Lack of Pilots forces PAL to cancel flights

[shadow]

i'm surprised FA's only get 50K ang baba kasi whether we like it or not, it's still a hazardous job riding planes all the time.

still safer than riding buses, jeeps going to work.

statistically planes are safer than land travels.

[leonleon]

still safer than riding buses, jeeps going to work.

statistically planes are safer than land travels.


Really? Safer from accidents/death, maybe. But how about occupational health risks due to flying?

http://aircrewhealth.com/Topics/hazards/flying.htm

People who fly for a living have health concerns above and beyond those who work on the ground.


Most health concerns specific to the flying professions are environmental, arising from conditions unique to the environment inside an aircraft: air quality, potable water quality, pressure changes, reduced oxygen content in the air at altitude, and exposures to such things as cosmic radiation and magnetic fields, fumes, vibration, noise, and so on.
Pilots may be at risk for the damaging effects of excess sun exposure on the flight deck.


Frequent exposure to infectious diseases also can be a significant problem, especially for Flight Attendants.

http://ashsd.afacwa.org/docs/radbroch1.pdf

In June 1996, the countries of the European Union passed a law that applies to the 27 airlines that operate
there. The law says that the airlines must inform flight attendants of the possible health risks so that they
can make an informed decision. Airlines must keep a running estimate of the cumulative radiation dose
for each flight attendant and if the cumulative dose during one year exceeds a certain limit (6mSv) then
additional protections and controls must be applied.

[leonleon]

I don't know if I can post this but here goes:
(Mods, please delete if rules does not allow this)

http://www.topix.com/forum/world/aus...RL4G5C4F92I/p2

Gabi
Melbourne, Australia

One thing I would like you all to consider is that each flight exposes you to the amount of radiation equal to a regular chest X-Ray. Ask your doctor or just [COLOR=#739912 ! important][COLOR=#739912 ! important]research[/color][/color] yourself. How many chest X-Rays are you allowed in a year - two, usually at six-monthly intervals. More frequent X-rays are allowed only if you have a serious medical condition where not monitoring it poses a greater risk than having three or four X-Rays. However, if you fly at least two times a week, at least 20 weeks in a year, and you'd probably fly a lot more, then you have 80% greater chances of developing cancer than most people with weakest immune systems that do not fly. You may be lucky and stay cancer-free, but is the money worth the gamble if you do get cancer in a few years? Just think about it. Perhaps, flight attendants should push for ten-fold their current salaries or opt for jobs on the ground instead.

So you still think mababa sweldo ng FA's? Considering the health risks, 8 out of 10 cancer, I say kulang pa nga yan. But that's just me.

[chua_riwap]

Basic pay = P8K + lang. Below minimum daw ang basic salaries ng PAL FAs? Kala ko ba good paying job ang maging FA? So lumalaki lang pay nila sa mga additional allowances + perks?

Magulo.....

In PAL, life ends at 40


First-timers ang bansag sa kanila ng unyon sa Philippine Airlines (PAL) sa mga Flight Attendants and Stewards' Association of the Philippines (FASAP).

Ngayon lamang sasali sa labor dispute sa pagitan ng unyon at ng PAL management.

Karamihan sa flight attendants ay nagsimula noong 2007.

Sina Louise Navarro at Hanina Han, mga dating cabin crew ng PAL ang mga magulang.

Bata pa sila, pinangarap nang maging flight attendants.

“Baby pa lang. I was practicing, both of us, pretending to be FAs in the house,” ani Navarro.

“I don’t have any plans of applying to other airlines because I’m so proud working with Philippine Airlines,” pahayag naman ni Hanina.

Ang masaklap dahil sa tinatawag nilang gender discrimination, unti-unti umanong pinapatay ng PAL ang kanilang career.

Ipinaglalaban nila rito na dapat ay amyemdahan ang itinakdang retirement age na 40 batay sa collective bargaining agreement.

Bukod sa retirement age, isyu rin nila ang hindi pagkamit ng minimum wage.

Matatandaan na tumatanggap lamang ng basic pay ang bawat flight attendant ng P8,600, na mababa sa minimum wage.

“Many say that life beings at 40. In PAL it ends at 40 years old,” pahayag ni Navarro sa media.

Kaya sa itinakdang strike ng flight attendants sa katapusan ng Oktubre o unang linggo ng Nobyembre, 100% daaw ang sasali.

Sa panig naman ng PAL, nanatili silang tapat sa kanilang negosasyon sa FASAP.

Hinimok nila ang mga miyembro na makipag-negosasyon muli at dahil natanggap na ng labor department ang notice of strike, mahigit isang buwan pa ang cool off period.

Ayon naman sa labor department, batay sa kanilang datos nitong taon lamang, aabot na sa 100 ang natatanggap nilang notice of strike mula sa mga kompanya sa National Capital Region.

