If this pushes through, our national airline and flag carrier would be crippled. This may cause inconveniences to passengers and a possible delays if not rescheduling of flights. Its competitor Cebu Pacific may very well benefit if it will happen.
Open Skies Policy
- a policy being fast-tracked by the President as an option to counter the possible outcome of the FASAP’s impending strike.
If I were a conservative Nationalist, I would vehemently oppose such. The territory of a state encompasses that of which is not only the topographical land but what is also beneath it, as well as the space above it. Theoretically, the state’s boundary extends down to the bottom of the earth’s crust and up to the airspace as projected from the perceived land boundaries. If there are foreign elements going inside the boundaries of a state, it could be shot at as it is tantamount to trespassing. Such incursions are regarded always as acts of invasion regardless if they are armed or not.
If we waive that right of our airspace, it could lessen our ability to defend ourselves. Not that we have the right equipment to do so, but at least theoretically it will indeed, weaken our frontline defenses.
On the other hand, doing so would benefit the traveler very much. There will be a lot of airlines and flights that would come in, reducing the prices of airfare, and ultimately would encourage tourists to visit the country. That would start a domino effect in development starting from the airports to the countryside where the tourists would visit.
I hope President “Noynoy” Aquino III would think carefully first before adopting this policy, and would have the best interest in mind, not only those lobbyist’s interests representing their lucrative businesses.
The Law
These are the demands of FASAP: the 40-45 age old limit for women flight attendants should be scrapped, remove the discrimination of female employees, among others. Using the feminist lens, those practices are violations of the Women’s Human Rights which the Philippines recognized being one of the signatories of the Beijing Conference.
In fact, the government passed a Bill ensuring that women’s rights are protected. RA 9710 Magna Carta of Women (view it here) has been passed last 2008. Those practices are contrary to the goal in achieving equality between men and women and aiming for “abolition of the unequal structures and practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality” as provided in Rule 1 Section 5 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The government should act on this in favor of the demands of the union as articulated in Chapter III SEC. 5. “The State as the Primary Duty-Bearer” shall “(b) Protect women against discrimination and from violation of their rights by private corporations, entities, and individuals”.
It is very much clear as to who the government should favor.
Sociological Dimension
Maintaining a young and beautiful image has been the rule for customer-service type industries. You would notice signs ads “Wanted: Saleslady with a pleasing personality” READ: Saleslady who’s not ugly, preferably beautiful.
True, one may be enticed of products or services offered by a beautiful woman, but that shouldn’t be the case. The product itself should be convincing enough that it compels one to buy it. In that sense, the product should be relevant, practical, and needed. In the world of capitalism where unnecessary goods and services are produced, they would employ such tactics that are deviant from the utilitarian framework, thus the need for those women with “pleasing personality”.
Hopeful
Prior to FASAP filing a notice of strike, 25 pilots already resigned last July. Isn’t that an indication there must be something wrong with the system? The filing of notice of strike sent the government and the PAL management scrambling for other options, not to mention getting defensive. Instead of resorting to other policies like “Open Skies” we should resolve the issue head-on as these are laborers and workers, payers of taxes that fuel the wheels of the machine we call the government.
Source: gmanews.tv, inquirer.net
What are you saying, Fetus? That Flight Attendants need not be as sexual-fantasy inducing chicks anymore? Now that is just so wrong in so many levels.
Kidding aside, I think the main problem here is business development which I think has reached a dipping point since the mid 90′s therefore in a business sense, PAL has been losing money for over a decade now. And business is simple. If it doesn’t earn, it’s going to blow-up sooner or later.
Furthermore, business is again simple. In time when the Economy Sucks two things defy the odds: Gambling Related Businesses, and businesses that focuses on Good Looking Women (and men too).
Ez´s last [type] ..Comic Break 09-11-2010
you always have a refreshing view, thanks Ez! Personally, i would prefer a beautiful stewardess, hahaha…
to further the discussion, PAL already suffered shutdown wayback 1998 due to FASAP’s strike because of massive layoffs of their employees. Or should I say, the employees only suffered as the company was saved by a rehabilitation plan, much like the scenario of the Wall Street’s asses saved by their government at the cost of their taxpayers, though in this case infusion of capital came from private companies.
i don’t believe PAL is undergoing economic trouble. Lucio Tan’s estimated net worth is US$1.7 billion or 78 billion pesos (based on Forbes’ March 2010 release), and PAL’s profitability came back in circa 2000. Their net income in fiscal year 2007 was $140.3 million, 32.32 million fiscal year 2008, $26.28 million in 2009, and $47.41 million in 2010, though there was a large loss in early 2009. (wikipedia.org)
they just need the profits to pay off their debts, which means they could have the total ownership of the airline when they would be able to (meanwhile sharing the profits). Or if they don’t, they surrender their assets completely which is still a win-situation for them, as they have already profited and have been paid from such venture.
They may be losing profitability, but they’re not losing money. In a capitalist society, such situation would be illogical and runs contrary to the tenets of capitalism, and therefore would cease in undergoing such gamble.
^
Huh?
… Let’s just go back to discussing Hot Stewardess, okay?
You raised splendid points. Unfortunately, having money and not having enough generated income that satisfies your target would very often translate to a loss. At least in most cases. especially when “most cases” involves a profit oriented outfits.
It is a fact that their staff, especially their crew, are under paid and under compensated compared to the market standards. Of course if you compare their income with that of the average daily earners then they’d be considered blessed. Unfortunately again, the people they require are specific professionals. To top that all, their business requires constant reinvestments geared towards further developments of assets and equipments. Which all in all, requires more cash turn-over that Paper Profit will never address.
Having said that, I think just like 1998, it again all boils down to unhappy workers, under compensated professionals, and un-happy investors.
I told you we should have just stuck to Hot Stewardess who goes “Coffee, Tea, or Me?”
Which reminds me of a joke … You know TWA the airline company? Well, they have TWA Milk, TWA, Coffee, but do you know why they don’t have TWA Tea?
-Ez-
Ez´s last [type] ..The Sexual BASES Defined-
hahaha.. ok let’s discuss about the level of hotness a stewardess should be then… lol.