We wholeheartedly support the protest actions being undertaken by the workers of Philippine Airlines today. We support them for going to work but refusing to carry out their tasks in protest of the impending massive layoff due to the contractualization via outsourcing scheme being implemented by PAL owner Lucio Tan in connivance with the Aquino government.
We urge PAL workers to carry on with their protests in the coming days, after typhoon Pedring has passed, to maximize the impact of their protests. We support them for finally taking action, for they are correct in repeatedly voicing out their willingness to go on strike. We salute them for carrying on despite their leadership’s efforts to sabotage their collective action.
We unite with them in appealing for the public’s support. Lucio Tan merely wants to boost his profits by laying off 2,600 regular and unionized workers and contractualizing PAL’s workforce, contrary to his claims that he is incurring losses. He is busting the workers’ union, one of the oldest in the country, so he can freely implement his profiteering schemes.
The PAL workers’ fight is a fight of the Filipino workers and people. While they continue to rake in profits, capitalists are using the current crisis as excuse to layoff workers. The implementation of the contractualization scheme in PAL signals the further contractualization of workforces in the country. We should all oppose PAL’s massive layoff and contractualization scheme.
We call on the public to support the workers of PAL. They are fighting powerful forces in society: big capitalist Lucio Tan, the pro-capitalist Aquino government and the pro-capitalist leadership of their union. It is only through their collective action and our active support that PAL workers will be able to defend their jobs and ward off retrenchment from their work.
We vow to condemn and protest any repression which will be used against the workers of PAL. We will hold Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III personally responsible for such a repression, for he has repeatedly shown his support for Lucio Tan’s anti-worker schemes. PAL workers, as well as the Filipino workers and people, have the right to protest retrenchment and union-busting. Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU Chairperson, KMU
