Showing posts with label PALEA strike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PALEA strike. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Advisory: Church, labor groups to support PALEA strike
MEDIA ADVISORY
Partido Manggagawa
November 10, 2015
Contact Rene Magtubo @ 09178532905
Church, labor groups to support PALEA strike
WHAT: The Church-Labor Conference--an alliance of Church-based and trade unions co-chaired by Bishop Broderick Pabillo--to hold forum on PAL-PALEA dispute and plan actions in support of fight
WHEN: Tomorrow, November 11 (Wednesday), 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Arzobispado, Intramuros, Manila
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
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.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Contractualization slammed in “Global Day of Action”
Press
Release
September
27, 2012
PALEA
Nationwide
rallies denounced contractualization as labor groups in the Philippines marked
the “Global Day of Action against Outsourcing.” Meanwhile airline unions and
other workers abroad held protests spanning four continents in an expression of
global resistance to outsourcing. “Actions by
workers, on the same day, in a coordinated way, all over the world, gives the
struggle against outsourcing strength and effectivity,” declared Gerry Rivera,
president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and vice chair
of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).
Some
1,000 members of PALEA and the labor coalition Nagkaisa staged a rally at
Mendiola this morning. This was followed by a motorcade to
the PALEA protest camp for an afternoon mass meeting. Mobilizations were also
in Cebu at the PALEA picketline near the Mactan International Airport this
morning and in Davao at the Buhangin underpass this afternoon.
Aside
from commemorating the anniversary of PALEA’s protest against outsourcing last
year, the protests also pushed for the passage of the security of tenure bill
pending at Congress. “Aside from the reproductive health and
freedom of information bills, the security of tenure measure is also jammed at
the legislative mill. This social reform proposal seeks to restrict the epidemic
of contractual work and the proliferation of 6 months endo jobs,” explained
Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.
A
picket the House of Representatives is planned for October 8 to call for the
plenary discussion of the security of tenure bill. The House Labor Committee
has reported out a consolidated version of the bill but the Committee on Rules
has not scheduled it for sponsorship and interpellation at the plenary level.
The “Global Day of Action” was spearheaded by PALEA, the
Turkish civil aviation union Hava-Is, Qantas unions, the Lufthansa flight
attendants union UFO, Canadian airline workers union CAW-TCA, Air India unions,
UNITE-HERE in the USA and the Australia Asia Worker Links. Rallies,
leafleteering, mass meetings and other protest actions at airports were held in
Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Istanbul in Turkey, Frankfurt in Germany,
Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Saint John in Canada, Mumbai in
India and Honolulu in Hawaii. Solidarity messages have also been extended by
labor centers and unions in Hong Kong, Seoul, Hanoi and San Francisco. The day of action was several months in the
making with the International Transport Workers Federation starting the ball
rolling by endorsing it in a meeting of the Asia-Pacific civil aviation section
meeting in Kuala Lumpur last July.
Similar
to PALEA, the groups participating in the day of action are embroiled in labor
rows over job security and working conditions. Hava-Is is demanding the
reinstatement of 305 members dismissed over protests against a controversial government
ban on strikes in the aviation industry. Qantas management grounded its entire
fleet last year in response to rolling strikes by its pilots and ground crew.
UFO
recently won substantial concessions including limits to outsourcing after a
strike that disrupted Lufthansa’s flights. CAW-TCA and other Air Canada unions
were involved in disputes over pay and outsourcing, just like Air India workers.
The hotel workers union UNITE-HERE is campaigning for a boycott of the global
hotel chain Hyatt over a host of issues including use of contract labor.
For
updates on the Global Day of Action: https://www.facebook.com/events/399444630110706/
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Security of tenure bill to be pushed in “Day of Action vs. Outsourcing”
Press
Release
September
26, 2012
PALEA
Some
1,000 workers will be mobilized tomorrow by the Philippine Airlines Employees
Association (PALEA) and the labor coalition Nagkaisa in a rally at Mendiola
tomorrow. The rally marks the Filipino workers participation in the “Global Day
of Action against Outsourcing” by labor unions in four continents. Aside from
commemorating the anniversary of PALEA’s historic protest against outsourcing last
year, the Mendiola rally will push for the passage of the security of tenure
bill pending at Congress.
