Advisory: Duterte asked for presidential intercession in PAL endo dispute

President Rodrigo Duterte is being asked by workers of Philippine Airlines (PAL) for intervention in the long-running dispute over outsourcing. They are holding a rally this morning at Mendola to call out for presidential intercession. The PAL workers union PALEA is calling on Malalcang to intercede for the implementation of a 2013 agreement that provides for the re-employment of some 600 outsourced PAL workers.

The rally will also ask the President to stand fast on his promise to end contractualization. The promise to end endo will be the main topic of a planned dialogue between Duterte and labor groups later this month.

TODAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

9:00   am assembly at Morayta 

10:00 am program at Mendiola

Rallyists ask DOLE to act on killings of unionists, endo at PAL

In a rally today at the main office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the labor groups Partido Manggagawa (PM) and Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) asked the government to act with dispatch on the wave of killings and abductions of unionists, and the pending endo dispute at Philippine Airlines.

The rallyists demanded the intervention by the DOLE on the endo dispute at Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the enforcement of a settlement agreement that provides for the reinstatement of some 600 PALEA members. Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of the controversial outsourcing program of PAL that resulted in the mass layoff of more than 2,000 regular employees and their transfer as contractual workers in service providers.

“Similar to the task force on media killings formed by the current administration, such a body should be probe the spate of killings and abductions of labor unionists. It is an urgent concern as in this single bloody month of September, two labor leaders were assassinated, six farmers killed and a union officer abducted,” asserted Wilson Fortaleza, spokesperson for PM.

PALEA is calling on the DOLE to administer the implementation by PAL of a settlement agreement forged in 2013 and re-employ some 600 workers terminated in 2011. In September 2011, some 2,600 PAL regular workers were terminated and outsourced to become agency workers. After a two-year fight, PALEA and PAL forged a deal to settle the labor dispute yet some 600 retrenched members have not been re-employed as provided for in the agreement.

Fortaleza added that “The DOLE has a responsibility to stop the culture of impunity that has resulted to the killing and abduction of labor unionists. Forming a task force to probe the attacks on workers and farmers is just a first step. As we have feared, the extra-judicial killings in the wake of the war on drugs has now spilled over into the labor movement. Truly human rights and labor rights are indivisible.”

Last week, Edilberto Miralles, former union president, was gunned down in front of the National Labor Relations Commission. On September 17, Orlando Abangan, a PM leader and organizer in Cebu, was ambushed on his way home. Last Sunday Patricio Tago Jr., a union vice president, was abducted in Tarlac and then imprisoned for allegedly being a drug pusher. Labor groups have called the drug charges as trumped-up.

Besides the latest fatal shooting of a farmer in Palawan, earlier this month, four farmers were shot dead in Nueva Ecija and then a farmer leader killed in Isabela.

September 28, 2016

Advisory: PAL-PALEA mediation tom as strike deadline nears

MEDIA ADVISORY

PALEA

October 26, 2015

Contact Gerry Rivera @ 09165047751

  

DOLE to hold mediation today on PAL-PALEA dispute as strike deadline nears

WHAT: Mediation meeting between PAL and PALEA on the notice of strike over mass layoff

WHEN:  Today, October 26 (Monday), 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: NCMB-Central office (Arcadia Building, 860 Quezon Ave., QC)

#BoycottPAL! Fight contractualization!

Media Advisory: PALEA @ 69: BACK TO THE STREETS!

MEDIA ADVISORY

PALEa

21 September 2015

Contact: Manny Gan @ 09275307230

Request for coverage

PALEA @ 69: BACK TO THE STREETS!

   BRING BACK OUR JOBS!        

WHAT:           PALEA is celebrating its 69^th founding anniversary today against the backdrop of new wave of mass layoff due to outsourcing/contractualization; the non-implementation of 2013 Settlement Agreement; and non-resumption of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). 

WHEN:          September 21 (Monday) 4:00-8:00 PM

WHERE:        4:00PM members and supporters assemble at PALEA Headquarters, Gabriel St., Baclaran, Paranaque City;

From there we will march to Our Lady of Airways Parish (OLAP), the church beforeTerminals I & II for the 6:00 PM mass to be officiated by Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

PAL WORKERS CRY FOR JUSTICE!

PALEA MEMBERS ARE BACK IN THE STREETS

IN RAGE, IN PROTEST!

