Labour officials move to avert airline strike

Manila:The Philippine labour department is rushing arrangements for a dialogue between flight attendants and the management of national flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), in a bid to forestall a strike that could affect thousands of passengers.

In an interview with radio station dzXL, Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said she hopes that the management of PAL and the 1,600-member Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap) will arrive at a mutually beneficial solution to address concerns hobbling the flag carrier and its frontline employees.

On Thursday, the Fasap filed a notice of strike before the Department of Labour and Employment.

The basis for the strike notice were long-time demands by flight attendants for management to scrap the 40-45 year-old age limit for flight attendants, as well as policies by the airline that discriminate against female employees, among other matters.

Cooling off period

The labour department ordered a 30-day "cooling off period" to enable PAL and Fasap to work out their differences.

"We will be holding marathon hearings during the 30 day period so that we can arrive a mutually beneficial solution concerning this dispute," Baldoz said.

Reached for comment, Andy Ortega, Fasap vice president, told Gulf News that the conciliation and mediation meetings are due to be held starting on Monday.

"We try to be positive on this, but some of our demands have been with them (PAL) at least three years, and still nothing is happening to improve the situation," he said.

Ortega said their demands, particularly that concerning the female flight attendants were grounded firmly on the rights specified under the Magna Carta for Women.

A strike could deal a considerable impact not just on PAL flights but also the country's tourism industry.

PAL said it is doing its best to provide continuous service even amid the threat of work disruption by flight attendants.

Unhampered service

A statement issued by the carrier tried to assure the public of continued and unhampered service despite a notice of strike filed by its cabin crew union.

"PAL's operations remain normal and all flights are operating as scheduled. There is no immediate work stoppage," PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna stressed.

Villaluna said the union's plan to go on strike is ill-timed as it would scare away tourists and cause further damage to the flag carrier's fragile finances.

"We are saddened by the union's decision, but we recognise their right to file a notice of strike," Villaluna said.

She added the union's move is untimely in the wake of thousands of Hong Kong and Chinese tourists cancelling their bookings in the aftermath of the Rizal Park hostage tragedy.

"A strike threat doesn't help in efforts to lure back tourists to the country."

PAL operates at least 30 domestic and 20 international flights every day and flies to the United States, Europe and the Middle East.