Dapat Malaman sa Isyu ng PALEA

Pagpapaliwanag ng PALEA Position

Ano ang gusto/hiling ng PALEA?


Ang gusto ng PALEA ay manatili ang aming regular na trabaho sa PAL sapagkat ito ang magtitiyak ng kinabukasan ng aming mga pamilya. Hiling ng PALEA sa PAL na itigil ang planong outsourcing at kontraktwalisasyon habang hinihintay ang final decision of the courts [mas madaling intindihin ang pormulasyong ito kaysa legal term na final judicial resolution]. Sa ngayon ay nasa Court of Appeals ang kaso.

Sa kaso ng 1,400 flight attendants, last September ay nadesisyunan ng Supreme Court with finality na illegal ang dismissal ng PAL sa kanila noong 1998. Justice delayed is justice denied. Ayaw ng PALEA na mangyari ito sa amin. Kaya dapat wala munang tanggalan habang umaandar ang kaso. Kung sakali namang matalo sa kaso ay tatanggapin ito ng PALEA.

Handa bang makipag-ayos ang PALEA?  

Paulit-ulit na nananawagan ang PALEA sa PAL na buksan ang pag-uusap para malutas ang kaso. Sa ngayon ang PAL ay patuloy na sarado sa usapan. Simple lang ang kailangan para matapos ang dispute o problema—pabalikin ang tinanggal na 2,600 PAL employees para maging normal uli ang flights ng PAL. Samantala antayin ng PAL at PALEA ang resulta ng kaso sa korte kung tama o mali ang outsourcing.

Hindi ba’t ang PALEA strike ang sanhi ng flight disruptions?  

Hindi nag-strike ang PALEA, naka-lock-out ang PALEA members. Ayaw kaming papasukin ng PAL sa airport at offices. Nang magprotesta sa airport ang PALEA, sa halip na makipag-ayos ng PAL, nagcancel agad ito ng flights.

Mula nang pwersahang paalisin ang PAL employees noong September 27 (Martes) ng gabi hanggang madaling araw ay mga replacement workers o iskirol na ang nagtatrabaho sa PAL. Hindi kaya ng mga iskirol na palitan ang trabaho ng mga tinanggal kaya’t disrupted at cancelled ang flights. Ang failure ng outsourcing plan ang dahilan ng patuloy na flight cancellations at delays.

Bakit nag-strike ang PALEA?  

Hindi strike kundi protesta ang ginawa ng PALEA. Pansamantala kaming tumigil ng trabaho noong umaga ng September 27 (Martes) upang ipakita sa PAL na solid ang defiance sa napipintong tanggalan at pilitin ang PAL na makipagkasundo. Immediately after ng protesta, sa halip na makipag-ayos ang PAL, ay nag-decode ang kompanya ng computer systems kaya’t di na makapagtrabaho ang employees at matapos ang ilang oras ay pwersahan nang kaming pinaalis sa airport at offices. Kaya lock-out hindi strike ang naganap.

Sandal na sa pader ang PALEA. Dalawang taon na kaming nananawagan sa PAL at lumalaban sa iba’t ibang paraan para mapigilan ang tanggalan at kontraktwalisasyon. Ang protesta ang nalalabing paraan para i-defend ng PALEA ang regular na trabaho.

Bakit nagprotesta ang PALEA sa gitna ng bagyo at pinerwisyo ang mga pasahero?  

Hindi sinadya ng PALEA na magprotesta sa gitna ni Pedring dahil hindi naman kayang hulaan kailan darating ang bagyo. Kailangan nang magprotesta ng PALEA dahil wala pa man ang effectivity date ng termination noong September 30 ay pinapalitan na ang regular employees at pumapasok na ang replacement workers. Inamin na rin ng PAL, sa isang memo na binigay sa DOLE, na September 19 pa lang ay start na sila ng implementation ng outsourcing sa halip na October 1. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kinailangang magprotesta ang PALEA noong September 27.

Bakit hindi nag-notice ang PALEA na magprotesta ito upang di naabala ang pasahero?  

