AGAINST CONTRACTUALIZATION. Palea President Gerry Rivera explains how contractualization does not exempt anyone in the work force, even Ateneans. Photo by Mario T. Dagdag

FACING THE university for the second time in a forum held on Wednesday, September 12, the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (Palea) vowed to continue their fight against unjust labor practices and called on Ateneans to do the same.

Student party Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement (Crusada) organized the event. Last May 11, Palea also spoke in a similar forum on campus.

Palea President Gerry Rivera, speaking inside a jam-packed SEC-B Lecture Hall, gave a background on the union’s present struggle. Last year, Palea members protested the mass termination of 2,600 employees, or 70% of the union membership.

Rivera said that the management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) planned to eventually rehire them but on a contractual basis, citing financial woes despite evidence that pointed to the contrary. Palea feels strongly against this move as contractual workers receive less wages and benefits than regular, tenured workers.

Rivera blasted the government for its seeming disregard for their plight. He lamented the decisions of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Office of the President for upholding PAL’s actions.

“All these [rights] are being trampled upon by no less than our government,” Rivera said.

Just last Tuesday, September 11, Judge Bibiano Colasito of the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 44 issued arrest warrants against 39 Palea members on grounds of “grave coercion.”

PAL management filed the case after violence erupted at Palea’s picket line along the Old MIA Road in Pasay. However, Palea said that it was the PAL management who hired goons to put them in a bad light.

Palea is not afraid to face these arrests, Rivera said. “Hindi kami magbabayad ni piso ng piyansa, (We will not pay a single peso to bail ourselves out of prison,)” he declared. “We want to show them that the system na umiiral sa ating bansa ay hindi tama. (We want to show them that the existing system in our country is not righteous.)”

For Rivera, Palea’s fight is for the future generations of Filipinos. He said that “the problem of Palea is just the tip of the iceberg. Pag hindi kami lumaban, paano na kaya ang mga anak niyo? (If we do not fight for our rights, what will happen to your future children?)”

However, signs of a breakthrough of forging a resolution with PAL’s new administration have surfaced, Rivera mentioned. A meeting between Palea and PAL chairman and chief operating officer Ramon Ang is scheduled today, September 13.

Rivera then thanked the Ateneo community for welcoming them and supporting their cause. During the onslaught of the monsoon rains last August, Crusada mounted relief efforts for the Palea campsite, providing them relief goods and old tarpaulins to repair their damaged tents.

Rivera urged Ateneans to learn and take action from Palea’s experience. He reminded prospective employers in the audience to be caring of their employees. “Sana sa karanasan namin ay matuto kayo na tratuhing mabuti ang mga empleyado niyo, (We hope that with our experience, you were able to learn to treat your future employees well,)” he said.

John Generoso, an Ateneo alumnus and a member of Palea, recalled his lessons in liberation theology when he was still a college student. He added that “maximizing profit in the expense of others is a sin. Corporate greed is a sin. It is [your] duty as Ateneans to liberate [the people] from these sinful structures.”

“Ang laban ng Palea ay laban ng Atenista, (The fight of Palea is the fight of the Atenean)” Rivera said in ending his talk, stressing that the labor issue involving Palea is one that affects every worker whose rights must be protected at all costs.