Protesting airline workers get bishop’s support

THE ground crew union of flag carrier Philippine Airlines have gained a senior Catholic bishop as an ally in their plan to stage a strike.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said holding a strike is the only viable option left for the workers at this time.

“It will not be a good precedence not only for PAL, but also to other companies in the Philippines,” Bishop Pabillo, who chairs the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action, said.

He said if PAL pushes through with “labor contractualization” and outsourcing, it would send a wrong signal to the country’s labor force.

Bishop Pabillo said the government should protect the rights of the workers so that they will not be forced to leave the country and find better jobs abroad.

He called on the people to rally behind the PAL Employees’ Association (PALEA) members’ planned labor strike to make sure their rights are protected.

“As a Church, we should be aware of the situation of our workers and support them. It’s clear in the teachings of the church that labor has priority over capital,” he said.

PAL management has long been planning a spin-off of its non-core units and lay off some 2,600 workers.

Bishop Pabillo said the government should realize that laborers are not mere commodities that should be subjected to cheap labor.

Report from CBCP News