Pauli-ulit na nagsabi ang PALEA na magsasagawa ito ng protesta na magpa-paralyze sa oeprations ng PAL. Wala yatang naniwala sa announcement ng PALEA. Laluna’t lagi itong sinasagot ng PAL na huwag mag-alala ang mga pasahero dahil walang flight disruptions na mangyayari. Pero noong nangyari na ang protesta ng PALEA, PAL pa ang kusang nag-cancel ng flights.

Humihingi ng pag-unawa ang PALEA sa publiko sa anumang inconvenience na dulot ng protesta. Ang ipinaglalaban ng PALEA ay aming trabaho at kinabukasan ng aming pamilya. Anumang abala sa publiko ay temporary lang. Kapalit naman nito ay safe and efficient service na tanging matitiyak lang ng regular hindi kontraktwal na manggagawa.

Hindi ba economic sabotage ang ginawa ng PALEA?  

Ang saklaw ng economic sabotage ay mga kaso ng illegal recruitment, syndicated estafa, at black market operation. Hindi kasama sa economic sabotage ang labor disputes. Kahit ang sinasabing CAAP Law ay nagbabawal sa disruption ng airport services at facilities pero hindi paralyzation ng airline operations. Magkaibang bagay ang airport at airline. Pinapayagan ng Labor Code ang protests at strikes ng private sector workers kahit pa public utilities. Pinapayagan ito ng batas sapagkat kinikilalang karapatan at legitimate ang mass action bilang paraan para pwersahin ang kompanyang makipag-ayos kung may grievance o reklamo.

Naiintidihan namin ang kalagayan ng PALEA members pero sana di na kayo nag-strike o nagprotesta  

Salamat sa lahat ng nakakaunawa sa sitwasyon ng PALEA members na mawawalan ng trabaho at planong gawing kontraktwal na manggagawa. Pero hindi awa kung pag-unawa ang hiling ng PALEA. Kung naniniwala kayong mali ang ginawa ng PAL sa amin, dapat kasabay ninyong maintindihan na tama ang ginawang protesta ng PALEA. Sapagkat inaapi ang PALEA members, karapatan ng PALEA na magsagawa ng protesta. Walang makapagpapalambot sa pagmamatigas ng PAL kundi ang protesta ng PALEA at pakikiisa ng taumbayan.

Hindi ba’t malulugi o bababagsak ang PAL kundi nito gagawin ang outsourcing? Hindi ba mas mabuti nang magsakripisyo ang 2,600 employees kaysa mawalan ng trabaho ang 5,000 pang nalalabing manggagawa?  

Black propaganda at blackmail lang ito. Hindi totoong pagbagsak o nalulugi ang PAL. Nitong huling fiscal year 2010-11 ay may net income ang PAL na $72.5 million o lagpas P3 bilyon. Labas pa ito sa $46.5 million o P2 bilyong utang na nabayaran noong June 2010. Kahit ngayong taon ay mas projection ang PAL na kikita kahit pa mas maliit kaysa last year. Si Lucio Tan ang second richest Filipino at ang net worth niya ay mas malaki pa ngayon kumpara noong nakaraan, bunga na ito ng magandang kita ng PAL.

Hindi ba pwedeng magsakripisyo ang PALEA para di bumagsak ang PAL?  

Hindi nalulugi o pagbagsak ang PAL pero ganunpaman handa ang PALEA sa isang collective bargaining agreement or CBA na makipag-usap sa PAL sa mga measures para mapaganda pa ang kompanya.

Matagal nang nagsakripisyo ang PALEA. Mula 1998 ay walang bagong CBA negotiations kaya’t wala halos increase ang wages and benefits sa loob ng 13 years. Bunga ng sakripisyong ito ay narehabilitate ng mas maaga sa plano ang PAL. Pero noong 2009, sa panahong dapat ay magkaroon na ng bagong CBA negotiations, tsaka nag-announce ang PAL ng outsourcing. Tanggalan ang reward ng PAL sa sacrifice ng PALEA.

Hindi ba’t makakatanggap naman ng magandang separation offer ang PALEA?  

Regular na trabaho hindi separation pay ang ipinaglalaban ng PALEA. Kapag pumayag ang PALEA members na matanggal at maging kontraktwal ay hindi na namin kayang buhayin nang disente ang aming mga pamilya.

Hindi ba ligal nang isagawa ng PAL ang outsourcing dahil may desisyon na?  

