Press Release
August 2, 2010

Labor group asks PNoy to lift ban on migration of skilled workers

In the face of the PAL pilots’ issue, the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) asked the Aquino government to lift the six-month prior notice on the migration of workers who are categorized as mission-critical skills. Renato Magtubo, PM chairperson, said that “Banning the migration of skilled workers by six months disadvantages labor and favors capital. There is an opportunity cost on workers which government and employers cannot possibly repay. After the six month ban, there is no assurance that offers still exist for skilled workers who just dream of a better life for their families. If employers want to retain skilled workers in the country then they must match the good pay, regular status and better working conditions offered abroad.”

The labor group also called on both the government and PAL not to punish the 25 pilots who have resigned by filing criminal and administrative charges. “It behooves the Aquino government, even PAL management, to think of the root causes and review policies that discriminate against labor. Both government and PAL face a full-scale war with PAL pilots, flight attendants and ground crew if an iron-fist policy is used on labor,” Magtubo argued.

Press Release
August 1, 2010

Militant workers, ground crew call on PAL not to file cases vs. pilots

The militant group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and the ground crew union Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) called on the management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) not to file cases against the pilots who abruptly resigned. Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice-chairperson, urged PAL to “Think twice before swinging the Damocles sword on the heads of the pilots lest the company face a three-front war against all of its employees.”

PAL is faced with an ongoing labor dispute with its ground crew over the planned contracting out of jobs that will affect some 3,000 employees and the threat of a strike by flight attendants over a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations. Renato Magtubo, PM chairperson challenged the ground crew, flight attendants and airline pilots to unite to defend job security and working conditions at the country’s biggest domestic and international carrier.

Press Release
July 26, 2010

Sa daang matuwid:

Walang “boss” na busabos, hamon ng manggagawa sa SONA ni P-Noy

Walang “boss” na busabos sa daang matuwid!

Ito ang hamong ibinato ng hanay ng manggagawa sa bagong administrasyon kasabay ng kanilang pagmartsa sa kalsada sa okasyon ng unang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino III.

Ayon sa Partido ng Manggagawa, dahil idineklara ni P-Noy na “kayo ang aking boss” sa kanyang inaugural speech noong Hunyo 30, umaasa ngayon ang mga manggagawa na malalagyan ito ng laman sa pamamagitan ng seryosong pagharap sa mga problemang pasan-pasan ng naghihirap na mga “boss”.

Sinabi ng tagapangulo ng Partido ng Manggagawa na si Renato Magtubo, walang kahulugan ang salitang “boss” sa ordinaryong manggagawa kung ang buhay nila ay mananatiling busabos dahil sa nararanasang kahirapan at kawalang dignidad sa buhay.