More PAL flights cancelled as labour problems intensify

Manila The Philippines government is considering using Air Force pilots to man national flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to enable it to return to its 150 flights a day.

Four of its flights were cancelled Monday, which means a total of 40 flights have now been cancelled since 13 pilots and 12 first officers resigned last Wednesday, radio reports said.

"The presidential palace will not allow the problem to worsen. We will talk about it so public service will not be disrupted," Communications Group official Herminio Coloma said in a radio interview.

"The problem has a very big impact. It affects our tourism and commerce and the reputation of our country. That's why no less than the president has weighed in on this problem. We expect to discuss the matter at great length," said Transportation Secretary Jose De Jesus.

De Jesus asked flight attendants not to push through with their plan to hold a strike.

Salary increase

Members of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) will hold a meeting to vote on the holding of a strike following PAL's lack of response to workers' demand for a salary increase, FASAP president Bob Anduiza said in another radio interview.

A closed door meeting was held by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Transportation Secretary Jose P. De Jesus, Labour Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz, representatives of PAL management and members of the Association of Airline Pilots of the Philippines, to help resolve PAL's growing labour dispute.

On Sunday, President Benigno Aquino III ordered a meeting between government officials, PAL management and PAL's labour group to thrash out the growing labour problem. Over the weekend, PAL gave the 13 pilots and 12 first officer who did not report for work on Wednesday seven days to return to work, otherwise administrative and criminal charges would be filed against them.

"If the labour problem is prolonged, our image as a destination will be affected," Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said in a TV interview.

Congressman Rafael Mariano of Children of Sweat, a sectoral party at the House of Representatives, called for an inquiry into the resignation of PAL workers. In June, the labour department allowed PAL management to outsource operations that could affect 3,500 of PAL's 7,500 employees.

"The pilots were forced to resign because they were told that their jobs would be redundant in the future," a labour source told Gulf News.