Sunday, October 3, 2010
PAL industrial cabin crew deal watched closely by BA
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has agreed to a number of benefit amendments for its flight attendants in a concerted effort to try to end an industrial dispute that is threatening to escalate.
PAL has agreed to expand the maternity benefits of members of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association, as well as raise the retirement age from 40 to 45. The concessions are being monitored closely by British Airways and its cabin crew, who are also in the middle of a series of contentious negotiations.
Airline spokeswoman, Cielo Villaluna, said, "The offers were made in good faith, proof that PAL is sincere in its efforts to settle and finally put closure to its 2005-2010 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with FASAP."
The offers – worth 80 million pesos – come on top of the 25 million peso increase in the rice allowance for the period 2007 to 2010, and making the complete benefit package worth 105 million pesos.
The approval of these, however, hinge on the signing by PAL and FASAP of a final agreement that puts to rest all economic, gender and retirement issues under discussion – something that FASAP has so far been unwilling to do.
FASAP is still fighting for the retirement age for people to be working in cabin crew jobs to be brought in line with other industries and put at 60. They also want flight assignments to be reworked, as the current system means the older attendants receive will all the available perks, with nothing provided for the younger ones.
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