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!”

Sugbuanon Workers under the banner of KANAMASU declares PALag PALag sa mga Mamumuo! The death of workers rights and condemnation activity

Press Release

October 31, 2011

PALEA / KANAMASU

Tomorrow Nov.1 is the official solemnity of All Saints then the next day is all souls day wherein we celebrate the feast of the souls of our beloved ones. With this the Kahugpungan sa Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Sugbo (KANAMASU) declares PALag PALag sa mga Mamumuo on November 1, 2011 as a symbol of the death of the workers rights. KANAMASU strongly condemns the act of the management of PAL that violently harass the PALEA picketers last October 29, 2011 that resulted to injuries of 4 of our comrades from PALEA.

“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.

“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 another Board Member of PALEA.

“Amoang gikondinar ang bayolenteng pag disperse sa picket line sa among mga kaubang mga mamumuo sa PALEA ngadto sa Manila miaging Octobre 29, 2011 nga gibuhat sa mga goons ni Lucio Tan, nagpamatuod kini nga ang malinawon nga panagtapuk sa mga mamumuo aron ipadayag ang mga makatarunganon nga mga yangungu sugaton kini ug dahas nga mga pamaagi sa mga manlulupig aron makuha lamang ang ilang tumong nga maka ginansya ug dako!“ giisturya ni Jordan Jainar sa Young Workers League and Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya.

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!

With these KANAMASU will conduct a press conference and condemnation activity on November 1, 2011 at 10:00 – 11:00 in the morning at the PALEA protest camp, Airport Rd., Mactan Cebu International Airport, Lapu Lapu City. The activity will be participated by approximately 100 worker leaders under the banner of KANAMASU.

For more information please contact:

09334806337 – Ronald Sitoy, Coordinator KANAMASU

09217500732/09332427553 - Tex Bulambot, PALEA Board Member