rights movement’s support to PALEA will never end until the ‘walls of Jericho’ which were preventing their reinstatement crumble,” declared Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) chair and one of Nagkaisa! convenors Renato Magtubo.

Aside from labor, the human rights community lead by the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) is joining the protest.  Both argued that PAL’s outsourcing/contractualization of regular jobs was in gross violation of the workers’ constitutional right to security of tenure.

SMC President Ramon Ang took control of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) in April this year after the beer giant infused at least US$500 million of fresh equity to the ailing flag carrier.  And upon his takeover of the captain’s seat, he declared that one of his top priorities was to resolve the lingering labor dispute in PAL.

“On the part of organized labor, we strongly believe that a just resolution of the PAL-PALEA dispute will serve the best interest of both parties, including the riding public who want to see PAL fly again with pride,” explained Magtubo. 

PALEA members had been fighting a desperate battle for reinstatement after the old management of the flag carrier locked them out in September last year after 2,400 regular workers refused to be outsourced in another service company.

Magtubo said the policy of contractualization demonstrated in PAL’s outsourcing plan is the latest form of modern-day slavery that workers want eradicated.

The labor leader also announced that beginning December 12, international unions will also be holding solidarity actions for PALEA at several airports where PAL has regular flights. 

Advisory: Workers celebrate HR day at SMC

MEDIA ADVISORY

09 December 2012

Request for coverage

PHOTO / VIDEO OPPORTUNITY

Paskong Tuyo/Boodle Fight

Contacts:

Renato Magtubo

09178532095

Josua Mata

09177942431

Workers’ rights are human rights!

Workers Celebrate

Human Rights Day

@

SAN MIGUEL

In support of PALEA

December 10, 2012, 10:30am

in front of

San Miguel Corporation

San Miguel Ave., Ortigas, Pasig City

Assembly Point @ Podium 9:30 AM, before marching to San Miguel

NAGKAISA!

ALU-TUCP  (APSOTEU), METAL, PSU, TEXTILE, TRANSPORT,VIMCOMTU * AFW * AIWA-SENTRO

APL-SENTRO * ATU-TUCP *BMP * CIU * CLASS-TUCP * FCCU-SENTRO * FFW * KAMAO-SENTRO

KILUSAN-TUCP * KKKP-TUCP * LIBO-SENTRO * MAKABAYAN * MARINO * NABU-SENTRO * NAFLU * NAMAWU * NCL * NCTU-SENTRO * NUPP-TUCP * NUWHRAIN-SENTRO * PALEA-TUCP * PEUP-SENTRO PGEA-TUCP * PIGLAS-SENTRO * PILLU-TUCP * PIPSEA-SENTRO * PM * PMA-SENTRO * PSLINK * PTGWO-TUCP * TESDA-ACE-TUCP * WSN-SENTRO

PALEA calls on Ramon Ang to drop charges against members

Press Release

November 9, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) today called on new Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Ramon Ang to drop all charges against its members in order to facilitate a solution to the labor row. Last Wednesday a second PALEA member was arrested in Makati City while the first was detained for several days last October in Malvar, Batangas.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa, said that “We hold Mr. Ang to his commitment to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo that he desires a just and mutually beneficial resolution of the dispute. Arresting PALEA members one by one in order to demoralize our determination to fight is contrary to the contents of Mr. Ang’s letter to Bishop Pabillo. We hope Mr. Ang realizes that for PAL to fly the flag proud it needs motivated regular workers not just brand new planes and a bigger airport.”

PALEA member Ether Gonzaga was served a warrant yesterday noon while attending a barangay meeting. Meanwhile Romeo Sayas was arrested in his hometown in Batangas. Gonzaga declared that “Our will to struggle against contractualization is strengthened not weakened by PAL’s trumped op charges. We will gladly eat harassment cases for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Gonzaga, aged 54, worked as catering coordinator at PAL for 20 years before being retrenched last year. A single parent to two sons, her job at PAL supported an extended family that included her 86-year old mother, a sister, two brothers and relatives in Iloilo.

Rivera insisted that “The arrest of Romeo and Esther are a travesty of justice. They should not have been arrested in the first place and the charges should have been dismissed outright.” He quoted the Department of Justice Ministry Circular No. 15 (Series of 1982) and the Department of Labor and Employment Order No. 40-G-03 (Series of 2010) that no criminal information can be filed against workers without the required clearance from the DOLE.

Sayas, Gonzaga and another 37 PALEA members were issued warrants of arrest by the Pasay City Municipal Trial Court branch 44 after finding probable cause to a grave coercion case filed by Philippine Airlines against workers who defended the protest camp when it was attacked by hired goons on October 29, 2011.

With the onset of the air travel peak season, Renato Magtubo, PM national chair, renewed the call of labor and church groups for the public to boycott PAL until the labor dispute is resolved and charges against PALEA members are dropped. “We ask OFW’s, balikbayans, students, workers and other travelers to book airlines other than PAL and Air Philippines as labor rights are being violated at the flag carrier,” he reiterated.

