PM claims victory over PAL labor dispute

CEBU, Philippines - The militant labor group, the Partido ng Manggagawa, has considered the settlement of the long-running labor dispute between the Philippine Airline (PAL) management and employees union as the biggest labor story for 2013.

The settlement, according to PM in their press statement said, that it provides for the rehiring as regular workers of some 600 PAL Employees Association (PALEA) members, including a dozen Cebu-based employees, who were retrenched in 2011 but refused to accept the outsourcing scheme.

PM said that the process of PALEA members applying for re-employment has started and PAL is mandated to give them priority for hiring in regular positions.

The agreement also grants an improved separation package of 200 percent per year of service and P150,000 in gratuity pay.

“The settlement of the labor dispute over outsourcing will have repercussions far beyond the PAL and are highly significant for the challenge presented by precarious work to workers, employers and the State,” the statement reads.

The victorious resistance of PALEA against contractualization and the vigorous campaign has engendered puts into question the popular view that precarious work is a global trend that cannot be rolled back.

PM added that another victory for the workers, was that the 500 contractual mining workers in Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City won regularization after mass actions by the worker’s union, the Panaghiusa sa Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper Corporation.

It added that PAMCC union was active in the PALEA solidarity campaign in Cebu and was directly inspired by the outcome of the PAL dispute.

“Labor groups, both in the country and abroad, have hailed PALEA’s victory as a victory for all workers,” the statement further reads.

It can be recalled that PALEA launched a nationwide protest in 2011 after the airline management implemented a contractualization scheme wherein 2,600 employees lost their jobs.

Of 2,600 employees, 600 of whom were transferred to a service provider; 1,500 opted to receive separation benefits and 600 protested.

PALEA voluntarily demolished their picket lines nationwide, including at the Mactan Cebu International Airport last November 14 after a settlement agreement was reached between the union and the manangement.

PALEA President Gerry Rivera in an earlier interview with The FREEMAN said that the settlement agreement was a victory for both the union and management.

He added that it was also a victory for the labor sector in general which serves as a reminder that security of tenure of an employee is very important as human being, who should be treated with dignity and a partner in the business development, not just a commodity.—(FREEMAN)