“It
is not just the bills for reproductive health and freedom of information that
are jammed at the legislative mill, but other vital social reform measures such
as the security of tenure bill which seeks to restrict the epidemic of
contractual work and the proliferation of 6 months endo jobs,” explained Gerry Rivera, PALEA
president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).
The
groups also announced that on October 8 workers will picket the House
of Representatives to call for the plenary discussion of the security of tenure
bill. The House Labor Committee has reported out a consolidated version of the bill
but the Committee on Rules has not scheduled it for sponsorship and
interpellation at the plenary level.
After
the Mendiola mobilization, the rallyists will hold a motorcade to the PALEA protest
camp for an afternoon mass meeting. Simultaneous mobilizations are also planned
in Cebu at the PALEA picketline near the Mactan International Airport and in
Davao at the downtown area.
Meanwhile
rallies, leafleteering, mass meetings and other protest actions at airports are
to be held in Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Istanbul in Turkey, Frankfurt
in Germany, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Saint John in Canada,
Mumbai in India and Honolulu in Hawaii. Solidarity messages have also been
extended by labor centers and unions in Hong Kong, Seoul, Hanoi and San
Francisco.
“If airline workers take industrial action, on the same day,
in a coordinated way, all over the world, the struggle against job outsourcing
will be stronger and more effective,” asserted the groups which are
coordinating for the global day of action. Aside from PALEA, the Turkish civil
aviation union Hava-Is, Qantas unions, the Lufthansa flight attendants union
UFO, Canadian airline workers union CAW-TCA, Air India unions, UNITE-HERE in
the USA and the Australia Asia Worker Links are participating.
Similar
to PALEA, the groups participating in the day of action are embroiled in labor
rows over job security and working conditions. Hava-Is is demanding the
reinstatement of 305 members dismissed over protests against a controversial government
ban on strikes in the aviation industry. Qantas management grounded its entire
fleet last year in response to rolling strikes by its pilots and ground crew.
UFO
recently won substantial concessions including limits to outsourcing after a
strike that disrupted Lufthansa’s flights. CAW-TCA and other Air Canada unions
were involved in disputes over pay and outsourcing, just like Air India workers.
The UNITE-HERE union is campaigning for a boycott of the global hotel chain
Hyatt over a host of issues including use of contract labor.
Advisory: Protests mark Global Day of Action vs. Outsourcing tomorrow
WHAT: PALEA and labor coalition Nagkaisa to hold rally and motorcade
WHEN: Tomorrow, September 27, 9:30 am assembly; 10:00 am rally;
12 noon motorcade
WHERE: Assembly at Morayta; Rally at Mendiola; Motorcade to PALEA protest
camp
DETAILS: Airline
unions abroad will join the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA)
in a “Global Day of Action against Outsourcing” spanning four continents
tomorrow. The September 27 action coincides with the anniversary of PALEA’s
protest last year.
Nationwide mobilizations
are to be held in Cebu at the PALEA picketline near the Mactan International
Airport and in Davao at the downtown area.
Rallies,
leafleteering, mass meetings and other protest actions at airports are to be
held in Melbourne and Sydney in Australia (Qantas
unions & Australia Asia Worker Links), Istanbul in Turkey (civil aviation union Hava-Is), Frankfurt in
Germany (Lufthansa flight attendants union UFO),
Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Saint John in Canada (airline workers union CAW-TCA), Mumbai in India
(Air India unions ) and Honolulu in
Hawaii (UNITE-HERE).