Kinampihan ang PAL ng DOLE at ng Office of the President na pwede itong mag-outsourcing. Pero ang proseso ng batas ay hindi pa ito agad maaring ipatupad sapagkat maari pang isampa ang kaso sa Court of Appeals at Supreme Court. Sa ngayon ay nakasampa ang kaso ng PALEA sa Court of Appeals at hiling ng PALEA na huwag ipatupad ang outsourcing hangga’t walang final decision ang korte.

Hindi pwedeng double standard ang PAL na kapag panalo ito sa kaso ay agad magpapatupad pero kapag talo ito ay iaappeal pa korte bago sumunod. Sa kaso ng flight attendants, pinaaabot ng PAL ang kaso sa Supreme Court at dalawang beses pa itong nag-motion for reconsideration. Sa dulo ay nagdesisyon ang Supreme Court with finality na illegal ang dismissal sa 1,400 flight attendants.

Ano ang outsourcing plan ng PAL?  

Ang plano ng PAL ay tanggalin ang 2,600 employees sa tatlong departments—airport services, inflight catering at call center reservations. At ililipat kami sa tatlong service providers—ang Sky Logistics, Sky Kitchen at SPI Global. Ibig sabihin ang regular employees ng PAL ay gagawing kontraktwal sa mga providers or agencies.

Ano ang epekto sa PALEA members ng planong outsourcing?  

Malaking sakripisyo at perwisyo ang magiging epekto ng outsourcing at kontraktwalisasyon. Babagsak ang sweldo, mawawalan ng benepisyo, wala nang kasiguraduhan sa trabaho at wala na ring unyon na boses at proteksyon ng manggagawa.

Bilang halimbawa, ang isang PAL senior reservations agent ay kasalukuyang tumatanggap ng P22,400 in salaries at allowances. Kapag lumipat siya sa SPI Global, P10,000 na lang ang sweldo niya. Ang isang master mechanic ng PAL, kapag lumipat sa Sky Logistics ay papaswelduhin na lang ng P11,111.50.

Sasahod ng mas mababa pero magtratrabaho ng mas mahaba. Sa service provider ay 8 hours per day at 6 days a week ang trabaho. Kumpara ito sa 7.5 hours per day at 5 days a week sa PAL.

Ang isang PAL employee na 20 o 30 years ang work experience, kapag lumipat sa service provider ay gagawing probationary for 6 months! Walang kasiguruhan ang trabaho sa service providers sapagkat contractual ang status.

Nangyari na ito sa 55 newly-hired customer service agents ng PAL na kinuha nitong June at July para sa 6-month contracts. Pero ngayong buwan ay biglaan silang na-terminate ng PAL. Sa isang iglap ay wala na silang trabaho, wala nang sweldo, wala nang pagkain sa lamesa ang kanilang pamilya.

Walang manggagawa ang mabubuhay ng disente sa sahod, benepisyo at working conditions ng isang kontraktwal. Hindi makakasabay ang aming sahod sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Hindi na namin mapapag-aral ang aming mga anak. Wala kaming pagkukunan kapag may nagkasakit sa aming pamilya. Walang kaming kinabukasan at dangal sa trabahong kontraktwal.

Bakit nilalabanan ng PALEA ang outsourcing plan ng PAL?  

Tutol ang PALEA sa outsourcing plan dahil ito ay isang scheme para sa kontraktwalisasyon ng mga manggagawa at pagbuwag ng unyon. Tatanggalin ang 2,600 PAL employees at gagawin kaming contractuals sa service providers or agencies. Madudurog din ang unyon dahil 70% ng members at 62% ng leaders ang matatanggal. Kapag natanggal ang 2,600 ay siguradong kasunod na rin ang natitira pang 900 na maiiwang PALEA members.

Nag-announce ang PAL ng outsourcing plan noong 2009, sa panahong dapat ay magsimula na ang bagong CBA negotiations. Ibig sabihin, bad faith o may masamang balak ang PAL na umiwas lang sa CBA at madurog ang PALEA.

Hindi ba’t ang departments to be outsourced ay non-core kaya ok lang?  

