PAL LABOR DISPUTE – EMPLOYEES CANNOT STRIKE IN ANY EVENT

The Philippines Department of Labor Employment (DOLE) said that employees of Philippines Airlines (PAL) cannot go on strike even if they would all vote in favor of work stoppage. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said DOLE has long assumed jurisdiction over the PAL labor dispute, and that prevents members of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) from going on strike. “Striking on this issue is not countenance of the law. The issue is already under assumed jurisdiction of DOLE and it’s just a matter of implementing the decision,” Baldoz said. Some 3,700 PALEA members nationwide started voting on whether to go on