PAL open to talks with employees over outsourcing

Philippine Airlines ( PAL) is willing to hold discussions with legitimate members of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) to resolve issues on an outsourcing program being implemented by the flag carrier.

In a statement, PAL said the management is ready to resume the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations once the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has addressed the issues on the legitimate members of the PALEA.

“We simply want to make sure that we talk to the dulyelected and legitimate leaders of the union so we can enter into a CBA with the remaining and legitimate members of PALEA in our joint quest for industrial peace,” PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said.

PAL issued the statement amid protest actions carried out by current and former PALEA members against the airline’s outsourcing program.

In 2011, PAL decided to restructure its operations by placing airport services, call center reservations and catering under the jurisdiction of third-party service providers.

To oppose the move, PA LEA conducted a strike which led PAL to file administrative cases against them and for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to file cases for violation of RA 9497 or the Civil Aviation Authority Act, which prohibits any person or entity from disrupting airport or flight operations.

Despite PALEA’s opposition, the airline was able to implement the restructuring after Malacañang and the DOLE upheld the management’s decision to separate close to 2,600 workers.

In a decision in 2013, the Appellate Court’s Special 8th Division also dismissed the petition filed by the PAL labor union against the outsourcing program.

In its decision, the court said the permanent outsourcing of non-core operations of PAL is part of the company’s right in order to continue to grow in a highly competitive industry.

Of the close to 2,600 workers who were disengaged from PAL, 1,400 ground workers accepted the retirement package.

PAL caters to 43 international and 30 domestic destinations.

The carrier, which has a threestar rating, aims to become a fivestar airline in five years.