Media Advisory: Protest today at DOLE vs. PAL layoffs

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact Manny Gan @ 09275307230

  

WHAT: PALEA to bring to the attention of DOLE the dispute over the mass layoff of 117 PAL workers

WHEN:  Today, September 18 (Friday), 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: DOLE main office, Intramuros

DETAILS: In the second week of protests against the latest round of mass layoffs at Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) will hold a picket at the main office of the Department of Labor and Employment to bring to its attention the pending dispute. More than a week ago PAL announced the retrenchment in November of 117 employees all working at domestic airports all around the country.

PALEA will ask the DOLE to act on the mass layoff as it is empowered by the Labor Code to resolve cases of mass layoff that results in labor disputes.

Aside from opposing the latest retrenchment, PALEA is also calling for the opening of collective bargaining negotiation and the full implementation of a settlement agreement that ended the dispute over the last mass retrenchment in 2011.

No collective bargaining negotiation between PAL and PALEA has happened since 1998 when a 10-year CBA suspension was imposed. After a two-year fight, PALEA and PAL forged a deal to settle the labor dispute of 2011 yet some 600 retrenched members have not been re-employed as provided for in the agreement.

The mass actions are the start of a renewed campaign to oppose contractualization and outsourcing. It will continue on to PALEA’s 69^th year anniversary on September 21 and then escalate in November in time for the APEC summit.

PALEA protests vs. PAL layoffs enters second week

Press Release

September 14, 2015

PALEA

For the second straight week, the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) is holding protests against the latest round of mass layoffs at Philippine Airlines (PAL). More than a week ago, PAL announced the retrenchment this November of 117 employees, all working at domestic airports all around the country.

Today PALEA is once more picketing the PAL main office at the PNB Building in Macapagal Boulevard. In last week’s protest, some one hundred PALEA members with a contingent from the militant Partido Manggagawa (PM) picketed PAL’s main office and also its offices in Nichols at the Airport Road

PALEA revealed that the mass actions are the start of a renewed campaign to oppose contractualization and outsourcing. It will continue on to PALEA’s 69^th year anniversary on September 21 and then escalate in November in time for the APEC summit.

“The new round of layoffs is another wave of contractualization. Regular unionized workers are being replaced with contractual employees who will be paid less in wages and benefits,” insisted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair.

He added that “Last September 2, PAL sent a formal notice of separation due to redundancy to PALEA. But in truth, no redundancy will transpire since the positions will not be vacated; workers to be retrenched will be replaced by new employees from so-called service providers. Also in some cases, employees served by the notice of separation were immediately replaced by contractual workers.”

Aside from blasting the latest layoffs, PALEA is also calling for the opening of collective bargaining negotiations and the full implementation of a settlement agreement that ended the dispute over the last mass retrenchment in 2011.

No collective bargaining negotiation between PAL and PALEA has happened since 1998 when a 10-year CBA suspension was imposed. After a two-year fight, PALEA and PAL forged a deal to settle the labor dispute of 2011 yet some 600 retrenched members have not been re-employed as provided for in the agreement.

“PAL has given no clear criteria in implementing the supposed redundancy program except to announce the separation benefits. In fact, we suspect that most of the regular PAL workers to be retrenched may just be rehired as contractual employees by the service provider since they possess the skill set needed for the job. Meaning this is a contractualization scam similar to the 2011 outsourcing program that affected more than 2,000 workers.”

Further Rivera argued that the latest round of layoffs is another expression of PAL owner Lucio Tan’s “no union policy.” He called for the solidarity of the labor movement and allied groups for PALEA’s continuing fight for regular employment.

Beyond in-flight exchanges and selfies with Pope, labor party reminds PAL of its Christian commitments on the ground

Press Release

January 23, 2014

There is no doubt the Philippine Airlines is reaping the benefits of a good press from the successful visit of Pope Francis to the country.  

But the labor party, Partido Manggagawa (PM), reminded the flag carrier that in order to sustain its “blessed” flights, it has a Christian commitment to fulfill to which the Pope is also committed  – the reinstatement of its outsourced ground workers and the negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement that has been stalled for 15 years.

PAL blew its own trumpet during a press briefing the other day by taking pride of its role to the safe and comfortable airlift of Pope Francis in and out of Tacloban and to his journey back to Vatican.

“It was indeed a rare and fateful journey between the Pope and PAL.  We really hope, however, that beyond those in-flight exchanges of gifts and selfies, we both go back to the reality as the Pope had suggested.  Here on the ground oppressed workers are waiting not just for compassion but for concrete and immediate action,” said PM chair Renato Magtubo.

PAL has yet to finally comply with the last but most important item in the PAL-PALEA Settlement Agreement signed in November 2013 which ended the protracted labor dispute in the flag carrier. It also has to sit down with PALEA for the continuation of CBA negotiation, the last being in 1998.

