Advisory: PALEA to file MR at Court of Appeals

MEDIA ADVISORY 

WHAT: Rally to accompany filing of motion for reconsideration on outsourcing case

WHEN:  Today, April 2, 1:00 pm

WHERE: Court of Appeals, Ma. Orosa St., Ermita, Manila

DETAILS: Two weeks ago PALEA received a Court of Appeals (CA) decision (by the Special 8^th Division, dated March 13, 2013, CA G.R. SP No. 120977) affirming the decision of the Office of the President allowing the outsourcing plan at PAL.

Hundreds of PALEA members will have a support rally while its leaders and lawyers file a motion for reconsideration to the CA decision. Despite the adverse court ruling, PALEA remains in talks with PAL management for a negotiated settlement to the long-running dispute.

The rally tomorrow comes on the heels of PALEA’s “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa” protest at the airport area and “Global Day of Action” by supporters in Melbourne, Toronto and Honolulu last March 27. The highlight of the Kalbaryo protest was the lighting of 18 torches to symbolize the 18 months of PALEA’s fight against outsourcing and contractualization.

PALEA stages Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa

Press Release

PALEA

March 27, 2013 

In commemoration of Holy Week and to highlight its continuing struggle for regular jobs at Philippine Airlines, the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) staged a “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa” today.

“Retrenched PAL workers have endured the Calvary of joblessness and poverty for the last 18 months as a result of the corporate greed of Lucio Tan and his outsourcing plan. But PALEA will endure this trial, win the fight and resurrect stronger,” declared Alnem Pretencio, PALEA vice president.

The Kalbaryo march will start at the PALEA protest camp at 4:00 pm and then proceed to the Our Lady of the Airways Parish where a short program will be held. Marchers will bring a makeshift cross to symbolize the plight of workers and highlight the call “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa, Kapitalista ang may Gawa.”

After the activity at OLAP, the rallyists will march back to the PALEA protest camp for another program. The highlight of the program will be the lighting of 18 torches to reflect the 18 months of PALEA’s fight against outsourcing and contractualization.

PALEA’s international supporters also held a “Global Day of Action” today in solidarity wit its fight and to press PAL management to immediately resolve the labor row. In Melbourne, where PALEA president Gerry Rivera is attending a labor conference, he and Australian unionists from the Maritime Union of Australia leafleted the PAL flight out of the city today.

Leafleting of departing PAL flights will also be done in Toronto and Honolulu by Canadian airline unions and by the Hawaii hotel workers. “PALEA’s fight is also our fight. The struggle against outsourcing and contractualization is a worldwide fight that can be won by global solidarity and action,” the groups abroad declared.

Las week the Court of Appeals (CA) released a decision affirming the decision of the Office of the President allowing the outsourcing plan at PAL. Next week PALEA will file a motion for reconsideration to the CA decision even as it proceeds with the ongoing talks with PAL management for negotiated settlement to the long-running dispute.

Airline unions demand reinstatement for PALEA in Global Day of Action

Photos of action at Melbourne airport at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.484791838239903.123818.100001272721169&type=1

Press Release

December 12, 2012

PALEA

Airline and other unions worldwide are demanding the reinstatement of members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) in a Global Day of Action today. The supporters of PALEA leafleted Philippine Airlines flights out of the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong in a show of international solidarity.

“A win for PALEA’s fight against outsourcing and contractualization will be a win for all airline workers,” asserted the unions abroad that joined in the Global Day of Action. Meanwhile PALEA members staged a mass action near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport today in participation at the day of action.

The management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) under the new president Ramon Ang opened talks with PALEA last October after a year of protests in the country and abroad. But talks have stalled over the demand for reinstatement. Thus in the last few weeks, PALEA and the labor unity coalition Nagkaisa have launched four rallies at the San Miguel Corp. headquarters in the Ortigas central business district.

The bitter labor row between PAL and PALEA and the continuing protests in the Philippines and around the world threatens to upset the ambitious refleeting and expansion plans of the flag carrier.

Aside from reinstatement, PALEA and its global supporters are calling for the dropping of criminal and civil charges against workers. Two PALEA members, including a single mother, have been arrested and detained while warrants remain outstanding for 37 other workers.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) declared 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.”

Participating in the Global Day of Action are the unions IAM Local 1781 in the San Francisco airport; CAW-TCA Local 2002, IAM Local 2323, CUPE Local 4092 in Toronto’s Pearson airport; the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Maritime Union of Australia, the Victorian Trades Hall Council and the Australia Asia Workers Link in Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport; and the Hong Kong Congress of Trade Unions and the Alliance of Progressive Labor at the Hong Kong international airport. Unite-HERE Local 5 in Honolulu staged the leafleting earlier last Saturday.

The unions have vowed to continue leafleting PAL flights until the demand for reinstatement is met. PALEA and Nagkaisa have planned weekly protests to bring the long running labor dispute over outsourcing and contractualization to a conclusion favorable to the workers.

“We have endured 14 months at the picketlines, two attempts to disperse the campout and several typhoons because this is a fight for the future of the present and future generation of workers. PALEA will never give up until its members are back to their regular jobs,” Rivera insisted.

Workers to hold Jericho March at San Miguel in celebration of human rights day

PRESS RELEASE

December 09, 2012

Invoking the principle workers’ rights are human rights, members of the broad labor coalition Nagkaisa! will be celebrating the International Human Rights Day tomorrow, December 10. 