Susubukan nilang maplantsa ang mga labor dispute na ito para hindi na humantong sa tigil-trabaho. – Alex Santos, Patrol ng Pilipino

[Isuzoom]

hindi naman 8k sweldo ng FA....problema dito...swapang na owners and swapang na mga pilots and FA.
sino ang talo?...tayo lahat talo...tourism, forwarders, passenger...etc..etc..

[boybi]

Eto ang salary & perks ng FA:

How much do PAL cabin attendants get?

By Neal Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:26:00 09/13/2010


THE FLIGHT Attendants and Stewards Association (FASAP) of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) has filed a notice of strike against the money-losing flag carrier because the airline refused to give in to their demands for more benefits. PAL has been losing heavily, as do most airlines—with the exception of some Middle Eastern airlines that are heavily subsidized by their oil-rich governments—because of the world economic crisis.

Public sympathy is usually with the workers; management is often painted as profit-hungry employers exploiting their employees. PAL is no exception. In addition, PAL is accused of having a “beerhouse mentality” for having a policy of retiring its flight attendants when they reach the age of 40 because it wants its attendants to always look young and beautiful. In comparison, Northwest Airlines of the United States has grandmothers as flight attendants. If Northwest can do it, why can’t PAL? After all, many women are still pretty and attractive at 40 and older.

But that is only the propaganda part. Even if PAL raises the retirement age of its flight attendants, FASAP will still not be happy because it is asking for pay increases and more perks.

But PAL can no longer afford to pay more because of its series of financial losses due to the economic slowdown which has fewer and fewer people traveling. In the last two years alone, PAL lost $300 million because of worsening factors. PAL listed these factors as:

Sluggish market demand due to the global economic crisis;

The downgrading of the Philippines to Category 2 by the US Federal Aviation Administration;

The ban on all Philippine carriers from flying into European airspace imposed by the European Union;

High fuel prices;

The liberal grant of air traffic rights by the Philippine government to foreign carriers;

The inadequate and below-par infrastructure and equipment at major domestic airports.

What’s more, PAL’s cabin crews are not exactly getting peanuts. The cabin attendants’ package of benefits far exceeds those of ground and management staff. Aside from the standard 13th and 14th month pay, travel, medical and uniform benefits, cabin attendants also get allowances that rival the allowances and bonuses of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and other GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations). PAL cabin crews receive the following in addition to their regular salaries:

Productivity allowance;

Transportation allowance;

First-class hotel accommodation;

Per diem;

Rice subsidy;

Field reserve pay;

Training pay;

Temporary duty pay;

Tour of duty incentive (beyond 14 hours of duty)

Long-haul flight incentive;

Bar sales commission (in-flight duty-free sales). PAL’s cabin crews get the highest rate of in-flight sales commission compared to other airlines in the region;

Flight diversion allowance;

Hazard pay;

Dead-head allowance.

Cabin attendants also cannot claim that they are overworked. They are entitled to enviable rest periods under their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA):

One rest day in Manila before a long-haul flight;

One-and-a-half rest day in an outlying station after a long-haul flight;

Days off equivalent to half the number of days away from Manila;

One extra day off after enjoying several days of vacation before reporting for duty;

The cabin crews are entitled to rest periods during a 13-hour flight (for example, a B747 aircraft on a trans-Pacific flight). After serving meals, when the passengers are asleep, the cabin crew can also rest. But even while resting, they earn productivity pay. Whether or not the flight is full, they still get the completed package of allowances;

Under the rules of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, flight attendants can be assigned only 100 flying hours a month, but actual work rendered averages only 65 hours;

PAL does not discriminate against pregnant flight attendants. Preventing them from flying is for the safety of mother and child. Many cabin attendants delay revealing that they are pregnant. PAL extends the standard maternity benefits provided by law, even advancing P30,000 of their SSS benefits to cover expenses. Any earned vacation leaves may be used before applying the pregnancy and maternity leaves. Seniority is not lost during pregnancy. Beyond these, the pregnant cabin attendant is no longer entitled to any pay (no work, no pay) just like any ground staff member.

From April 2009 to March 2010, a total of 65 cabin attendants went on maternity leave (or roughly one pregnancy every six days). Almost all of them returned to work again despite allegations of unfair work rules or discriminatory practices.

As for the regular pay, the cabin crews’ pay (which is all-inclusive because of the peculiarity of their job), the domestic cabin attendant gets on the average around P40,000 a month, while an international cabin attendant gets P60,000 a month. The flight purser gets P80,000 monthly.

As for the retirement policy, the 40-year retirement age is part of the PAL-FASAP CBA signed in 2001. FASAP was not forced to sign the CBA and yet, nine years later, FASAP insists the provision is discriminatory.