Palusot lang ng PAL ang tawaging non-core services ang tatlong departments to be outsourced—airport services, inflight catering at call center reservations. Baluktot na katwiran ng PAL na ang business daw nila ay flying kaya’t di kailangan ang departments na ito. Kung di pala kami kailangan, bakit ngayon ay di makapag-operate ng maayos ang PAL?  Essential and necessary sa operations ng PAL ang trabaho ng PALEA members at di dapat i-outsource.

Hindi ba’t global trend na ang outsourcing?  

Totoong global trend ang outsourcing at kontraktwalisasyon. Pero totoo din na global trend ang defiance sa outsourcing at kontraktwalisasyon. Kahit saan sa mundo, nilalabanan ng manggagawa ang kontraktwalisasyon. Example lang, sa ngayon ay naka-strike ang Qantas airline workers ng Australia dahil sa outsourcing. Sa Egypt at Tunisia, ang spark ng revolutions sa Arab countries, hiling ng manggagawa ang regular na trabaho, ayaw nila ng contractual status. Sa Europe at US ay madaming protests at general strikes laban sa contractualization.

Ang global trend sa kontraktwalisasyon ang isang factor sa pagputok ng global recession. Dahil sa kontraktwalisasyon, bumagsak ang kabuhayan ng mga manggagawa at wala na silang pambili ng mga pangangailangan sa buhay. Sobrang daming produkto pero walang pambili ang mga tao. Tuloy nagka-krisis. Regular na trabaho ang kailangan para sa maganda ang takbo ng ekonomiya bukod sa maganda ang buhay ng manggagawa.

Bakit sinasabing ang laban ng PALEA ay laban ng lahat?  

Ang pagtutol sa kontraktwalisasyon ay laban ng lahat ng manggagawa. Hindi lang ipinaglalaban ng PALEA ang kinabukasan ng aming pamilya. Ito ay isang laban para sa lahat ng manggagawang Pilipino.Kapag natuloy ang kontraktwalisasyon sa PAL, gagayahin ito ng iba pang mga kompanya. Pero kapag napigilan ang outsourcing sa PAL, simula na ito ng pagbaliktad sa maling kalakaran ng kontraktwalisasyon.

Blacklisted PALEA member returns from US, rejoins protest

Press Release
November 12, 2011
PALEA

 A member of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) who was refused boarding by Philippine Airlines (PAL) for allegedly being on a “blacklist” of protesting employees, returned from the United States today and vowed to rejoin the fight against contractualization. Belle Savellano and her family arrived from Taipei on an Eva Airways flight around noon today. Last November 6, PAL denied to fly Savellano and six members of her family despite holding tickets for the Los Angeles-Manila flight.

“It is good to be back home even after the petty persecution I experienced at the hands of PAL. My husband and children who should have been at work and school early this week, and even my 80-year mother suffered from PAL’s harassment of its protesting employees,” stated Savellano.

 Meanwhile PALEA welcomed Savellano back to the protest. “Belle will be warmly received by her PALEA colleagues in the protest camp. Unfortunately, further harassment awaits Belle as the threat to disperse the campout continues to this day. A few days ago, PAL filed criminal charges against the PALEA 41 just to bully them into accepting the separation package and applying as contractuals in the service providers,” said Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

Yesterday the PALEA campout was the scene of renewed tension as a firetruck and scores of police accompanied a shuttle bus of PAL that went inside the In-Flight Center (IFC). But no untoward incident happened as PALEA members simply watched the bus arrive and depart from the compound.

 PALEA has been questioning PAL’s insistence in operating the IFC since its in-flight catering and airport services have already been closed down. Rivera asserts that “Evidently PAL will allow Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen use of the IFC which means the service providers are nothing but illegal labor-only contractors.”

 Representatives from PM-USA and Filipino-American groups BANTAY Pilipinas-Los Angeles, Alliance Philippines and Echo Park Community Coalition earlier called on the public especially Filipino-Americans to boycott PAL as the groups condemned the harassment tactics of the company against PALEA members.

 Savellano, a PALEA member who worked for PAL for more than 28 years, is one of some 2,400 employees locked out after PALEA’s protest last September 27. Savellano and family flew to the US on October 19 to visit their relatives in San Diego using her employee travel benefit that was approved before the lock out. On October 23, PAL issued a memo that renders Savellano’s return ticket useless.

