REACTION PAPER:

SUBMITTED BY: Alvarado Russel Ann O.

The striking employees were on the verge of losing their employment with PAL. Their work will be outsourced to companies that pay less than what they used to earn and have none of the perks that the airline can give. Worse, since they will be treated as new employees, they have no past employment record to count on for severance benefits purposes when they later retire or resign. Although PAL committed to give them separation pay above that required by law and were assured of employment (for at least one year) in the substitute service providers, these benefits cannot compensate for the insecurity that they and their families will likely face in the future. The union members were practically at the ropes. Despite their strong opposition, PALs downsizing program was approved by the Secretary of Labor, and later by the Office of the President. Unfazed by these defeats, Palea sought relief from the Court of Appeals and asked it to order PAL not to implement the outsourcing until its appeal is resolved with finality. No dice. The court refused to issue a stay order. Thus, PAL was free to transfer the Palea members jobs to third-party service providers. Without conceding its arguments against contracting out ticket reservations, catering and ground services operations to other companies, Palea is demanding that PAL give judicial respect to the court while it is in the process of reviewing the issues raised against the outsourcing program Strictly speaking, the doctrine of judicial respect does not apply to this case. True, the outsourcing issue has moved from the administrative level, the executive offices, to the judicial branch, but the court has opted not to countermand, even if temporarily, the decisions earlier made by two government offices until after it has heard PALs side. By refusing to issue a restraining order, the court, in effect, was saying that the union has not presented sufficient arguments to justify judicial interference in PALs judgment that it is in the companys best interests that the work being performed by some of its employees are better off outsourced than handled internally

This as the TC expressed apprehension that the ongoing labor issue will affect the countrys tourism industry. It said that various prospect-tourists may have second thoughts in visiting the country because of the dispute.

In an interview, TC President Alma Jimenez said that the upcoming meeting of the countrys tourism stakeholders is aimed at seeking a unified solution and cooperation to avert the massive inconvenience brought about by the PAL and PALEA dispute. On our part, we are calling the concerned parties (PAL and PALEA) to settle the labor issue for the benefit of the riding public, while citing that the incident greatly affected fixed and budget travelers.