Source: PDI
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) is assuring its passengers that the unresolved labor issues plaguing the flag carrier would not have any effect on its operations.
In a statement, the airline said its flights would continue to operate according to published schedules while all ticket offices and other sales and airport facilities in Metro Manila, the provinces and stations abroad have been maintaining regular business operations.
The company also announced its first chartered flight for the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers in Libya set to depart at 5 p.m. on Tuesday (March 8).
The company said it was using its flagship Boeing 777 jet for the repatriation flights. The aircraft has been set to fly to Crete in Greece to pick up Filipinos who have left Libya.
The company said it was able to get a special permit to fly to Greece for the repatriation, despite a standing ban on Philippine carriers from flying to Europe.
“PAL [is seeking] the understanding of passengers who might experience slight delays as the airline adjusts its aircraft schedules to give way to special charter flights for the repatriation of Filipinos fleeing the unrest in Libya,” the company said.
Meanwhile, the company said it would wait for Malacañang to resolve its pending labor cases before returning to the negotiating table with the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
On Monday, PALEA filed a new notice of strike—its second for the year—due to PAL’s refusal to negotiate a new CBA with the union. PALEA said the 10-year CBA moratorium, which the union agreed to more than a decade ago to help the company recover from massive losses at the time, had already lapsed.
PALEA’s previous notices of strike were in protest of PAL’s moves to cut 2,600 jobs to help cut costs. Malacañang has intervened in the dispute to keep the union from going on a work-stoppage, which would paralyze PAL’s operations.
PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said the outcome of Malacañang’s mediation over the spin-off issue would have a material impact on the next PAL-PALEA CBA. He said PALEA leaders should give Malacañang due respect and a free hand in resolving the spin-off issue which PALEA itself raised to the Palace on appeal.
Bautista said any CBA negotiations would cover only those to be left behind, if Malacañang upheld the spin-off.
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MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) is assuring its passengers that the unresolved labor issues plaguing the flag carrier would not have any effect on its operations.
In a statement, the airline said its flights would continue to operate according to published schedules while all ticket offices and other sales and airport facilities in Metro Manila, the provinces and stations abroad have been maintaining regular business operations.
The company also announced its first chartered flight for the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers in Libya set to depart at 5 p.m. on Tuesday (March 8).
The company said it was using its flagship Boeing 777 jet for the repatriation flights. The aircraft has been set to fly to Crete in Greece to pick up Filipinos who have left Libya.
The company said it was able to get a special permit to fly to Greece for the repatriation, despite a standing ban on Philippine carriers from flying to Europe.
“PAL [is seeking] the understanding of passengers who might experience slight delays as the airline adjusts its aircraft schedules to give way to special charter flights for the repatriation of Filipinos fleeing the unrest in Libya,” the company said.
Meanwhile, the company said it would wait for Malacañang to resolve its pending labor cases before returning to the negotiating table with the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
On Monday, PALEA filed a new notice of strike—its second for the year—due to PAL’s refusal to negotiate a new CBA with the union. PALEA said the 10-year CBA moratorium, which the union agreed to more than a decade ago to help the company recover from massive losses at the time, had already lapsed.
PALEA’s previous notices of strike were in protest of PAL’s moves to cut 2,600 jobs to help cut costs. Malacañang has intervened in the dispute to keep the union from going on a work-stoppage, which would paralyze PAL’s operations.
PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said the outcome of Malacañang’s mediation over the spin-off issue would have a material impact on the next PAL-PALEA CBA. He said PALEA leaders should give Malacañang due respect and a free hand in resolving the spin-off issue which PALEA itself raised to the Palace on appeal.
Bautista said any CBA negotiations would cover only those to be left behind, if Malacañang upheld the spin-off.