 The Fil-Am groups vowed to increase its efforts to campaign for the boycott of PAL until the flag carrier has heeded the demands of PALEA for the return to their regular jobs. They believe that the fight against corporate greed is exemplified in the struggle of PALEA. They jointly declared that “The oppression of PALEA is a reflection of the plight of ordinary workers all over the world. We have to fight back as we are all PALEAns!”

ANTONIO ENERO STORY

Shared by Jeng Senga, PALEAn

I went to Mr. Antonio's wake yesterday afternoon at Filipinas Funeral in Las Pinas. Mr. Enero as we call him in the office as "January". He was under my supervision at Baggage Sorting Area for almost 2 years. He is a father of 2. His youngest daughter is about 5 years old. He is a quiet person, hardworking and one person i can rely on during flight disruptions. According to his wife, January was confined at Cardinal Santos Hospital days before September 27 due to Leukemia. On that day when Pal management dispersed our fellow Paleans who were present at that time at the airport. January heard about it and saw it on the news the next day and he told his wife "Irene, kung wala lang akong sakit nandyan din ako sa picket line, kasama mga kapwa ko PALEANS".


Morning of Sept. 30, his doctors and nurses at Cardinal Santos told him and Irene that someone called from PAL HR office advising that "January is already terminated from work so as his medical benefits, and if they want to continue his medications and confinement, they have to pay on their own and the company will not shoulder the expenses anymore". January badly needed 14 anti-biotic shots for 7 days. 1 shot of antibiotic is worth 5,000php. They only had given him 2 shots. Irene was crying because they dont have money to pay for the confinement and medications from Sept. 30 onwards, so they were forced to leave the hospital on Sept.30, 12noon cut-off time. 

January became weaker and weaker because his medications were stopped. After 4 days upon release at Cardinal Santos Hospital, he was confined at Perpetual Help Las Pinas. They had to do all the tests again as well as the antibiotic. Irene was so worried about the expenses and told her husband to get the separation pay so they can pay the hospital bills and medications. January said "Hindi, LABAN PA RIN TAYO, mangungutang na lang tayo"!. As January was lying on his hospital bed, he heard over the news that FASAP won the case. He clapped and said "IRENE, TINGNAN MO NANALO ANG FASAP! IBIG SABIHIN MANANALO DIN ANG PALEA"! Irene told me "Mam, nung napanood nya yung news na yun nabuhayan sya ng loob at nakita ko yung saya sa mukha nya"! kaya mam sabi ko sa asawa ko "o sige pagaling ka para makapunta ka sa picket line". Palagi nya nga pong hinihintay ang news about PALEA case gusto nya makita yung mga kasamahan nya sa baggage. 

The wife notices everyday he is getting weaker and January was worried where they will get the money to pay for the hospital bills at the same time worried about pal-palea labor dispute. But due to huge amount of hospital bills they both decided to avail of the separation pay. The next day, January complained about this pain on his upper nose and seems like a blood clot. So he was immediately brought to ICU and was given 72hours to live. Irene got the separation pay on Oct 15th, January died Oct 16. Irene was shaking yesterday when she told me " Ma'm, alam mo kung hindi kami pinaalis sa Cardinal Santos at nagtuloy tuloy ang antibiotic nya, sana nakasama pa namin sya ng mas matagal"... RIP MR. ANTONIO ENERO! YOU WILL BE MISSED BY PALEANS!

PALEA member in Los Angeles cry harassment by PAL, PM-USA vows support

Press Release

November 10, 2011

A member of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) is crying harassment by Philippine Airlines (PAL) for being refused boarding on a flight back to Manila from Los Angeles. Belle Savellano, PALEA members and PAL employee for 28 years, was not allowed to board the PAL LAX-MNL flight last November 6 for being allegedly on “blacklist of PALEA members.”

[Link to video clip of LAX incident: http://youtu.be/VakfsiiQtjg]

“We need to go back to the Philippines since my husband should have gone back to work last November 8 and my children also should have started school on the same day. Also my 80-year mother wants to be reunited with her relatives. My family is suffering because of what PAL is doing,” Savellano explained.

Ian Seruelo, liaison officer of PM-USA who is assisting Savellano in her fight, asserted that“We believe this petty persecution is meant to force Savellano to accept the separation offer and sign up for the service provider which is desperately in need of skilled and experienced workers from PALEA. But Savellano refuses to be a scab and is one with the 2,000 PALEA members who have defied the outsourcing plan.”