An intense battle for management control between the Lucio Tan group and San Miguel, which ended with the former’s buyback of PAL, delayed the final implementation of the settlement agreement.

During the height of the outsourcing dispute in PAL, PALEA sought the help of Pope Francis through the Church Labor Conference and the social arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. A letter was sent personally to the Pope through Fr. Edu Gariguez of NASSA-CBCP. 

Pope Francis is a strong advocate of labor dignity.  To him, there is no dignity without decent work and that human dignity comes from work and not from power and money.

PALEA turns 68, consolidates behind call to implement agreement

Among the people at PALEA's 68th founding anniversary

Press Release

September 21, 2014

PALEA

Members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA), their families and supporters from the labor and social movement, including the church gathered today to celebrate its 68^th founding anniversary. 

PALEA was founded on September 21, 1946.  And amid the backdrop of the complete buyback of the flag carrier by the Lucio Tan group, PALEA is hopeful the PAL-PALEA settlement agreement ending the labor dispute last year is finally implemented.

“Now that the ownership row in Philippine Airlines is over, we expect that there will be no more obstacles to completing the settlement agreement that guaranteed re-employment of PALEA members,” said PALEA President Gerry Rivera.

In November of last year, PAL and PALEA signed an accord to settle the labor dispute arising from the implementation of an outsourcing program that led to the retrenchment of more than 2,000 employees in September 2011. Meanwhile PAL reported a US$1.49 billion profit in the second quarter of this year, reversing a trend of losses for the past several years.

The 600 PALEA members who resisted the PAL outsourcing plan and are the subject of the agreement attended the noontime mass led by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo at Our Lady of the Airways Parish.  Pabillo and other church leaders held regular masses at the picket line during the height of PALEA’s resistance against outsourcing.

Rivera said the anniversary theme was extremely serious but at the same time fun-filled and family-centered.

“After all those trying years PALEA remains a solid family. And it is labor dignity and our love of the flag carrier that continue to consolidate our ranks,” added Rivera.

Leaders and representatives from Partido Manggagawa (PM) and Nagkaisa! labor coalition, student groups and community organizations attended the celebration to affirm their commitment to PALEA’s fight. 

PALEA calls for respect for agreement amidst buyout deal

Press Release

September 12, 2014

PALEA

Amidst the buyout deal at Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA), the ground crew union of the flag carrier, today called on management to respect the agreement settling the long-running outsourcing dispute. The union expressed hope that a conclusion to the corporate battle over PAL will lead to the full execution of the settlement agreement as the prolonged buyout talks have delayed its implementation.

Last Monday, media reported that San Miguel Corp. and the Lucio Tan group had signed a deal for the latter to buy back the 49% share of the former for US$1 billion to be paid within one week.

“We expect that PAL management would faithfully and fully implement the terms of the agreement resolving the outsourcing dispute. Anything less would mean the resurgence of labor troubles at the flag carrier that could threaten PAL’s return to profitability,” averred Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and Partido ng Manggagawa vice chair.

In November of last year, PAL and PALEA signed an accord to settle the labor dispute arising from the implementation of an outsourcing program that led to the retrenchment of more than 2,000 employees in September 2011. Meanwhile PAL reported a US$1.49 billion profit in the second quarter of this year, reversing a trend of losses for the past several years.

“PALEA has reliably complied with its part of the settlement agreement such as dismantling the picketline and terminating labor cases. Whoever is in control of PAL, we demand that management do the same,” Rivera added.

The settlement provides for the rehiring as regular workers of some 600 PALEA members who were retrenched in 2011 but refused to accept the outsourcing scheme. The agreement also grants an improved separation package.

Rivera asserts that the resolution of the outsourcing dispute is one of the factors that led to PAL’s profitability this year. In the two-year long pendency of the outsourcing issue, PALEA’s supporters have called for a boycott of PAL.

PALEA’s struggle against contractualization has been a trailblazer campaign that has influenced industrial relations in the country. The Labor Department issued new guidelines on subcontracting called DO 18-A in the wake of the PALEA protest and the fractious labor movement united in support of the embattled PAL union.

PALEA: Message to supporters on settling outsourcing dispute

Greetings of solidarity to brothers and sisters in the labor movement!

A bit of good news from the Philippines amidst the national tragedy of the super typhoon Haiyan: Last November 14, Philippines Airlines and PALEA signed an agreement to end the long-running labor dispute over outsourcing. PALEA members will be going back to work as regular workers! Under the agreement, the PALEA members at the picketline will receive an improved separation offer and then be re-employed within three months from the date of the signing.

