Thursday, March 22, 2012

Reopening of FASAP case is a travesty of justice

Press Release
March 22, 2012
PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) called the decision of the Supreme Court to affirm the reopening of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association (FASAP) case as a “travesty of justice.” “Only in the Philippines can a case that had already been ruled with finality twice by the highest court of the land still be reviewed once more on its merits. Indeed justice delayed is justice denied for 1,400 our sister and brother flight attendants,”asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

He added that “FASAP’s case is relevant is PALEA’s fight since if the retrenchment of cabin crew in 1998 at a time when Philippine Airlines was bankrupt is illegal then so much more is the layoff of 2,400 ground staff after the flag carrier posted PhP 3 billion in profit for its previous fiscal year.”

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, chairperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa, declared that “The timing of the release of the Supreme Court resolution clearing Chief Justice Renato Corona is perfectly timed for the defense presentation in the impeachment case. It leaves everyone thinking that it is part of the impeachment defense of Corona.”

Magtubo said that the plight of FASAP and PALEA reveals the failure of the labor justice system in the country. “It is not just with the Supreme Court but even more with the graft ridden National Labor Relations Commission, National Mediation and Conciliation Board and Department of Labor and Employment that workers lose to the power of money of abusive capitalists,” he added.

“Workers demand reforms beyond the prosecution of Gloria and the impeachment of Corona. For workers at least get a taste of fair share of justice, the NLRC, NCMB and DOLE must be cleansed, and the policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization that have led to thousands of closures and layoffs, and collapse of industry and agriculture must be rolled back,” Magtubo explained.

PM announced that the May Day campaign will start early with a “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita” on the first week of April that will highlight the issues of low wages, high prices, mass unemployment, contractual jobs and urban poor demolitions.




Wednesday, March 14, 2012

While supporting demand for wage hike: PALEA joins protest vs. oil price hikes


PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2012

Locked out workers of the Philippine Airlines add their voice in calling for the government to take decisive steps in stopping relentless hikes in oil prices.

And while still battling for reinstatement after having been outsourced since October 1, 2011, members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) is also asking the government to adjust the current level of wages by granting Labor groups’ petitions for wage increase.

In a picket held at the Petron headquarters in Makati City, PALEA and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) insisted that the energy department and Malacanang must assure the public that despite movements in the international price of oil, the government has the menu of options to mitigate the impact of these price movements. 

“It is really contemptible to see energy and Palace officials getting elated with the news that there might be a 'pause' in oil price hikes this week while the fact remains that more than a decade since the oil deregulation law, the regime of higher oil prices has been pestering the lives of the masang Pinoys,” said PALEA President Gerry Rivera.

Rivera said the government must seriously consider demands for the removal of VAT on oil to mitigate the impact of oil price hikes which is expected to reach the 2008 level of P60/liter.  The government collects twelve percent in every liter of oil products.

“Raising the consumers’ capacity to buy is also an option.  Thus, a new wage order at this point in time must be issued by the government,” added Rivera. 

The group is supporting a wage increase petition filed by the TUCP at the regional wage boards as well as the bills on legislated wage hike filed in Congress by militant lawmakers.

PALEA holds solidarity action for Port of Auckland wharfies


Press Release
March 14, 2012
PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) picketed the New Zealand embassy in a show of solidarity for the embattled Port of Auckland workers. “We extend the hand of solidarity to our brother and sister wharfies who are for fighting for job security and better working conditions. The struggles they are waging mirror the same demands that we are currently fighting for at Philippine Airlines,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines).

He added that “The fight against outsourcing and contractualization is a global battle being fought by Auckland wharfies in New Zeland, PAL employees in the Philippines, Qantas workers in Australia and longshore workers in the US.” Members of PALEA picketed the New Zealand embassy along Buendia in Makati by 10:00 a.m. A delegation went to the embassy premises to deliver a letter of concern.

The picket was in response to the call for support by the International Transport Workers Federation, a global union federation of some 5 million workers in 155 countries. PALEA’s letter also expressed concern at the struggles of locked out meat workers at AFFCO and striking rest care workers of Oceania in New Zealand.

The PALEA protesters shouted “Ang laban ng wharfies ay laban ng PALEA. We are all wharfies.” Rivera explained that “PALEA condemns the drive by the management of Port ofAuckland—as well as AFFCO and Oceania—to slash labor costs, undercut labor standards and weaken job security, all in the name of competitiveness.”

The Port of Auckland strike is arguably the biggest labor dispute in New Zealand at the moment. Some 300 port workers have been dismissed after going on strike and in the midst of contract negotiations. Moreover port management has announced that it will outsource its stevedoring services.

PALEA’s letter of concern stated that “We urge the government of New Zealand to address the demands of workers at the Port of Auckland, AFFCO and OceaniaNew Zealand is signatory to international labor conventions that guarantee basic workers rights and labor standards, and thus bound by its provisions. The international labor movement would ensure through solidarity actions that your government provides an environment in which workers rights and welfare are secured.”

Rivera insisted that “We will be monitoring the situation at the Port of Auckland, AFFCO and Oceania. We will continue to hold solidarity actions until our concerns have been acted upon in the interest of the workers of New Zealand.”

Tuesday, March 13, 2012


Rally today vs. oil price hike, for wage increase

MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact Alnem Pretencio (PALEA VP) @ 09209543634



Rally vs. oil price hike, for wage increase


WHAT: PALEA to hold rally vs. oil price increase

WHEN:  Today, March 14, 11:00 am

WHEREPetron Megaplaza, Buendia, Makati

DETAILS: In the rally, PALEA will call upon the government to address the unabated oil price increases by nationalizing Petron and ending the deregulation of the oil industry. PALEA will also demand a wage increase for workers and announce its support for TUCP’s demand for a salary hike. “The escalating cost of living and the epidemic of contractual work are a double whammy on workers,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.

PALEA to picket New Zealand Embassy in support of Port of Auckland wharfies

MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact Alnem Pretencio (PALEA VP) @ 09209543634


 Solidarity action for fellow transport workers

PALEA to picket New Zealand Embassy in support of Port of Auckland wharfies


WHAT: PALEA solidarity picket for Aucklandport workers

WHEN:  Today, March 14, 10:00 am

WHERE: New Zealand Embassy, BPI BuendiaCenter (near Buendia cor.
Makati Ave.
)

DETAILS: The Port of Auckland workers are on strike and have been dismissed due to a dispute over outsourcing and contractualization. The picket is in response to the call of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) for global solidarity. PALEA will deliver a letter of concern to the New Zealand Embassy officials.

“The fight of the Auckland wharfies mirrors the struggle of Philippine Airlines employees. We stand in solidarity with them,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president.