Rivera extolled Sayas as a “working class martyr.” “Sayas worked for 20 years as ramp equipment operator in the airport, at first as a contractual, and then he became a regular PAL employee but was finally retrenched for refusing to be outsourced. He has two children, and hails from a working class family—his brother is also a fighting PALEAn and their father formerly worked at PAL,” he stated.

PALEA lawyers have previously file a motion to quash or recall the arrest warrants Aside from the case against the PALEA 39, there are is another criminal suit and a separate civil suit pending against union members, all arising out of the labor row concerning outsourcing at PAL.

PALEA slams arrest of another member

Press Release

November 8, 2012
PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) condemned the arrest of another of its members as it planned protests at the airport area in response. PALEA member Esther Gonzaga was arrested yesterday around noon in Makati City and was granted temporary freedom by 6:30 pm after posting bail.

Gonzaga’s arrest follows the earlier apprehension of Romeo Sayas who was detained in Malvar, Batangas for several days before he was released on bail.  Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair declared that “The harassment case of grave coercion was filed by the management of PAL against the PALEA 39 who valiantly defended the protest camp when it was attacked by hired goons on October 29, 2011.”

Aside from the case against the PALEA 39, there are two more criminal suits pending against union members due to the labor row. Rivera called on new PAL President Ramon Ang “to facilitate the resolution of the labor dispute by dropping the trumped up charges against our members which were filed under the old company management of Jaime Bautista.”

Gonzaga was arrested near her residence while attending a barangay meeting as she is a community leader. She is one of two women among the PALEA 39. PALEA believes that the warrants of arrest on the remaining 37 PALEA members may also be served in the coming days.

Rivera explained that as enunciated under DOJ Ministry Circular No. 15 (Series of 1982) and DOLE Order No. 40-G-03 (Series of 2010), no criminal information can be filed against workers without the required clearance from the DOLE. “Absent such clearance, the courts are mandated to dismiss the charges outright. Such a policy, started after the formal lifting of martial law, aims to resolve rather than aggravate labor disputes and regulate the proclivity of capitalists to engage in harassment suits against workers,” Rivera elaborated.

PALEA also lambasted Pasay Assistant City Prosecutor Orlando Mariano and Judge Bibiano Colasito of the Pasay MTC Branch 44 for finding probable cause and ordering the issuance of arrest warrants against 39 PALEA members. “These officers of the court not only defied labor statutes but infringed on our members right to due process, and thus deserve to face administrative charges,” Rivera insisted.

He also denounced PAL lawyer Atty. Santiago “Sonny” Quial for “legal machinations.” Quial is running for district representative in Pasay for the coming elections. “As many PALEA members are Pasay voters, we will make sure that a law breaker does not become a law maker,” Rivera claimed.

Media Advisory: PALEA Undas protest today

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact Alnem Pretencio (PALEA VP) @ 09209543634

PALEA Undas protest today

WHAT: PALEA holds Undas protest to highlight outsourcing as death of job security

WHEN:  Today, October 31, 10:00 am and 6:00 pm

WHERE: PALEA protest camp

DETAILS:  PALEA will hold two protest actions this morning and afternoon with an Undas theme of “death of job security” at Philippine Airlines (PAL). Scores of PALEA members will parade a makeshift coffin marked “Demise of regular jobs” and a dozen mock tombstones with crosses bearing slogans such as “contractualization,” “outsourcing,” “corporate greed,” “arrest warrants,” and “PNoy’s anti-labor policy.”

PALEA has been holding daily marches around the airport area since a member, Romeo Sayas, was arrested October 16 on account of a criminal case filed by PAL management against 39 union members who defended the protest camp when it attacked by hired goons last October 29, 2011. The Undas protest today is an escalation of the daily PALEA protests.

Media Advisory: "Free Romeo Sayas" candlelight protest today

WHAT: Candlelight protest to call for freedom for PALEA member Romeo Sayas

WHEN:  Today, October 19, 5:00 pm

WHERE: PAL In-Flight Center near Terminal 2

DETAILS: The candlelight protest of a couple of hundred PALEA members will call for “Free Romeo Sayas,” its member who was arrest and jailed last Tuesday in Malvar, Batangas. Another 38 PALEA members, including 2 women, also face detention once served arrest warrants issued by Pasay City Municipal Trial Court branch 44.
The harassment case of grave coercion was filed by Philippine Airlines against the PALEA 39 who valiantly defended the protest camp when it was attacked by hired goons on October 29, 2011. PALEA is going to file a motion to quash or recall warrant of arrest as holds daily indignation actions at the airport area and government agencies.