PAL management said it is willing to discuss the retirement age provision in the next CBA negotiation for 2010 to 2015.

Additionally, management said major airlines in the region have similar young retirement ages for their cabin crews. PAL has to compete with these carriers that put a high premium on image, especially on frontliners like the cabin crew, management said.

PAL seeks the riding public’s understanding, hoping FASAP will return to the negotiating table and not cause undue public alarm with their threat of a strike.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquirer...attendants-get

[_Cathy_]

If they monetize all their benefits their salaries would reach more than 100k/month. Not bad for glorified waiters/waitresses as my professor would call FAs.

[oliver1013]

If they're losing money(PAL), why not sell it or just close shop, I mean cut their loses

[niky]

If they monetize all their benefits their salaries would reach more than 100k/month. Not bad for glorified waiters/waitresses as my professor would call FAs.

It's probably not close to that for domestic.

We train waiters, bartenders, ship service crews and (now) flight stewardesses at our school. Yes... the stewardesses will get better pay than the others (though ship crews can get it good on international cruise liners), but the entry requirements (minimum height, good looks, physical condition, etcetera) and preparation are all much greater than for simple "waitresses".

It's like saying professional basketball players are grossly overpaid... yes... they're paid a ridiculous amount for what they do... but the amount of training, preparation and the high bar on entry requirements (in terms of physical fitness and playing ability) means that not everyone can do that kind of work, even if a lot of guys think they've "got the right stuff".

If it were easy to train stewardesses and easy for people to get into the business, then their salary rates wouldn't be so high. It's that simple.

I know, I know... some people work harder and get paid less... but think about this... the highest paid stewardess still only makes around 100k+++ a month on international flights... never sleeping in the same city twice in a row... terrible hours... jet lagged all the time. If you're a senior CPA and you work for a big firm in the US, you're making the same amount... in dollars.

Just to put things in perspective. Oh... and tip your waitress next time you're at a restaurant. They deserve it.

[chua_riwap]

O nga naman.....

Yung ibang airline FAs, like NortWest, United at American Airlines, lola na at halos di na magkasya sa aisle yung balakang nila sa lapad, nasa serbisyo pa rin. He-he! Walang discrimination.

Pero sa SQ, mas maaga ata ang retirement age. Wala akong nakikitang matanda sa FAs nila.



http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...ination-in-PAL

Workers slam gender discrimination in PAL


MANILA, Philippines – Members of a labor union at the Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Monday lodged complaints of gender discrimination and ill treatment of female flight attendants against the beleaguered airline company, calling for the abolition of these erratic policies.

The Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) trooped to the Commission on Human Rights Monday morning, calling the attention of the commission to some of the discriminatory practices allegedly being committed by PAL to its female employees.

FASAP first cited the “unreasonable retirement age” being imposed by PAL, where female flight attendants hired before 1996 are required to retire by the age of 55, five years than the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Meanwhile, those hired after 1996 are forced to retire by age 45, while those hired after 2000 are forced to retire by age 40.

“While being applied to both male and female, [this practice] is actually rooted in ***ism, which is ultimately discriminatory against women,” FASAP said in its complaint.

“This just proves that PAL has misplaced its priorities by according a higher degree of importance on the physical aesthetics of its female flight attendants instead of the latter’s capacity to ensure flight safety and security.

Moreover, FASAP complained of the alleged “no-motherhood” policy, where flight attendants are made to undergo an unpaid maternity leave beginning on the third month of their pregnancy. Because of this policy, affected workers are made to use their vacation leaves or accumulated days off, FASAP said.

On top of this, the unpaid maternity leave will be deducted from the worker’s years of service, thus affecting her retirement pay, the group said.

“Lastly, even before she is allowed to return to flying status, the flight attendant must meet the company’s ‘grooming standards.’ This means she has to be pretty or ***y enough in the eyes of PAL management,” FASAP added.

FASAP president Roberto Anduiza, in his letter to CHR Chairperson Etta Rosales, said that they have opened discussions with PAL regarding this policy for the past three years, but PAL allegedly refused to heed to the group’s request.

“Our plea is not unreasonable. In fact, we are merely asking for the implementation of our rights already granted by the law… We just want equality and fairness in the compulsory retirement age and the elimination of gender bias in our CBA [collective bargaining agreement]. Is this too much to ask?” Anduiza lamented.

“Flight attendants are safety professionals who are responsible for the safety and comfort of PAL’s passengers. We are not mere decorations to an aircraft for the visual enjoyment of the passengers. We have a right to be treated based on merit and performance, not age or gender. After long years of service and commitment to PAL, coupled with the passing of Magna Carta of Women, we rightfully deserve to retire with dignity at a reasonable and equal age,” Anduiza said.