Resistance saved PALEA’s regular jobs. If PALEA had accepted outsourcing then its members would have become contractual workers trapped in an endless cycle of precarious jobs. Or worse they would have become unemployed in a jobless growth economy. Instead PALEA members will be returning to their regular jobs in a few months.

PALEA expresses its deep gratitude for the passionate support of the labor movement across the world to its struggle against job outsourcing and contract work. At its peak, a global day of action spanned four continents. The international solidarity not just sustained the fight but inspired PALEA to continue the struggle until victory.

Looking back at the three long years of PALEA’s fight, it is clear that the old school tactics of direct action at the workplace, the traditional picketline, labor solidarity and community support was crucial in developing the struggle. Every single instance PALEA lost the outsourcing case before government bodies and the labor courts. Yet in the end, PALEA won its demand through negotiations but drawing strength from resistance and solidarity. PALEA owes this hard-won victory to the steadfast fight of PALEA members and the fervent solidarity of workers, community and Church groups in the Philippines and abroad.

However, even as PALEA celebrates its win, the union sympathizes with the victims of typhoon Haiyan. For PALEA, the disaster is up close and personal. PALEA’s vice president grew up in the worst hit city of Tacloban and still has family living there. After a few agonizing days, he learned that they are safe though shaken. Scores of PALEA members work at the Tacloban airport which was utterly destroyed save for the runway.

PALEA’s affiliated labor party, Partido ng Manggagawa or PM, is appealing for assistance to workers and the poor who have suffered from Haiyan. PM is calling for solidarity so it could offer relief at least to its affected members and organized communities. Among them are PM members among informal drivers and the urban poor in Tacloban. Relief would complement the organizing efforts of PM on the basis of working class issues.

PALEA’s victory is the victory of all workers. PALEA believes its victory will jumpstart the revival of the labor movement in the Philippines. PALEA wishes too that its win will inspire union brothers and sisters around the worldwide. PALEA pledges its solidarity to workers fighting everywhere as it has done for comrades in Qantas and Turkish Airlines.

PM: Battle over outsourcing at PAL over but war vs. contractualization continues

Press Release

November 14, 2013

The labor party Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) congratulated the union Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) for the settlement agreement signed today with the management of Philippine Airlines (PAL).

“Kudos to PALEA officers and members for a hard fought struggle and a well deserved victory. The battle over outsourcing at PAL is over but war against contractualization continues. Workers should learn to heart the lesson of PALEA’s struggle—we can win as long as we fight well,” declared Renato Magtubo, PM national chair.

The most salient part of the settlement agreement provides for the re-employment of PALEA members to regular positions after receiving an improved separation package compared to that mandated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Office of the President (OP).

“At every single instance PALEA lost the outsourcing case before the courts and government bodies—like DOLE and OP. Yet in the end, PALEA won its demand for regular jobs through negotiations on the basis of resistance and solidarity,” Magtubo explained.

PM along with the workers coalition Nagkaisa, labor groups, community organizations and Church institutions were among PALEA’s most determined supporters. The group said that they are ending the boycott campaign launched against PAL and its sister airline Air Philippines with the formal signing of the agreement.

He added that “The return of PALEA members to their regular jobs belies the hollow argument of government officials that outsourcing is a global trend that cannot be challenged.”

Magtubo averred that “Ang panalo ng PALEA ay panalo ng lahat. We believe that PALEA’s victory will start rolling back the epidemic of contractualization and be a turning point towards the revival of the labor movement.”

PM leaders will join PALEA members in a thanksgiving mass at 5:00 pm today at the PALEA protest camp outside the PAL Inflight Center near Terminal 2. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo—among PALEA’s solid supporters in the Church—is scheduled to celebrate the mass.

The group will also be attending a victory march, program and concert on Saturday at the PALEA picketline.

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.

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.

PALEA slams arrest warrants on 39 members

Press Release

September 6, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) slammed a Pasay judge for an order to issue warrants of arrests against 39 of its members. The arrest warrants arose from a case of grave coercion filed by Philippine Airlines (PAL) management. “On October 29, 2011, hired goons attacked the PALEA protest camp and then PAL management tried to turn tables by filing trumped up charges against active union members. This harassment case is meant to pressure PALEA members to surrender our fight for regular jobs,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

Last August 15, Judge Bibiano Colasito of the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 44 ordered that warrants of arrests be issued after a finding of probable cause. Rivera vowed that PALEA will not give up its fight and instead challenge the decision of the court. “This issue proceeds from the labor dispute between PAL and PALEA, and thus before any civil court intervenes it must first secure a clearance from the Department of Labor and Employment or the Department of Justice which did not happen in this case,” he clarified.

