PAL union backs ‘SOS’ coalition

The Save Our Skies, Inc. (SOS) movement for the gradual liberalization of the country’s civil aviation industry against the "Open Skies" concept received a big boost when the board of the 3,000-strong Philippine Airlines Labor and Employees Association (PALEA) agreed to work out a coalition with the SOS group.

In a meeting held recently at the SOS headquarters in Tramo, Pasay City, PALEA spokesman Ed Oredina said, "when talks were just beginning on this "Open Skies" idea during President Ramos’ time, we in the labor front had already taken our firm opposition to the plan, owing to its definite backlash not only to the security of our jobs but the whole Philippine economy as well because of its anti-Filipino concept."

Oredina added, "We will spearhead all efforts to rally the 10,000 aviation industry workers, outside PAL, against the "Open Skies" and the ill effects it poses for the Filipino workers."

"Obviously, this has become a fight not only to save our skies, but to save our jobs and the Filipinos as well."

Earlier, SOS led by Robert Lim Joseph brought the matter to the Senate, through an Aug. 14 letter to Senator Ralph G. Recto requesting that his trade and industry committee look into the "timeliness, fairness and legality of the matter."