Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Flight attendants of the country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, won the labour dispute against the airline Friday (December 24), just in time for Christmas Day.
Members of the Flight Attendants' and Stewards' Association of the Philippines (Fasap) lauded the decision of labour secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, ruling in favour of the group, increasing the mandatory retirement age of all flight attendants regardless of gender to 60 years old.
The order, dated December 24 and sent to members of the media by Fasap, also granted wage increases and rice allowances to members of Fasap, amounting to 200 million pesos (US$4.54 million).
Under the old collective-bargaining agreement (CBA), female flight attendants are forced to retire at 55 years old, while male flight attendants are forced to retire at 60 for those hired before November 1996. Meanwhile, those hired after 1996 up to 2000 are forced to retire at age 45, and those hired after November 2000 are forced to retire at age 40.
"The different retirement ages for flight attendants performing the same services constitute a clear discrimination of their right to equal work opportunity," Baldoz said in her ruling.
"It is in this light that setting the compulsory retirement age of sixty (60) years - both for male and female cabin crew personnel - is fair and reasonable," the ruling added.
The retirement age of flight attendants is one of the most disputed issues between PAL and Fasap.
Fasap president Bob Anduiza lauded the labour department's decision and called it a great Christmas gift to PAL employees.
"This is a historic victory not just for Fasap and the flight attendants, this campaign and the decision of Secretary Baldoz sets a clear and strong message to employers in the country to respect the rights of all Filipino workers, regardless of age and gender. We take this opportunity to thank the Aquino administration, the watchful glare of the media, our friends in civil society and of course Secretary Baldoz for helping Fasap defend the rights of its flight attendant members," Anduiza said.