PALEA calls for release of detained member

Press Release

October 18, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) called for the release of Romeo Sayas, its member arrested in Malvar, Batangas and detained since Tuesday. “Free Romeo Sayas,” chanted hundreds of PALEA members as they marched this afternoon for the second straight day in front of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) In-Flight Center near the Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa, said that “The arrest of Romeo is a travesty of justice and we demand his immediate release.” He explained that Sayas should not have been arrested in the first place and the charges should have been dismissed outright. Rivera quoted the Department of Justice Ministry Circular No. 15 (Series of 1982) and the Department of Labor and Employment Order No. 40-G-03 (Series of 2010) that no criminal information can be filed against workers without the required clearance from the DOLE.

Sayas and another 38 PALEA members, including two women, were issued warrants of arrest by the Pasay City Municipal Trial Court branch 44 after finding probable cause to a grave coercion case filed by Philippine Airlines against workers who defended the protest camp when it was attacked by hired goons on October 29, 2011.

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, national chair, announced that they are coordinating with other labor groups to raise funds for Sayas’ PhP 12,000 bail bond. “I appeal to workers organizations and labor advocates to chip in for a ‘Piso para sa paglaya ni Romeo Sayas’ drive as his incarceration may complicate his diabetes and gout, and also to alleviate his family’s agony who have suffered enough from his one year of joblessness.”

With the air travel peak season approaching, Magtubo renewed the call of labor and church groups for the public to boycott PAL until the labor dispute is resolved and charges against PALEA members are dropped. “We ask OFW’s, balikbayans, students, workers and other travellers to book airlines other than PAL and Air Philippines as labor rights are being violated at the flag carrier,” he reiterated.

Rivera extolled Sayas as a “working class martyr.” “Sayas worked for 20 years as ramp equipment operator in the airport, at first as a contractual, and then he became a regular PAL employee but was finally retrenched for refusing to be outsourced. He has two children, and hails from a working class family—his brother is also a fighting PALEAn and their father formerly worked at PAL,” he stated.

PALEA lawyers are preparing to file a motion to quash or recall the warrants of arrest while protests at the DOLE and DOJ are also being planned. Aside from the case against the PALEA 39, there are is another criminal suit and a separate civil suit pending against union members, all arising out of the labor row concerning outsourcing at PAL.

ADVISORY: PALEA rally vs. arrest of member

MEDIA ADVISORY 

PALEA rally vs. arrest of member

WHAT: PALEA indignation rally vs. arrest of member

WHEN:  Today, October 18, 5:00 pm

WHERE: PAL In-Flight Center near Terminal 2

DETAILS: The PALEA rally will call for “Free Romeo Sayas,” its member who was arrest and jailed last Tuesday in Malvar, Batangas. Another 38 PALEA members, including 2 women, also face detention once served arrest warrants issued by Pasay City Municipal Trial Court branch 44. The harassment case of grave coercion was filed by Philippine Airlines against the PALEA 39 who valiantly defended the protest camp when it was attacked by hired goons on October 29, 2011. PALEA is going to file a motion to quash or recall warrant of arrest as holds daily indignation actions at the airport area and government agencies.

PALEA condemns arrest of member

Press Release

October 17, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) condemned the arrest of one of its members as it staged an indignation rally today in front of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) In-Flight Center near the Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

PALEA member Romeo Sayas was arrested and jailed in Malvar, Batangas yesterday. PALEA supporters from the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) chapter in Batangas immediately visited Sayas and reported that he is in good condition. Another 38 PALEA members, two of whom are women, also face detention once served arrest warrants issued by Pasay City Municipal Trial Court (MTC) Branch 44.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair declared that “The harassment case of grave coercion was filed by the old management of PAL against the PALEA 39 who valiantly defended the protest camp when it was attacked by hired goons on October 29, 2011.”

He also announced that PALEA is going to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant of arrest and is mobilizing its members for protests at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Aside from the case against the PALEA 39, there are two more criminal suits pending against union members due to the labor row. Rivera called on new PAL President Ramon Ang “to facilitate the resolution of the labor dispute by dropping the trumped up charges against our members which were filed under the old company management of Jaime Bautista.”

He explained that as enunciated in under DOJ Ministry Circular No. 15 (Series of 1982) and DOLE Order No. 40-G-03 (Series of 2010), no criminal information can be filed against workers without the required clearance from the DOLE. “Absent such clearance, the courts are mandated to dismiss the charges outright. Such a policy, started after the formal lifting of martial law, aims to resolve rather than aggravate labor disputes and regulate the proclivity of capitalists to engage in harassment suits against workers,” Rivera elaborated.

PALEA also lambasted Pasay Assistant City Prosecutor Orlando Mariano and Judge Bibiano Colasito of the Pasay MTC Branch 44 for finding probable cause and ordering the issuance of arrest warrants against 39 PALEA members. “These officers of the court not only defied labor statutes but infringed on our members right to due process, and thus deserve to face administrative charges,” Rivera insisted.

He also denounced PAL lawyer Atty. Santiago “Sonny” Quial for “legal machinations.” Quial is running for district representative in Pasay for the coming elections. “As many PALEA members are Pasay voters, we will make sure that a law breaker does not become a law maker,” Rivera claimed.