Strike strands passengers in RP

Strike strands passengers in RP

MANILA (DPA): Thousands of passengers were stranded yesterday when employees of Philippine Airlines (PAL) went on strike, forcing the company to suspend some operations -- including several flights to and from international destinations.

The union said some 2,000 PAL employees stopped working Wednesday night to protest against management's "gross violations" of the company's collective bargaining agreement with the worker's union.

PAL management said only 300 to 400 employees refused to work and urged the strikers in a statement to return "to prevent further damage to the company and inconvenience to the riding public." PAL also threatened to terminate workers who refuse to return by today.

The airline was forced to suspend 27 domestic flights and seven international flights on the eve of a national holiday, All Saints Day, when many Filipinos return to their home towns to honor their dead relatives.