PAL offer not enough, say stewards

PHILIPPINE Airlines has expanded its offer to its flight attendants with a P105-million package that includes maternity benefits and an adjustment in the retirement age.

But the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines downplayed the offer, saying it merely corrects supposed distortions in the airline’s labor policies.

PAL’s offer was P25 million higher than the original proposal of P80 million, which represents a hike in the rice allowance.

The airline also offered to expand maternity benefits and adjust the controversial retirement age limit to 45 years from 40 years for male and female flight attendants.

But the adjustment is contingent on Fasap’s concurrence to a mixed crew complement wherein younger crew would be allowed to work on international flights with senior attendants, PAL spokesmen said.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna also said the expanded offer is also contingent upon signing by management and Fasap of a final agreement that would settle all economic, gender and retirement issues under discussion.

Fasap, however, downplayed management’s offer. The union’s vice president, Andy Ortega, said the offer does not address the main issue contained in the strike notice submitted to the Department of Labor.

“While it seems that PAL is presenting itself as reasonable, the reality is these are not firm offers,” Ortega said.

He said the P105-million lump-sum offer was much lower than the P250 million that the 1,600-strong union had originally asked.

Ortega added that the proposed resolution of the retirement age issue failed to to address the demands of the union.

“The proposed 45-year old retirement age for both male and female flight attendants is still discriminatory,” he said.

He added that the mixed crew complement proposal was “just muddling the issue” as the offer still requires training, workshops and additional requirements for the flight attendants.

“There should be no condition in correcting something that is discriminatory,” Ortega said.

Another PAL spokesperon, Jonathan Gesmundo, said management believes that junior crew members are well-trained and are fully capable of serving international flights, but provisions in their collective bargaining agreement prevent them from doing so.

Jeremiah de Guzman & Vito Barcelo, Manila Standard Today