The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Friday that the government’s decision to allow the spin-off of services of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) is a “grave disservice to the people,” adding that the decision is based on “political favors and unjust concessions.”

On Thursday, it was confirmed through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. that the Office of the President gave the green light for PAL to outsource its catering, ground-handling and call center reservation services to third-party providers, in the process affecting 2,600 jobs.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said, “The Church maintains its appeal for a just resolution of this case. Government decisions must be conducted within the prescriptions of labor’s primacy over capital — people first over profit.”

“Ochoa’s pronouncements dashed the hope of thousands of workers who had appealed to Malacañang to end the labor row by way of harmonizing the interests of both the workers and the PAL management," Pabillo wrote in his blog

“We continue praying that the government may finally find the wisdom to render pro-people decisions and provide opportunities for the workers and the management to work tirelessly for the common good," he added.

Meanwhile, the PAL Employees Association dismissed the Palace appeal to not paralyze PAL operations with a strike.

PALEA president Gerry Rivera said, “Why is P-Noy (President Aquino) so concerned that PAL’s profitable operations go unhampered but is so unconcerned about thousands of workers losing their regular jobs?”

PAL cannot implement

PALEA warned against “premature implementation” of the retrenchment of the 2,600 workers, saying that the Palace approval is not executor and that they will be seeking redress from the Court of Appeals.

“We are ready to defend our jobs and the union if PAL does not back down on forcing employees to accept the retrenchment plan. We call on Palea members to be ready to act on a moment’s notice. Palea members would rather die standing than be killed on our knees,” Rivera added.

"Malacañang squandered the opportunity we gave them to prove to the Filipino people they are pro-poor, pro-labor and they are pro-justice. So wala na hong remedyo dito kundi dalhin sa tunay na korte yung nga po Court of Appeals," PALEA National Secretary Bong Palad said

PALEA refused to discuss the outsourcing plans with PAL on Friday saying that there is no basis for the plan under their collective bargaining agreement.

"If management tries to convince employees to accept the layoff plan then it is tantamount to individual bargaining that is an unfair labor practice and a strikable offence," Rivera insisted in a statement.

Decision based on evidence – Palace

Meanwhile, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Office of the President’s decision was based on the evidence presented.

“It’s a matter of what was presented in the proceedings and the evidence that was adduced. That is not about being anti-poor or anti-worker, that was not the situation. Of course, it was a legal proceeding,” she said.