The campaign vs.
outsourcing continues onto October 8 when PALEA and Nagkaisa pickets House of
Representatives to push for the Security of Tenure bill.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Airline unions to join PALEA in “Global Day of Action”
Press
Release
September
24, 2012
PALEA
Airline
unions to join PALEA in “Global Day of Action”
Airline
unions are set to join the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) in
a “Global Day of Action against Outsourcing” spanning four continents on Thursday.
The September 27 action coincides with the anniversary of PALEA’s protest last
year that led to the cancellation of all flights of Philippine Airlines and
marked the start of a bitter fight over contractualization at the flag carrier.
Gerry
Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) asserted
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.”
“If airline workers take industrial action, on the same day,
in a coordinated way, all over the world, the struggle against job outsourcing
will be stronger and more effective,” asserted the groups which are
coordinating for the global day of action. Aside from PALEA, the Turkish civil
aviation union Hava-Is, Qantas unions, the Lufthansa flight attendants union
UFO, Canadian airline workers union CAW-TCA, Air India unions, UNITE-HERE in
the USA and the Australia Asia Worker Links are participating.
Together
with the labor coalition Nagkaisa, PALEA will stage a rally at Mendiola on
September 27 and then hold a motorcade to the protest camp after. Simultaneous mobilizations
are also planned in Cebu at the PALEA picketline near the Mactan International
Airport and in Davao at the downtown area. Meanwhile rallies, leafleteering,
mass meetings and other protest actions at airports are to be held in Melbourne
and Sydney in Australia, Istanbul in Turkey, Frankfurt in Germany, Vancouver,
Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Saint John in Canada, Mumbai in India and
Honolulu in Hawaii. Solidarity messages have also been extended by labor centers
and unions in Hong Kong, Seoul, Hanoi and San Francisco.
As
a build up to the day of action, last September 21 PALEA held a “Jog for
Regular Jobs” around the perimeter of its protest camp in Manila and a mass
meeting to commemorate the union’s 66th year. “PALEA @ 66 pledges
never again to outsourcing,” declared Rivera. The day of action was several
months in the making with the International Transport Workers Federation
starting the ball rolling by endorsing it in a meeting of the Asia-Pacific
civil aviation section meeting in Kuala Lumpur last July.
Similar
to PALEA, the groups participating in the day of action are embroiled in labor rows
over job security and working conditions. Hava-Is is demanding the
reinstatement of 305 members dismissed over protests against a controversial government
ban on strikes in the aviation industry. Qantas management grounded its entire
fleet last year in response to rolling strikes by its pilots and ground crew.
UFO
recently won substantial concessions including limits to outsourcing after a
strike that disrupted Lufthansa’s flights. CAW-TCA and other Air Canada unions were
involved in disputes over pay and outsourcing, just like Air India workers. The
hotel workers union UNITE-HERE is campaigning for a boycott of the global hotel
chain Hyatt over a host of issues including use of contract labor.
PALEA
also announced that on October 8 Nagkaisa will hold a picket at
House of Representatives to push for the plenary discussion of the Security of
Tenure bill. “It is not just the bills for reproductive health and freedom of
information that are jammed at the legislative mill, but other real social
reform measures such as the security of tenure bill which seeks to restrict the
epidemic of contractual work and the proliferation of 6 months endo jobs,”
Rivera explained.
Friday, September 21, 2012
PALEA vows “Never again outsourcing” on its 66th anniversary
Press
Release
September
21, 2012
PALEA
The
Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) commemorated its 66th
anniversary today with a vow to fight contractualization at Philippine Airlines
(PAL) and elsewhere. “PALEA @ 66 pledges never again to outsourcing,” said Gerry
Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), in
reference to the popular anti-martial law slogan whose declaration is also
being remembered today.
At
7:00 am today, some 100 PALEA members in red shorts and shirts held a “Jog for
Regular Jobs” around the perimeter of its protest camp outside the PAL
In-Flight Center. “A sound mind and body together with job security is the
basis for productive work. This is the message we wish to send with this early
morning mass action,” explained Rivera.
