Manila preparing contingency plans for possible strike by flight attendants

Manila: The Philippines government is making contingency plans in the event that flight attendants of the flag carrier push through with their strike.

Transport Secretary Jose ‘Ping' de Jesus, in an interview over state-run dzRB radio, said President Benigno Aquino III has appealed to the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) and the management of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) to try and reach a settlement so as not to disrupt services.

FASAP is the organisation of PAL flight staff. It is made up of 1,600 members serving on the carrier's international as well as domestic routes.

On Thursday, FASAP filed a notice of strike before the Department of Labour and Employment warning of possible work stoppage at the country's premier airline until its demands are met. Its grievances with the PAL management include higher retirement age cap on flight attendants — from 40-45 to 60 — maternity leave benefits and better compensation.

Under the country's labour law, parties have a 30-day ‘cooling-off period' after the filing of a notice of strike. During this time the labour secretary will continue to mediate and find a compromise settlement. It is also within the labour secretary's authority to issue an assumption order which automatically enjoins the intended strike.

For its part, the PAL management said the union's plan to strike was "ill-timed as it would scare away tourists and cause further damage to the flag carrier's fragile finances".