In the October 29 incident, half of the protest camp was torn down, a PALEA member was severely injured in the face by an attacker and one of the goons by the name of Johnny dela Cruz from Malabon was caught but later released by the police.

“In the course of almost one year of unwavering protest against outsourcing, it is clear that there will be no industrial peace at PAL without justice for its workers. Even the new PAL CEO Ramon Ang has recognized it after hearing PAL employees who spoke at the annual stockholders meeting last August 31. Ang responded that management will talk to PALEA to find a solution to the labor dispute,” Rivera said.

He also announced that big mobilizations will be held on September 27, the first anniversary of PALEA’s airport protest against outsourcing. Rallies will be held in Manila and Cebu while actions will also be staged by airline and other unions in Sydney and Melbourne, Istanbul in Turkey, San Francisco in the USA, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, Lahore in Pakistan and other countries. The September protests are billed as a global day of action for airline workers to highlight the campaign against outsourcing and for workers rights in the aviation industry.

                                                                                                     

Apart from the grave coercion rap, 234 PALEA members including the top leaders are facing another case due to the September 27, 2011 protest at the Manila International Airport. PAL filed the case for alleged violation of RA 9497 or the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Law, specifically Section 81 (b) (5) which sanctions “any person who destroys or seriously damages the facilities of an airport or disrupts the services of an airport.”

Rivera added that the decision has a chilling effect on labor relations and is a clear and present danger to workers rights. “Labor protests will then be banned in the aviation industry with workers penalized by both imprisonment and fine in violation of constitutionally guaranteed rights. This will be a grave precedent and new special laws can then be enacted to deny workers the freedoms of assembly, expression, self-organization and strike,” he explained.

He explained that “The decision is void of any legal basis as no damages were committed to airport facilities. The CAAP Law is also explicit in providing that ‘only the Director General’ can file the appropriate charges and not the PAL Vice-President of the Airport Services as in this case.” Despite the finding of probable cause by another Pasay court for the CAAP Law case, warrants of arrest have apparently been stayed by petitions for review filed by PALEA.

Sigaw sa Mayo 1: Regular na Trabaho, Umento sa Sahod, Mababang Presyo

Noong kalagitnaan ng Marso, sa harap ng isang pulong ng mga negosyante ay nanawagan si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na maging prayoridad ng mga kapitalista ang kagalingan ng mga manggagawa. Tinawag nating “Noy-ngaling” si PNoy dahil kabaliktaran ang kanyang salita ng kanyang gawa. Kung totoong tagapagtanggol ng karapatan at kagalingan ng manggagawa si PNoy ay dapat tinutulan sa halip na sinang-ayunan niya ang tanggalan at kontraktwalisasyon sa Philippine Airlines (PAL). Di lang Noynoying si PNoy kundi Noy-ngaling pa.

Ang darating na Mayo 1 ay ikawalang selebrasyon na ng Araw ng Manggagawa sa ilalim ni PNoy. Noong nakaraang Mayo 1 ay tinuligsa natin siya sa pagpanig sa tanggalan at kontraktwalisasyon sa PAL. Sa kasalukuyan ay dapat nating usigin ang kanyang administrasyon sa patuloy na pagsisinungaling at pagtatraydor sa interes ng manggagawa na pinangakuan niyang ituring na boss.

Ganunpaman, sa harap ng patuloy na pag-iilusyon ng maraming Pilipino sa pamumuno ni PNoy, kasabay ng matalas na propaganda ng pag-usig ay dapat mapakilos ang masang manggagawa sa kagyat na mga kahilingang dapat tugunan ng gobyerno.

Sa Mayo 1, ang ating kagyat na kahilingan ay proteksyon sa regular na trabaho, pagtaas ng sweldo, at pagbaba ng presyo ng kuryente’t langis. Ito ay mga kahilingang nakatuon sa gobyerno ni PNoy upang tugunan at aksyunan. Bukod dito, mangangalampag din tayo sa pagbabago ng patakaran ng liberalisasyon, deregulasyon at pribatisasyon. Gayundin mananawagan tayo ng pagrereporma ng labor justice system.

Ang kampanya para sa regular na trabaho ay napapanatiling buhay ng patuloy na paglaban ng PALEA sa kontraktwalisasyon anim na buwan matapos ang tanggalan. Ang pagbenta ng minority share ng PAL sa San Miguel at pagpapalit ng management ay nagbubukas ng oportunidad para sa resolusyon ng labor dispute.

