Resign now, fly later TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 08/08/2010

Resign now, fly later

TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 08/08/2010 The row over the mass resignation of the Philippine Airlines pilots causing havoc to the scheduled flights affecting both domestic and overseas clients is symptomatic and indicative of what really this new adminstration should set its focals on. Again, in this case the tail or low end among the middle or even lower laborers are at the behold. The life blood of any airline, namely the pilots, felt shortchanged with recent management skirmishes that would cut down on the pilot’s benefits and justifiable claims. There is allegedly an obvious malicious strategy of contractualizing the pilots, of course for cost efficiency. As one independent journalist says, “The mass resignation of PAL pilots, the impending strike by the cabin crew union, the struggle of ground employees against mass termination and contractualization — all of these are interrelated. It all stems from Lucio Tan’s moves to increase his profits even more by intensifying the exploitation of all his employees in the aviation industry.” And this considering that the latest Fortune Magazine’s list of Filipino multi-billionaires puts Mr. Lucio Tan second only to tycoon Henry Sy. One man on the street commented, “Ano pa ba ang gusto nila, ang yayaman na nila!”(What else do they want, they are already rich). More labor problems are in the offing, actually. Not even warming his seat as president of this Republic, President Noynoy has already been treated to the poor man’s real woes in the looming water crisis. Myriads of angry and thirsty marginalized members of society vie for gushes of rationed water as the many rich and blessed ones douse themselves in showers that could have been potable water for the poor. And this was aggravated by the recent killer typhoon “Basyang” which claimed almost 57 persons dead and missing. Again, the poor dwellers are the usual victims..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100808com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Smells like political vendetta FRONTLINE Shortchanging hacienda workers FEATURE Truth meets fiction for S. African crime writers BLURBAL THRUSTS Pagcor crony C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S What’s Tolentino up to? VIEWPOINTS Gambling RP: A work in progress TABLETS OF STONE Resign now, fly later