Human Rights Online Philippines

PAL workers stage ‘Kalbaryo ng PALEA’ – Interaksyon.com.

Source: Interaksiyon.com

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the ground crew union of the Philippine Airlines on Wednesday staged their own version of the Stations of the Cross, a Catholic tradition depicting the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Calling their version Kalbaryo ng PALEA,which started outside the Baclaran Church, the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) members lamented their plight and fight against layoffs and contractualization.

Dramatizing the problems that confront them, protesters carried a makeshift cross  as colleagues wearing the masks of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and former Acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman whipped them.

Another who wore a mask depicting Lucio Tan kicked the employees who carrying the crosses. In another scene, their President Benigno Aquino placed crowns of thorns on the heads of the PAL employees.

“The threat of mass layoff and labor contractualization are heavy crosses for PAL employees to bear”,said Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

Read full article at Interaksiyon.com

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