A
mass to be celebrated by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo at 10:00 am
was the highlight of PALEA’s anniversary commemoration. A mass meeting followed
the mass in which speakers from PALEA and supporters such as PM, Nagkaisa, the
Church-Labor Conference, community and civil society groups spoke.
Renato
Magtubo, PM chair, averred that “PALEA is able to celebrate its 66th
year of existence today thanks to the courageous resistance of its members to
outsourcing and union busting and the steadfast support of labor and church groups
to its fight for regular jobs.”
The
anniversary celebration today is also a build-up to the “Global Day of Action against
Outsourcing” on September 27 in which protest actions will be staged by
aviation and other workers in Australia, Turkey, India, Canada, USA and Germany.
PALEA will commemorate its one year of protest against outsourcing with a rally
at Mendiola together with Nagkaisa and then a motorcade to the protest camp after.
Simultaneous rallies will also be held in Cebu at the PALEA picketline near the
Mactan International Airport and in Davao at the downtown area.
“If airline workers take industrial action, on the same day,
in a coordinated way, all over the world, the struggle against job outsourcing
will be stronger and more effective,” asserted the groups which have joined for
the global day of action. Aside from PALEA, the Turkish civil aviation union
Hava-Is, unions at Australia’s Qantas, the Lufthansa flight attendants union
UFO, Canadian aviation union CAW-TCA, Air India unions, UNITE-HERE in the USA
and the Australia Asia Worker Links are participating.
PALEA
also announced that on October 8 that Nagkaisa will hold a
picket at House of Representatives to push for the plenary discussion of the Security
of Tenure bill. “It is not just the bills for reproductive health and freedom
of information that are jammed at the legislative mill, but other real social
reform measures such as the security of tenure bill which seeks to restrict the
epidemic of contractual work and the proliferation of 6 months endo jobs,”
Rivera elaborated.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
PALEA vows “Never again outsourcing” on its 66th anniversary
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: PALEA celebrates founding with “Jog for Regular Jobs,” mass meeting
and mass by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
WHEN: September 21, 7:00 am (Jog); 10:00 am (Meeting/Mass)
WHERE: PALEA protest camp
DETAILS: After the
anniversary celebration, the other PALEA activities are:
September 27:
PALEA commemorates one year of protest vs. outsourcing with Global Day of
Action
9:30 am-10:00 am: March from Morayta to Mendiola with Nagkaisa labor
groups
11:00 am: Motorcade from Mendiola to
PALEA protest camp
Rallies in Cebu @ PALEA picketline near Mactan Intl Airport and Davao @
downtown area
Protest actions by aviation workers in Australia, Turkey, India,
Canada, USA and Germany
October 8:
PALEA and Nagkaisa pickets House of Representatives to push for Security of
Tenure bill
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Labor cries foul over Pasay judge ruling against PALEA
Nagkaisa!
PRESS RELEASE
11
September 2012
The
country’s biggest coalition of trade unions and labor organizations, NAGKAISA!
described as ‘sadistically anti-labor’ a Pasay judge who adversely ruled against
the protesting officers and members of the Philippine Airlines Employees
Association (PALEA).
On
September 3, 2012, when PALEA photocopied the entire court record of a pending
case of grave coercion filed by the Philippine Airlines against a number of union
officers and members, it accidentally discovered from among the documents an order
dated August 15, 2012 already signed by Judge Bibiano Colasito of Pasay City’s Metropolitan
Trial Court Branch 44 for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against 39
officers and members of PALEA.
“What a farce! On July
25, a Pasay court under Judge Mupas freed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on bail
citing weak evidence against the former President. It granted the same to former Comelec Chair
Benjamin Abalos on August 18. Nobody
noticed that during this same period, August 15, there was another Pasay judge
in the name of Bibiano Colasito who ordered the arrest of 39 PALEA officers and
members from a clearly non-criminal but dispute related action by workers,” bewailed NAGKAISA! leaders
during a press conference held yesterday
at the TUCP headquarters in Quezon City.