Seruelo together with representatives of Filipino-American groups BANTAY Pilipinas-Los Angeles, Alliance Philippines and Echo Park Community Coalition accompanied Savellano to theLos Angeles airport last Sunday. The groups also issued an appeal for Filipino-Americans to boycott PAL.

Savellano and family flew to the US on October 19 to visit their relatives in San Diego using her employee travel benefit that was approved before the lock out. On October 23, PAL supposedly issued an “internal memo” that renders Savellano’s return ticket useless.

“We condemn the violence and other harassment tactics employed by PAL against PALEA. Last October 29, goons hired by PAL attacked the PALEA protest camp. Now, PAL issued a memo unjustly rescinding the earned travel benefits of these employees. Clearly all of these are meant to harass protesting workers. We call on the public to continue supporting the struggle of PALEA for decent jobs,” Seruelo insisted.

The Fil-Am groups vowed to increase its efforts to campaign for the boycott of PAL until the flag carrier has heeded the demands of PALEA for the return to their regular jobs. They believe that the fight against corporate greed is exemplified in the struggle of PALEA. They jointly declared that “The oppression of PALEA is a reflection of the plight of ordinary workers all over the world. We have to fight back as we are all PALEAns!”

PALEA says criminal charges against 41 members is just another harassment

Press Release

November 10, 2011

PALEA

 The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) declared that the criminal charges filed by Philippine Airlines (PAL) against 41 of its members are just part of the continuing harassment of its peaceful protest camp. “PAL is using the courts to bully our members in to submission. The filing of charges left and right is meant to coerce PALEA members to avail of separation package and to apply as contractuals in Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen which are gravely in need of the trained expertise of these workers,” announced Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

PALEA is confident that similar to the dismissal of PAL’s motion for a temporary restraining order against the campout by Pasay Judge Maria Rosario Ragasa, the criminal charges will also be found without merit. “All the incidents at the protest camp arose out of and involve the labor dispute between PAL and PALEA and thus jurisdiction properly resides in the National Labor Relations Commission or the Labor Department,” Rivera explained.

He argued that “The big question is: Why is PAL trying to operate the In-Flight Center (IFC) when its in-flight catering and airport services have already been closed down? Evidently PAL will allow Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen use of the IFC which means the service providers are nothing but illegal labor-only contractors.”

Rivera also described the incident involving the PAL truck that attempted to leave the PAL In-Flight Center last October 29 as “a diversionary tactic while hired goons attacked the protest camp.” Rivera added that “The PAL truck tried to leave the compound accompanied by a phalanx of security guard in full riot gear. But despite their overwhelming number vis-avis a handful of PALEA members, the PAL guards retreated when the attack on the other end of the protest camp was already proceeding.”

He recounted that “At around 5:45 am, some 40 hired goons attacked the PALEA protest camp while women and children were still sleeping. Armed with long sticks and stones, the goons destroyed tents in half of the campout and injured seven PALEA members in the violent daybreak. One of the goons was apprehended and confessed in a sworn testimony to the police that they were paid by management. In a new outsourcing scheme, PAL had employed the services of a goons-provider to undertake the dispersal attempt.”

PALEA is asking the public to “Look at the complete picture. Be a critical judge.” 

The REAL TYRANNY AT PAL IN FLIGHT CENTER

by Palea-ITF on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 10:00am

View at PALEA-ITFs' Facebook Account

At around 5:45 am on October 29, some 40 hired goons of PAL attacked the PALEA protest camp while women and children were still sleeping. Armed with long sticks and stones, the goons destroyed tents in half of the campout and injured seven PALEA members in the violent daybreak.

One of the goons was apprehended and confessed in a sworn testimony to the police that they were “paid by management.” In a new outsourcing scheme, PAL had employed the services of a goons-provider to undertake the dispersal attempt.

As a diversionary tactic just before the attack, a PAL truck tried to leave the compound accompanied by a phalanx of security guard in full riot gear. But despite their overwhelming number, the PAL guards retreated since the teargas they used blew in their faces.

Immediately PAL and its media machinery went into action to deny their obvious culpability in the attack. Apparently their best defense is offense. They are trying to turn the tables by suing PALEA for blocking its trucks.

