The wildcat strike instigated by the Philippine Airlines Employees Association at the height of Typhoon “Pedring” forcing PAL to cancel 172 domestic and international flights and in the process stranding 14,000 passengers is anarchy at its worst. In addition to the cancelled flights it appears that there were reports of damaged or disabled pushback tractors, two tugs and deck loaders which were rendered inoperable by the strikers.

It did not matter to the strikers if every rule of law was violated so long as they succeeded in completely paralyzing the operations of PAL. It also did not matter to them if their mindless acts of hate against PAL were highly prejudicial to the public interest and to the nation’s image as a whole.

And what was their reason for this wildcat strike? This was the management decision of PAL to outsource some of its job requirements to outsourcing companies to cut costs and become more competitive which every other competing airline has been doing for so long. The PAL employees affected would simply be transferred to their new employment with PAL paying them handsome severance package amounting to P2.5 billion. The DOLE Secretary as confirmed by the Office of the President has declared the outsourcing plan as a legitimate exercise of management prerogative. PALEA has elevated the case to the Court of Appeals, but instead of waiting for the Court’s decision, PALEA decided to take the law into its own hands.

These strikers are the type of workers which no employer and for that matter, the labor market needs.