NAGKAISA!
said Colasito’s ruling was unfair and unjust. In particular, it cried foul on the
judge’s decision to blindly entertain the information filed by the prosecutor against
the accused PALEA officers and members without the required clearance from the labor
department as provided under DOJ Ministry Circular No. 15 (Series of 1982) and
Department of Labor and Employment Department Order No. 40-G-03 (Series of
2010).
Labor
leaders pointed out that the PAL-PALEA dispute on outsourcing/contractualization
was the biggest labor dispute in the country that hugged the news during the
last three years thus any action by PALEA members clearly arose from this long
running dispute completely ignored by the Office of City Prosecutor and then by
Judge Colasito.
“Worse, Colasito
sided with the fallacious claim by PAL that PALEA members ‘coerced’ the company
on October 29, 2011 when on the contrary it was the PALEA protest camp that was
attacked on the same time and date by dozens of hired goons resulting in fact to
the arrest of one goon, physical injuries to several PALEA members, and the
destruction of half of the camp,” said NAGKAISA!.
The
labor coalition said, it will join PALEA in taking Colasito’s action to higher
authorities for remedy and will not hesitate to file administrative charges
against the judge if necessary.
The
group is alarmed that once Colasito’s action takes precedence, courts can anytime
be utilized by employers as a tool to supress labor rights by criminalizing
cases arising out of purely labor-related disputes – rights that were respected
even during the martial law period.
NAGKAISA!
also called on the new PAL management to commence negotiations with PALEA
rather than pursue a protracted legal battle that will never arrive at a just
resolution to the lingering labor dispute in the flag carrier.
Apart from the grave coercion rap, 234 PALEA members
including the top leaders are facing another case for violation of RA 9497
or the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Law in relation to
their September 27, 2011 protest against outsourcing that disrupted airport
operations.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
PALEA slams arrest warrants on 39 members
Press
Release
September
6, 2012
PALEA
The
Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) slammed a Pasay
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
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
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
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
PALEA calls on PAL stockholders to reinstate regular workers
Press Release
August 29, 2012
PALEA
On the eve of its annual meeting, the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) today called on the stockholders of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to reinstate the regular workers who were retrenched in the controversial outsourcing scheme. “There will be no industrial peace at PAL without justice for workers. PALEA is part of the solution to the problems of the flag carrier,” insisted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.
PALEA vowed to press on with its fight against outsourcing at PAL as it commemorated the other day the 11th month of its picketline with an assembly of several hundred workers at the protest camp outside the PAL In-Flight Center. The union is busy preparing for the anniversary of its protest with a planned global day of action on September 27 which will be marked by rallies and activities in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia , Ankara in Turkey , San Francisco in the USA , Lahore in Pakistan
The PAL stockholders meeting will be held 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel in Manila
Rivera clarified that “Even as PALEA calls on the new management of PAL and its stockholders to end the dispute in order to revive the flag carrier, we remain vigilant in the face of continuing attacks on our members such as the criminal charges against the PALEA 300.” Last July 27 and August 3 respectively PALEA filed at the Municipal Trial Court and the Department of Justice motions to review the finding of “probable cause” against 234 of its members 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.”
In a resolution dated June 20, 2012, the city prosecutor recommended the filing of information against respondents to the case which means that warrants of arrest may be issued anytime them. Rivera avers that “PALEA’s protest at the airport last September 27, 2011 was an exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed right of workers to concerted action and thus not illegal nor criminal.”
PALEA asserts that despite PAL’s use of contractual employees to replace its regular workforce, the lack of skilled workers and a boycott campaign has cut the airline’s passenger and cargo load factor. After almost a year of protest, a majority of the 2,400 PALEA members who were retrenched still refuse to accept their retrenchment and are determined to fight for regular jobs. Even among those who availed of separation, many nonetheless rejected working for the service providers.
