PAL pilots made to reapply for jobs

PAL pilots made to reapply for jobs

MANILA (Reuters): Striking pilots of Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) said yesterday they were returning to work but the airline told them they would have to reapply for a job as new employees.

"All striking officers and members of ALPAP are returning to work effective at 11 a.m (10 a.m. Jakarta time) of this day, 26 June, 1998," Airline Pilots Association of the Philippines president Sotico Lloren said in a letter to PAL.

About 600 pilots went on strike three weeks ago to protest the forced redundancy of one of their members.

On June 7, the government told them to go back to work and for PAL to take them back, but the pilots said their lawyers only received the order on June 25. Under the order, the pilots were told to go back to work within 24 hours of its receipt while PAL had to take them back under the same terms and conditions prior to the strike which started on June 5.