[A121]

hindi naman 8k sweldo ng FA....problema dito...swapang na owners and swapang na mga pilots and FA.
sino ang talo?...tayo lahat talo...tourism, forwarders, passenger...etc..etc..

I don't think swapang ang mga nagtatrabaho dyan. This article is a good read.

http://raissarobles.com/2010/08/03/w...ubled-airline/

PAL’s claim of being unable to afford better pay for its personnel because it is not that profitable is all baloney. The reason why it is not that profitable is that in 1998 and 1999 Lucio Tan peeled away PAL’s “non-core” but very profitable units that did in-flight catering, groundhandling and aircraft maintenance not only for PAL but for foreign airlines as well

[ghosthunter]

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...ination-in-PAL

The Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) trooped to the Commission on Human Rights Monday morning, calling the attention of the commission to some of the discriminatory practices allegedly being committed by PAL to its female employees.

FASAP first cited the “unreasonable retirement age” being imposed by PAL, where female flight attendants hired before 1996 are required to retire by the age of 55, five years than the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Meanwhile, those hired after 1996 are forced to retire by age 45, while those hired after 2000 are forced to retire by age 40.

“While being applied to both male and female, [this practice] is actually rooted in ***ism, which is ultimately discriminatory against women,” FASAP said in its complaint.

Who wants a 60 year old flight stewardess ??

[boybi]

I don't think swapang ang mga nagtatrabaho dyan. This article is a good read.

http://raissarobles.com/2010/08/03/w...ubled-airline/

Read the article I quoted above, di pa ba swapang tawag sa mga FAs?

[raine]

I don't think swapang ang mga nagtatrabaho dyan. This article is a good read.

http://raissarobles.com/2010/08/03/w...ubled-airline/

pwede akong maka comment dito, kasi isa ako sa maintenance and engg ng Pal na nabenta ni Lucio Tan, corection po binenta ito pero binili rin ng isang company na pagaari ni lucio Tan, strategy ito para ma punta sa kanya ang mga malalaki ang kita,

[raine]

I don't think swapang ang mga nagtatrabaho dyan. This article is a good read.

http://raissarobles.com/2010/08/03/w...ubled-airline/

at parang naging issue din ng mga pilot ng Pal ang sapilitan pagpapalipat sa kanila sa airpihil na pagaari rin ni LT with lower salary

[chua_riwap]

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...ination-in-PAL




Who wants a 60 year old flight stewardess ??

Madali nang mahilo yan.........

[A121]

Read the article I quoted above, di pa ba swapang tawag sa mga FAs?

What the writer left out is that PAL used to rack in profits before some of its non-core but very profitable businesses such as the in-flight catering and maintenance services were removed from PAL. This is a good move for Lucio Tan but bad for PAL employees.

Also, I believe being swapang is relative. As an employee, since you are in a high-risk job, you want to have as much benefits as possible. As a business owner, you want to keep the costs down (kung pwede lang hanggang 13th month) and the profits up. If the law permits, a businessman would want the "most" basic benefits possible for your employees.

[Monseratto]

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...ination-in-PAL




Who wants a 60 year old flight stewardess ??

If there is an accident, instead of helping the passengers, si lola stewardess pa kailangan ng tulong...

[wowiesy]

What the writer left out is that PAL used to rack in profits before some of its non-core but very profitable businesses such as the in-flight catering and maintenance services were removed from PAL. This is a good move for Lucio Tan but bad for PAL employees.

Also, I believe being swapang is relative. As an employee, since you are in a high-risk job, you want to have as much benefits as possible. As a business owner, you want to keep the costs down (kung pwede lang hanggang 13th month) and the profits up. If the law permits, a businessman would want the "most" basic benefits possible for your employees.

To a point, this is true.. but, also, to a point,law of supply and demand comes in.... in terms of employment.. kung maraming nag pirate from PAL, sooner or later they will come up with a strategy to counter that... either by increasing their pay to their people, or coming up with barriers for their people to leave (which is longer contracts, etc.. )...

sa sales side din naman ng PAL, supply and demand ... just recently, Cebu Pacific already grabbed more than 50% of market share in domestic... kung kayo empleyado at iniisip nyo lang na the best benefits dapat sa inyo (and it is within your right naman).. okay lang.. then you either resign and find that job with higher pay you want, or you stick with the current job and get whatever the company can give you... hindi lang nag iisa ang airline sa domestic, more so sa international.. the airline also has to be competitive..

in all of these, striking the perfect balance is key... but also the hardest.... minsan kasi, and impression ng tao (whether it be employee or management) sa word na FAIR is yung lamang sila kahit konti... hanap na lang sila ng WIN - WIN solution..

[Monseratto]

Ngiti naman mga manang...



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