The call for a global day of action by PALEA and has been endorsed by International Transport Workers Federation aviation section in the Asia Pacific, Qantas unions, the Australia-Asia Workers Links and the Turkish airline union Hava-is among others. “If airline workers take industrial action, on the same day, in a coordinated way, all over the world, we will be stronger and more effective,” declared participants to the global day of action (https://www.facebook.com/events/399444630110706/).
Friday, July 27, 2012
PALEA holds protest as 234 members threatened with arrest
Press Release
July 27, 2012
PALEA
Some 100 members of the Philippine Airlines Employee Association (PALEA) picketed the Pasay Hall of Justice this morning as union lawyers filed a petition for the Municipal Trial Court to review the finding of “probable cause” by a fiscal. In a resolution dated June 20, 2012, the city prosecutor recommended the filing of information against 234 respondents to the case.
“Ex-President Gloria Arroyo is freed on bail by a Pasay fiscal despite arguably strong evidence of electoral sabotage while a colleague threatens 234 workers with arrest for alleged ‘economic sabotage’ on dubious grounds. PALEA’s protest at the airport last September 27, 2011 was an exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed right of workers to concerted action and thus not illegal nor criminal,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.
Warrants of arrest may be issued against the accused even as the resolution provides for bail of Php 6,000 each or a total of Php 1,404,000. Philippine Airlines (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”. PAL initially announced that some 300 PALEA members joined the protest action thus the respondents have been called the PALEA 300.
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. But PALEA will not be cowed as our fight enters it 10th month,” he explained.
“Early next week, we will also file a similar petition to the Department of Justice, which has jurisdiction over prosecutors, for a review of the resolution. We expect that these motions would stay the issuance of warrants of arrest,” Rivera added.
He explained that “The decision is void of any legal basis as no damages were committed to airport facilities. Moreover the case is a labor issue and thus prior authority from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Justice should have been secured prior to the filing of the complaint. 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.”
Rivera further asserted that PAL services deteriorated sharply after September not because of damaged equipments but due to lack of skilled and experienced manpower after PALEA members, in opposition to outsourcing, refused to transfer to assigned service providers. PALEA insists that PAL can only “fly the flag proud” by getting its regular workers back. Supporters of PALEA are calling for a boycott of PAL and its sister company Air Philippines until the laid off workers are reinstated to their regular jobs.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
PALEA calls on senators to hear PAL testimony
Press Release
February 23, 2012
PALEA
The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) called on the senators sitting as judges in the impeachement trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona to reconsider and hear the testimony of Philippine Airlines (PAL) management. PALEA also defended its lawyer, Atty. Marlon Manuel, for appearing as a private prosecutor in the trial. “We call on any of the senators who does not have a platinum card in his or her wallet to stand up for truth and move that PAL testify regarding the privileges given to CJ Corona and his wife,” said Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.
Meanwhile more than a hundred PALEA members trooped this morning to the Department of Agrarian Reform national office in Quezon City
He also insisted that the testimony of PAL VP for Sales, Enrique Javier, is relevant in Article 3 of the impeachment complaint since “The platinum card is directly related to the Pilato-num decision of the Supreme Court on the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association (FASAP) case.” Two weeks ago, PALEA had already challenged PAL to appear at the impeachment trial after FASAP president Roberto Anduiza accused CJ Corona of influencing the Supreme Court.
In reply to the House minority’s criticism of Atty. Manuel’s appearance as a private prosecutor, Rivera clarified that PALEA has no “axe to grind” and “vested interest” in ousting CJ Corona since their case against PAL’s outsourcing plan is pending at the Court of Appeals not the Supreme Court. “Rep. Danilo Suarez should get his facts right before he speaks. He might be accused of being one of the government officials given platinum cards, as defense lawyers have declared. Within PAL, it is said that only those who are FOB’s or friends of the boss receive a platinum card as a gift,” Rivera argued.