But instead of a traditional march to Mendiola, Nagkaisa! members is holding a ‘Jericho March’ at the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation (SMC)  in  Pasig City to lend support to PALEA’s year-old battle for reinstatement and labor justice. 

“The labor and human rights movement’s support to PALEA will never end until the ‘walls of Jericho’ which were preventing their reinstatement crumble,” declared Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) chair and one of Nagkaisa! convenors Renato Magtubo.

Aside from labor, the human rights community lead by the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) is joining the protest.  Both argued that PAL’s outsourcing/contractualization of regular jobs was in gross violation of the workers’ constitutional right to security of tenure.

SMC President Ramon Ang took control of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) in April this year after the beer giant infused at least US$500 million of fresh equity to the ailing flag carrier.  And upon his takeover of the captain’s seat, he declared that one of his top priorities was to resolve the lingering labor dispute in PAL.

“On the part of organized labor, we strongly believe that a just resolution of the PAL-PALEA dispute will serve the best interest of both parties, including the riding public who want to see PAL fly again with pride,” explained Magtubo. 

PALEA members had been fighting a desperate battle for reinstatement after the old management of the flag carrier locked them out in September last year after 2,400 regular workers refused to be outsourced in another service company.

Magtubo said the policy of contractualization demonstrated in PAL’s outsourcing plan is the latest form of modern-day slavery that workers want eradicated.

The labor leader also announced that beginning December 12, international unions will also beholding solidarity actions for PALEA at several airports where PAL has regular flights.

PALEA slams arrest of another member, sees impending arrest of 37 others

By: InterAksyon.com
November 8, 2012 4:02 PM

File photo of a PALEA protest-action, September 2011.Joseph Agcaoili/InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) on Friday condemned the arrest of another of its members as the group prepares for another protest-action at the airport area in Pasay City.

Esther Gonzaga was arrested Thursday noon in Makati City and was granted temporary freedom at 6:30 p.m. the same day after posting bail, PALEA said in a statement. 

Gonzaga, a community leader, was nabbed near her residence while attending a barangay meeting.

The arrest of Gonzaga followed the apprehension of Romeo Sayas, who was detained in Malvar, Batangas for several days before he was released on bail.

The arrests stemmed from the August 15, 2012 order by Judge Bibiano Colasito of the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 44 to issue warrants against 39 PALEA members who were charged with grave coearcion by the PAL management.

The case is in connection with the September 2011 PALEA's blockade of the PAL Inflight Center along the city's MIA Road to protest the flag carrier's outsourcing program.

PALEA said it "believes that the warrants of arrest on the remaining 37 PALEA members may also be served in the coming days."

PALEA said that it was a "harrassment case," but the management claimed that it was the group that harassed airline staffers and service providers during the blockade.

The management also filed another case against 234 PALEA members, who were accused of violating Republic Act 9497 or the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Law.

The case was filed after PALEA members staged a protest at the Manila International Airport on September 27, 2011.

The management claimed that protesting PALEA members violated Section 81(b)(5) of the CAAP Law, which sanctions “any person who destroys or seriously damages the facilities of an airport or disrupts the services of an airport.”

According to Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chairperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa, "no criminal information can be filed against workers without the required clearance from the Department of Labor and Employment."

He said this prohibition is stated in the Department of Justice's Ministry Circular No. 15 (Series of 1982) and DOLE Order No. 40-G-03 (Series of 2010)

“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 said in a statement.

PALEA also assailed Colasito and Pasay Assistant City Prosecutor Orlando Mariano 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 said. 

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/47554/palea-slams-arrest-of-another-member-sees-impending-arrest-of-37-others

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 whovaliantly 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.

PAL vows to end dispute with workers

By Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

12:57 am | Monday, October 1st, 2012

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) long history of dealing with labor woes may finally end with the company’s new management making serious attempts to restore good relations with its workers.

PAL president Ramon S. Ang said the company’s top officials have returned to the negotiation table with its former workers—under the PAL Employees Association (Palea)—to explore various options, including the reinstatement of former workers.

“Both sides are being reasonable. Things are looking better and we are starting to understand each other,” Ang said, describing the new management’s first meeting with Palea officials last month. “We are serious about this.”

Ang, who also sits as president and chief operating officer of PAL’s new controlling shareholder San Miguel Corp., said the resolution of the labor dispute with Palea was one of the airline’s top priorities.

The dispute stemmed from the previous management’s decision to shut down three “non-core” departments, particularly the airline’s call center reservations, airport services and in-flight catering groups, after these activities were outsourced.

The legality of the outsourcing scheme was questioned by Palea before the Court of Appeals, which has yet to decide on the case.

About 2,400 workers were laid off as a result of the move but were promised jobs at the outsourcing companies that took over the PAL activities. The outsourcing was done as a way to cut costs and turn the airline around.

The flag carrier posted a net income of $11.4 million in April to May of 2012, the first quarter of the airline’s current fiscal year.

“We want to find a solution. What they are asking for, and what we can give, we will make the two meet,” Ang said. “What’s important is that we treat them humanely.”

Source: http://business.inquirer.net/84858/pal-vows-to-end-dispute-with-workers#.UGjqHJNoKX8.facebook