Pero di pa man nagtatagumpay ang PALEA na maibalik sa trabaho ang mga tinanggal ay naobliga na ang Department of Labor na maglabas ng kautusan kaugnay ng subcontracting. Pinahigpit ang mga rekisitos sa ligal na kontraktwalisasyon at hayagang kinilala na dapat tumanggap ng mga benepisyo ang mga kontraktwal at maari pang magtayo ng unyon. Ganunpaman, pinapanatiling ligal ng DO 18-A ang karamihan ng porma ng kontraktwalisasyon na sanhi ng pagkawasak ng regular na trabaho pati pagkadurog ng mga unyon.

Kumpara sa DO 18-A, hamak na mas mahigpit ang Security of Tenure (SOT) bill na nakasampa sa Kongreso at naglalayong limitahan ang laganap na kontraktwalisasyon. Gayong wala na sa kamay ni PNoy ang kaso ng PALEA, dapat pa rin siyang itulak na gawing priority legislation ang SOT bill.

Umiinit na naman muli ang usapin ng pagtaas ng sahod bunga walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, at kasunod nito ang pasahe’t iba pang batayang pangangailangan. May nagsampa na ng petisyon sa regional wage boards. Sa kabilang banda, nakaamba na ipasa ng House Labor Committee ang panukalang legislated across-the-board wage hike. Malayo pa bago ito maipasang batas pero binibigyang diin nito ang kakagyatan ng umento sa sahod.

Tinanggihan na ni PNoy ang pagtaas ng sahod sa katwirang walang supervening event o grabeng inflation. Ang ganitong Noynoying o kawalang aksyon ni PNoy ay dapat mabatikos habang ineengganyo ang pagkakaisa ng labor groups sa pagsusulong ng pagtaas ng sahod sa anumang porma ito makakamit.

Ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa pandaigdigang pamilihan ay mangangahulugan na ibayo pang magliliyab ang usapin ng oil price hike. Pero di ibig sabihin nito na walang magagawa si PNoy kundi mag-Noynoying sa harap ng umaarangkadang global oil prices. Ang pagtatanggal ng VAT sa mga produktong petrolyo ay isang kagyat na hakbang na maaring isagawa. Ang pagrerepaso ng oil deregulation law ay isa na ring buhay na usapin at maaring igiit ang pagbabalik ng price control sa langis bukod sa pagsasabansa ng Petron.

Katulad ng mataas na presyo ng langis, ang mahal na gastusin sa kuryente ay isang ring mabigat na pasanin ng manggagawa at maralita. Ipinagkikibit-balikat lang ng gobyerno ang problemang ito habang tinitiis ng taumbayan ang pasakit na ito. Oras nang repasuhin ang EPIRA o ang deregulasyon at pribatisasyon ng power industry.

Ang deregulasyon at pribatisasyon ng langis at kuryente ay mga matingkad na halimbawa ng delubyong dala ng globalisasyon. Sa kabilang banda, ang liberalisasyon ng ekonomiya ay nagresulta sa pagsasara ng umaabot sa 3,000 empresa bawat taon sa nakalipas na isang dekada at pagkawala ng trabaho ng daan-daang libong manggagawa. Ang hatid ng globalisasyon ay pagguho ng lokal na industriya at agrikultura sa halip na progreso at pag-unlad. Malinaw na ngayon na perwisyo kaysa benepisyo ang dulot ng imperyalistang globalisasyon. Panahon nang ibandila ang panawagan ng pagbabago ng pang-ekonomiyang patakaran.

Kasabay nito dapat maibando ang pagrereporma ng labor justice system. Ang mapait na kapalaran ng flight attendants ng PAL ay nabigyang pokus ng impeachment trial ni Chief Justice Corona. Kapalit ng platinum card ay inimpluwensyahan ni Corona ang pagbawi ng paborableng desisyon sa kaso ng FASAP.

Isang matingkad na halimbawa lang ito kung paano nabibili ng mga kapitalista ang mga husgado at nababaluktot ang hustisya. Kung ang bilyunaryong gaya ni Lucio Tan ay nagagawang impluwensyahan ang Chief Justice ng Korte Suprema, ganundin namamanipula ng mga kapitalista ang arbiters ng NLRC, mediators ng DOLE/NCMB at judges ng mga RTC at Court of Appeals. Di nakakagulat na ang ordinaryong manggagawa ay napipilitang i-areglo ang mga kaso kapalit ng barya kasya mabitag sa mga pasilyo ng labor justice system.

