Since 2009 Philippine Airlines (PAL) has been attempting to achieve a massive round of closures and outsourcing of many of its operations. This would result in the dismissal of almost 3,000 employees. Many of these jobs would be tendered out to sub contracting companies where workers would end up performing the same tasks that they had been performing as regular employees of PAL, but at lower pay and conditions.
The proposed job losses, while amounting to 35% of the total PAL workforce, would hit the airlines’ union, the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) extremely hard. PALEA would lose about 70% of its members. Such a loss would fatally weaken the union and leave all remaining PAL workers vulnerable to further cost cutting measures.
PALEA has been fighting this move through legal means and mobilizations, as contrary to their Collective Agreement. The union is also accusing PAL of deceit by creating a climate of crisis by hiding its revenues in a complex web of interlinked companies. PAL’s attempt to drive down the wages and conditions of their workforce is mirrored at Qantas, Jetstar and Japanese Airlines. The PAL dispute is ongoing. Support PALEA, support Filipino workers. More information here
Since 2009 Philippine Airlines (PAL) has been attempting to achieve a massive round of closures and outsourcing of many of its operations. This would result in the dismissal of almost 3,000 employees. Many of these jobs would be tendered out to sub contracting companies where workers would end up performing the same tasks that they had been performing as regular employees of PAL, but at lower pay and conditions.
The proposed job losses, while amounting to 35% of the total PAL workforce, would hit the airlines’ union, the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) extremely hard. PALEA would lose about 70% of its members. Such a loss would fatally weaken the union and leave all remaining PAL workers vulnerable to further cost cutting measures.
PALEA has been fighting this move through legal means and mobilizations, as contrary to their Collective Agreement. The union is also accusing PAL of deceit by creating a climate of crisis by hiding its revenues in a complex web of interlinked companies. PAL’s attempt to drive down the wages and conditions of their workforce is mirrored at Qantas, Jetstar and Japanese Airlines. The PAL dispute is ongoing. Support PALEA, support Filipino workers. More information here