PALEA has previously staged rallies at the impeachment trial and called for “Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona Corona Corona
He added that “The people want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her minions like Corona
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
PALEA calls for pro-labor Chief Justice
Press Release
February 7, 2012
PALEA
The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) staged a picket at the Senate for the second straight day and called for a pro-labor Chief Justice. Some 100 PALEA members rallied before the start of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona carrying placards with the message “Ang tipo naming Chief Justice ay kakampi ng maliliit hindi kakuntsaba ng mayayaman.” The rallyists also brought a giant tarpaulin emblazoned with the slogan “Reporma lagpas kay Gloria at Corona
The PALEA rally coincided with the press conference this morning of the “Ang Tipo Kong Chief Justice Movement” in Quezon City Philippines
“We appeal to our fellow workers to raise their voices and vote with their feet as to what standards should a Chief Justice be held to. We do not deserve a Chief Justice who can be bought by the second-richest Filipino. We cannot have a Supreme Court that will recall a ruling in favor of 1,800 flight attendants due to a mere letter from Philippine Airlines (PAL) lawyer Estelito Mendoza,” explained Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.
He added that “Workers want a pro-labor Chief Justice who will make real the dictum that those who have less in life shall have more in law. But a Chief Justice is only one person who can do so much. Thus we further demand fundamental reforms in our society.”
Rivera enumerated a sample of the fundamental reforms that PALEA is seeking. First, the prosecution not just of a corrupt Chief Justice but the purging of labor dealers in the DOLE and NLRC. The imprisonment not just of an illegitimate president but the punishment of killers of labor leaders.
Second, a shift in change in the government’s labor policy so that regular jobs are protected, contractualization is stopped, wages are not frozen, and the freedoms to organize and bargain are guaranteed.
And finally, a reversal of the neoliberal economic model that has led to the collapse of domestic industry and agriculture. Instead of labor exported abroad, jobs must be generated in the country through national industrialization, land reform and agricultural modernization.
Meanwhile PALEA continues to garner international support as the US union Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the biggest flight attendants group in the world, sent a letter of concern to the PAL office at the Los Angeles
Ang Tipo ng Manggagawang Chief Justice ay Pro-Labor
Press Statement
February 7, 2012
Gerry Rivera
PALEA President
We join the call for people to become active stakeholders not just passive spectators in the ongoing impeachment trial. In particular we appeal to our fellow workers to raise their voices and vote with their feet as to what standards should a Chief Justice be held to.
We deserve a Chief Justice of a higher moral and professional caliber. Not a Chief Justice who can be bought by the second-richest Filipino. Not a Supreme Court that will recall a ruling in favor of the 1,800 flight attendants who were illegally dismissed due to a mere letter from Philippine Airlines lawyer Estelito Mendoza.
Workers need a speedy resolution of cases instead of thousands of labor cases remaining trapped in the backlog of the Supreme Court since crooked capitalists know that the wheels of justice grind ever so slowly for those without money and influence. Justice delayed is truly justice denied for workers.
Workers want a pro-labor Chief Justice. Someone who will put flesh to the Constitutional proviso that workers shall enjoy full protection. A Chief Justice who will make real the dictum that those who have less in life shall have more in law. Ang tipo ng manggagawang Chief Justice ay kakampi ng maliliit hindi kakuntsaba ng mayayaman.
But a Chief Justice is only one person who can do so much. Even a cleansing of the entire judiciary cannot liberate the oppressed. Thus we demand fundamental reforms in our society.
Workers want not just the prosecution of Gloria Arroyo and her minions but the cleansing of all corrupt officials in the bureaucracy and further substantial changes in the political and economic system. In the face of the ongoing impeachment trial of the Chief Justice, workers demand “Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona
Without thoroughgoing reforms then the purging of Gloria’s followers would just pave the way for the embedding of PNoy’s own cronies in government. We want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her minions is the start of real reforms. But without any signs of fundamental changes then such is mere wishful thinking.
We want to see the prosecution not just of a corrupt Chief Justice but the purging of labor dealers in the DOLE and NLRC. We call not just for imprisonment of an illegitimate president but the punishment of killers of labor leaders.