Ang labor unity na nagkahugis sa laban ng PALEA ay maaring punla ng pagkakaisa para isulong ang mga kagyat at pangmatagalang kahilingan. Ang kampanya sa Mayo Uno ay ekstensyon at kontinwasyon ng laban kontra kontraktwalisasyon. Ang malawak na pagkakaisa ng kilusang paggawa ang magbibigay pwersa at magbabasbas ng kredibilidad sa kampanyang Mayo Uno.

Maaga nang nasimulan ang kampanyang Mayo Uno sa pamamagitan ng Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita. Pero di dapat magtapos ang kampanya sa isang pagkilos sa Mayo Uno. Ang mga kagyat na kahilingan ay di basta maipapanalo sa Araw ng Manggagawa. At di rin dapat magkasya sa simpleng pagsisigaw ng mga islogan sa Mayo Uno. Ang susunod na yugto at lundo ng laban ay ang pagbubukas ng Kongreso sa Hulyo at SONA ni PNoy. Ang mga kahilingang nangangailangan ng executive action ni PNoy ay maaring ang pokus ng Mayo Uno samantalang ang ibang obligado ang legislative measures ay maari namang tutukan sa SONA.

PALEA ok’s CA mediation, calls on PAL to reinstate workers

Press Release

April 21, 2012                 

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) yesterday submitted a manifestation to the Court of Appeals (CA) expressing its willingness to participate in mediation to seek a settlement to the labor dispute. “The new management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) should recognize that the solution to the flag carrier’s woes involves not only need a refleeting of its aging aircraft but more so the reinstatement of its skilled regular workers,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

The CA Tenth Division in a resolution dated March 27, 2012, asked the parties to the case docketed as CA G.R. SP No. 120977, if they are willing to have the issue referred to the Philippine Mediation Center-Court of Appeals for “a final opportunity to explore the possibility of coming up with an amicable settlement of their dispute.” The parties were given 10 days from receipt of the resolution to file their manifestations.

Rivera explained that “PALEA considers the CA’s mediation offer as an opening to end the labor row which could not happened without the perseverance in protest by some 2,000 of our members for more than six months and in the face of three typhoons, two attacks on its campout and spending the Christmas holidays at the picketlines. The CA resolution further spurs us to continue the protest actions until we have finally won our demands.”

In the coming Labor Day celebrations, among the issues to be raised is the recall of retrenched PALEA members in particular and the protection of job security in general. Meanwhile a leader of the Qantas engineers union is on a solidarity visit and has spoken at the PALEA protest camp in the last few days about concrete support in the fight against outsourcing. The visit follows a two-week solidarity tour of Australia by the PALEA vice president and an officer of Partido ng Manggagawa to solicit moral and material support for PALEA.

Rivera is also scheduled to go on another two-week tour this time of the United States. He will attend a May Day forum in Washington DC and then proceed to Chicago, San Francisco and Honolulu to meet labor unions and Filipino-American groups about PALEA’s struggle.

Reopening of FASAP case is a travesty of justice

Press Release

March 22, 2012

PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) called the decision of the Supreme Court to affirm the reopening of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association (FASAP) case as a “travesty of justice.” “Only in the Philippines can a case that had already been ruled with finality twice by the highest court of the land still be reviewed once more on its merits. Indeed justice delayed is justice denied for 1,400 our sister and brother flight attendants,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

He added that “FASAP’s case is relevant is PALEA’s fight since if the retrenchment of cabin crew in 1998 at a time when Philippine Airlines was bankrupt is illegal then so much more is the layoff of 2,400 ground staff after the flag carrier posted PhP 3 billion in profit for its previous fiscal year.”

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, chairperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa, declared that “The timing of the release of the Supreme Court resolution clearing Chief Justice Renato Corona is perfectly timed for the defense presentation in the impeachment case. It leaves everyone thinking that it is part of the impeachment defense of Corona.”

Magtubo said that the plight of FASAP and PALEA reveals the failure of the labor justice system in the country. “It is not just with the Supreme Court but even more with the graft ridden National Labor Relations Commission, National Mediation and Conciliation Board and Department of Labor and Employment that workers lose to the power of money of abusive capitalists,” he added.

“Workers demand reforms beyond the prosecution of Gloria and the impeachment of Corona. For workers at least get a taste of fair share of justice, the NLRC, NCMB and DOLE must be cleansed, and the policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization that have led to thousands of closures and layoffs, and collapse of industry and agriculture must be rolled back,” Magtubo explained.

PM announced that the May Day campaign will start early with a “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita” on the first week of April that will highlight the issues of low wages, high prices, mass unemployment, contractual jobs and urban poor demolitions.

