Workers at Philippine Airlines and Qantas need your support in their dramatic battle against contracting out. On 27 September, Philippine Airlines were forced to cancel all flights after thousands of workers struck and occupied their workplaces in protest at their imminent sacking and the outsourcing of their jobs. On 29 October Qantas grounded all its aircrafts and announced it would lock out its workforce in an attempt to defeat the unions that have been fighting against contracting out. These disputes are continuing, with considerable intervention by the respective governments. Daily updates are published here. Major updates are published here. Background to the Qantas dispute here.
PALEA picket Qantas and Australian embassy in Manila
Manila 30 October 2011. The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association and Partido ng Manggagawa picketed the Qantas office and Australian embassy in a show of solidarity for the embattled workers of the Australian flag carrier. “We extend the hand of solidarity to our brothers and sisters who are for fighting for job security, decent pay and better working conditions. The struggles they are waging mirror the same demands that we are currently fighting for at PAL,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair.
PALEA and PM also criticized the Australian labor court called Fair Work Australia for “surrendering to the lockout blackmail of Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.”
Letter From the Australian Licenesed Aircraft Engineers Association to PALEA
Greetings to all brother and sisters in the Philippines fighting the good fight on behalf of basic human rights, decent living standards and simple honest respect from your employer…
All ALAEA members stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with PALEA in their ongoing battle and will support them fully in their fight against unjust treatment…
Thank you for your support
Paul Cousins, Federal President
17 October 2011
Download ALAEA solidarity letter
We extend the hand of solidarity to our brothers and sisters who are working at Qantas and fighting for decent pay, better working conditions and protection of job security. The struggles you are waging mirror the same demands that we are currently fighting for at Philippine Airlines, the flag carrier of our country.
Vice Chair, Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines)
Vice Chair, Ground Staff Committee of Aviation Section, ITF
Download letter
Urgent appeal for solidarity with PALEA
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) solidarity campaign for PALEA
Motion from the Victorian Trades Hall Council Executive in support of workers in Philippine Airlines dispute
“That the VTHC calls on Philippine Airlines to reverse its agenda of outsourcing. Furthermore that VTHC expresses its support for workers seeking to exercise their democratic rights of protest and joining a union. The VTHC opposes the cutting of workers conditions to increase company profits.
The VTHC opposes the use of contracted labour to replace workers who are currently on strike."
Moved: Luke Hilakari, Seconded: Kevin Bracken
Motion put and carried
7 October 2011
Workers at Philippine Airlines and Qantas need your support in their dramatic battle against contracting out. On 27 September, Philippine Airlines were forced to cancel all flights after thousands of workers struck and occupied their workplaces in protest at their imminent sacking and the outsourcing of their jobs. On 29 October Qantas grounded all its aircrafts and announced it would lock out its workforce in an attempt to defeat the unions that have been fighting against contracting out. These disputes are continuing, with considerable intervention by the respective governments. Daily updates are published here. Major updates are published here. Background to the Qantas dispute here.
PALEA picket Qantas and Australian embassy in Manila
Manila 30 October 2011. The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association and Partido ng Manggagawa picketed the Qantas office and Australian embassy in a show of solidarity for the embattled workers of the Australian flag carrier. “We extend the hand of solidarity to our brothers and sisters who are for fighting for job security, decent pay and better working conditions. The struggles they are waging mirror the same demands that we are currently fighting for at PAL,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair.
PALEA and PM also criticized the Australian labor court called Fair Work Australia for “surrendering to the lockout blackmail of Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.”
Letter From the Australian Licenesed Aircraft Engineers Association to PALEA
Greetings to all brother and sisters in the Philippines fighting the good fight on behalf of basic human rights, decent living standards and simple honest respect from your employer…
All ALAEA members stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with PALEA in their ongoing battle and will support them fully in their fight against unjust treatment…
Thank you for your support
Paul Cousins, Federal President
17 October 2011
Download ALAEA solidarity letter
We extend the hand of solidarity to our brothers and sisters who are working at Qantas and fighting for decent pay, better working conditions and protection of job security. The struggles you are waging mirror the same demands that we are currently fighting for at Philippine Airlines, the flag carrier of our country.
Vice Chair, Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines)
Vice Chair, Ground Staff Committee of Aviation Section, ITF
Download letter
Urgent appeal for solidarity with PALEA
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) solidarity campaign for PALEA
Motion from the Victorian Trades Hall Council Executive in support of workers in Philippine Airlines dispute
“That the VTHC calls on Philippine Airlines to reverse its agenda of outsourcing. Furthermore that VTHC expresses its support for workers seeking to exercise their democratic rights of protest and joining a union. The VTHC opposes the cutting of workers conditions to increase company profits.
The VTHC opposes the use of contracted labour to replace workers who are currently on strike."
Moved: Luke Hilakari, Seconded: Kevin Bracken
Motion put and carried
7 October 2011