We demand a change in the government’s labor policy so that regular jobs are protected, contractualization is stopped, wages are not frozen, and the freedoms to organize and bargain are guaranteed.
We call for a reversal of the neoliberal economic model that has led to the collapse of our domestic industry and agriculture. Instead of labor exported abroad, jobs must be generated in the country through national industrialization, land reform and agricultural modernization.
Monday, February 6, 2012
PALEA to slam Corona and PAL at impeachment rally
Press Release
February 6, 2012
PALEA
The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) held a rally this afternoon at the Senate before the start of today’s impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. More than a hundred PALEA members picketed the Senate from 12 noon to 1:00 pm in time for the expected testimony of Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) president Bob Anduiza on the recall of the Supreme Court decision on 1,800 flight attendants after a mere letter from Philippine Airlines (PAL) lawyer Estelito Mendoza.
In the protest, PALEA raised the call “Justice for workers, Reforms beyond Gloria and Corona Corona
He added that “Workers want not just the prosecution of Gloria and her minions but the cleansing of all corrupt officials in the bureaucracy and further the institution of radical changes in the political and economic system. Without such thoroughgoing reforms then the purging of Gloria’s followers would just pave the way for the embedding of PNoy’s own cronies in government.”
Rivera explained that “As it stands now, the so-called campaign for good governance by PNoy looks no more than a factional fight among the elite. This is because there is no difference between the regimes of Arroyo and Aquino with regards to labor policy, neoliberal economics and social programs. The clash between Corona
Members of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) also joined PALEA in the rally at the Senate. Renato Magtubo, PM chair, said that “Like the rest of the people, we want to believe that the prosecution of Gloria and her followers is the start of fundamental reforms. But without any signs of real changes then such is mere wishful thinking.”
The call for fundamental reforms would be the banner demand for the May 1 commemoration and the rally today serves to jumpstart the early start of the Labor Day campaign.
Meanwhile PALEA continues to garner international support as tomorrow (February 6 Pacific Standard Time) the American union AFA-CWA, the biggest flight attendants union in the world, will submit a letter of concern to the PAL office at the Los Angeles
The US flight attendants support for PALEA comes on the heels of protest actions earlier staged in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan) and Hongkong. US unions and Filipino-American groups have also initiated a boycott PAL campaign.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
PALEA 300 moves for the dismissal of PAL harassment case
Press Release
February 2, 2012
PALEA
The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) will move today for the dismissal of the case filed by the management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) for alleged violation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines law arising from the September 27 protest at the Manila International Airport
Hundreds of PALEA members also held a rally this afternoon at the Pasay Hall of Justice to coincide with the court hearing on what the union describes as a “harassment case” by PAL regarding supposed destruction of equipment during the airport protest.
“It behooves the court to dismiss this apparent harassment case because of a fatal flaw. PAL’s lawyers do not have any clearance from the Department of Labor and Employment in filing the case. Any complaint arising from a labor dispute requires such a clearance before civil courts can take jurisdiction,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.
Last January 11, the 258 PALEA members who are respondents to the case, appeared at the Pasay
He claimed that “PAL is blindly shooting nuisance cases at PALEA members in a desperate bid to force them to accept the separation package and sign up for the illegal labor contractors Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen.”
Rivera asserts further that PAL services deteriorated sharply after September not because of damaged equipments but due to lack of skilled and experienced manpower after PALEA members, in opposition to outsourcing, refused to transfer to assigned service providers.
PALEA insists that PAL’s waning reputation and deteriorating quality service can only be saved by getting its regular workers back. Supporters of PALEA are calling for a boycott of PAL and its sister company Air Philippines until the laid off workers are reinstated to their regular jobs.
On Monday, hundreds of PALEA members will join retrenched flights attendants of PAL in a rally at the impeachment trial since the president of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association is expected to testify for the prosecution.
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