The big question is: Why is PAL trying to operate the In-Flight Center (IFC) when its in-flight catering and airport services have already been closed down? Evidently PAL will allow Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen use of the IFC which means the service providers are nothing but illegal labor-only contractors.

LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. BE A CRITICAL JUDGE.

Overwhelming force of PAL guards in full riot gear provoke a handful of PALEA members as a diversionary tactic.

 Some of the hired goons and their getaway vehicle.

These are not police but a second group of goons in riot gear attempting vainly to launch a second wave of attack. 

 Aftermath of the failed dispersal of the PALEA protest camp.

 Working class hero and true PALEAn Pablito Leonardo injured in the face by a stone from one of the goons while defending the camp out.

Attacker Johnny dela Cruz confessed being hired by management to tear down the PALEA camp out.

PALag PALag sa mga Mamumuo, Workers’ React during All Souls Season

November 2, 2011

Wednesday

Today the world celebrates the All Souls Day, but PALEA and KANAMASU shares to the world another way of commemorating this event. It’s called PALag PALag sa mga Mamumuo!

PALag means react, we will react against the present attack of the evil forces emanates from the tycoon Lucio Tan with a back up support of DOLE Sec Baldoz & Pnoy.

PALag PALag adopted from Kalag Kalag, a bisaya term for the celebration of All Souls, as we celebrate for the souls of our faithful  departed, we are encouraged to put our senses over to look, think and act on the prevailing issues within our society today, one main issue today that we cannot deny is the Policy being implemented by the Philippine Government which is to disregard the Rights of Workers and support the Outsourcing or Contractualization scheme with the partnership of Companies Management and Service Providers. Evidently presented to the employees of PAL, who were retrenched from its Outsourcing program.

“The labor dispute between PALEA and the PAL management with the outmost favor of the state to the capitalist class the likes of Lucio Tan on the outsourcing program of the PAL management is a blatant example of the death of Workers Rights” explained by Tex Bulambot, Board Member of PALEA.

Three main rights of workers were violated, the Right to Security of Tenure or Job Security, the Right to Self Organization to have a Union and the Right to Negotiate CBA. The case filed by PALEA at the Court of Appeals against PAL Outsourcing is still pending, latest report from a local radio states that PAL Management requested for an extension to submit its comments on the petition.

“It has been one month from October 1, 2011 that we stage our picket here at the Mactan Cebu International Airport as a protest to the deliberate anti-worker policy of PAL management and the PNOY regime, PALag means we are brave and hopeful that our struggle will win because it is right and just.” Nick Labrado, Board Member of PALEA.

We PALag to the latest assault by the desperate PAL Management on the peaceful PALEA Protest (who is gaining a lot of supporters from in and out of the country) in the IFC Campout in Manila by hiring goons, creating chaos, destroying 3 tents, wounding 8 PALEAns and incurring 1 casualty, a bystander who died of a heart attack during the assault by the hired goons at the camp.

“We condemn the violent dispersal at the picket line of our fellow workers especially PALEAns last October 29, 2011 committed by the goons hired by Lucio Tan, its just shows that a peaceful gathering of workers to voice out there valid reactions will be met by drastic actions orchestrated by the opressor to accomplish its agenda in gaining more profits!” Jordan Jainar of Young Workers League and Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya commented.

Joe Tomongja of Alliance of Progressive Labor said we are committed to win the struggle of PALEA, for it will be the blueprint to the other companies to drastically attact our labor rights. PALag means to rage, and the struggle against contractualization is necessary for the workers to PALag!

We PALag against the union busting and illegal lockout committed by the PAL management.

Everybody is called to support the workers stand, WE WANT REGULAR JOBS, WE PALag CONTRACTUALIZATION!

Everybody is expected to PALag!  

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Like us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/istandwithpalea

Follow the campaign at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/sulongpaleans.2010

                                               http://www.facebook.com/groups/kanamasu/

Visit International Transport Workers' Federation site for PAL workers:

www.saveourpaljobs.org

Discuss with your union what else can be done to support PAL workers.

Discuss with your workmates & union delegates donating to PALEA Strike Fund.

PALEA Strike Fund

Acount Number 00008-057-00403-9

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)

Quirino Ave., Baclaran, Paranaque City

Philippines