Post-Women’s Day Action: Women workers lead caravan to Cavite vs. high prices, endo jobs

Press Release

March 10, 2012

PALEA

Women members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Rosario Workers Association (RWA) and United Cavite Workers Association (UCWA) led a caravan today against high prices and contractual work.

The caravan vs. high prices and endo (end of contract) jobs is an extension of the observance of International Women’s Day and an anticipation of the Labor Day commemoration. “The high cost of living and the proliferation of contractual work is a double whammy on workers in general and women in particular,” asserted Arlene Ladimo of PALEA Women’s Committee.

PM is proposing that government end the policy of deregulation of the oil industry to control the runaway prices and renationalize Petron to promote competition among the big players.

The caravan left the PALEA protest camp at the In-Flight Center of Philippine Airlines (PAL) at noon and passed through the densely populated areas of Paranaque, Las Pinas, Bacoor and Noveleta before finishing at the industrial town of Rosario. A highlight of the caravan was the salubungan around 2:00 pm at the main gate of the Cavite Ecozone where Cavite workers organized by the RWA and UCWA met the contingent from Metro Manila.

“The three demands of women workers last Women’s Day and for Labor Day as well are the lowering of prices, an end to endo jobs and additional budget for social services. These measures will lighten the double burden of women workers who not only labor in their places of work but also slave in unpaid domestic work in their houses,” explained Judy Ann Miranda, PM Secretary-general.

Next week PALEA continues with mass actions in time for the 71^st anniversary of PAL on March 15. The union is planning rallies at PAL offices and the Allied Bank building in Ayala where Lucio Tan holds office.

“PNoy believed the spin that PAL is losing money and thus allowed the mass layoff and job outsourcing plan despite the flag carrier’s P3 billion profit in its latest fiscal year. Now it is as clear as day that Lucio Tan instead of becoming poorer has become even richer to the tune of $3.5 billion from last year’s $2.8 billion as per the Forbes list of billionaires. But Lucio Tan wants to catch up with Henry Sy, the richest Filipino and number one promoter of contractualization, by implementing the outsourcing scam at PAL,” insisted Ladino.

Women workers run for gender and labor justice on 101st Women’s Day

PRESS RELEASE

Partido ng Manggagawa

PALEA Women’s Committee

8 March 2012

To cap the weeklong commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) by the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) women members held a women run for gender justice and labor justice, 6:00am at Ayala, Makati City, wreath-laying at Gabriela Silang monument at Ayala corner Makati Avenue, then proceeded to Allied Bank along Ayala Avenue.

“The Women Run for Gender Justice and Labor Justice is a celebration of the inseparability of the fight for women’s rights and workers rights.  IWD in fact started in honor of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York. While much has been achieved by women in general, for women workers the sweatshop conditions of the 1900’s is still the norm in factories, shops, offices and farms as capitalist globalization rolls back the gains of the labor movement even as gender equality and reproductive health remains crucial concerns,” asserted Judy Ann Miranda of PM.

 Ms. Miranda added that, “On this occasion, other concerns that we also want to give emphasis to are women’s right to equal work opportunity, a concrete solution to high prices of basic commodities,  additional budget for social services, and passage of the RH bill.”

PM and PALEA further explained that women’s labor force participation rate in our country has remained, more or less, at 50% and the reason for this is the tremendous lack of job opportunities for women.  This reality is taking a big toll on the bodies and minds of women who have been more burdened by poverty, high prices, and lack of crucial services such as health, housing, among others.

“To DOLE Secretary Baldoz and PNoy, we refuse to listen to more of your promises, lies and deception.  Araw namin  ito, so this time, you listen to our demands and act on them as sincere public officials should do,” declared Arlene Ladimo of PALEA.  To symbolize women workers’ refusal to listen to mere promises but rather be heard, they did an Aguirre (prosecution lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, Jr.) by covering their ears for a few minutes. 

“We have been lied to when we sought the President’s help vs. Lucio Tan’s outsourcing and contractualization scheme of PAL employees and PNoy said this is within the bounds of law.  Thousands were duped to take up nursing with promises of jobs abroad – the other day, Secretary Baldoz are calling on them to work at call centers, etc., etc.  We want jobs, not just any job but regular and decent jobs, we want lower prices of basic goods, and more budget for social services.  ‘Yan ang ibigay ninyo dahil ‘yan ang kailangan namin,” continued Ms. Ladimo.

After the Women Run at Ayala, Makati, the PALEA and PM women members held a motorcade to Mendiola and joined the World March of Women in a traditional rally. Yesterday they held a “Kalbaryo ng Kababaihan” to highlight the 101 burdens of women as a way of focusing attention on the pressing concerns on the 101st anniversary of IWD.