Employees of airport ground handling company MIASCOR asked that the decision to remove 4,000 MIASCOR airport services employees be reconsidered. This developed even as MIASCOR’s cargo services are facing challenges due to MIAA’s order to close off MIASCOR’s airport access gate.

Held at the company’s cargo center in Paranaque, affected Miascor employees gathered to air their side in a peaceful ‘rally’ though a Eucharistic celebration and prayer vigil. Miascor employees aired their grievance through placards and banners, asking why President Rodrigo Duterte ordered to terminate MIASCOR contract affecting them when the thieving issue involves only six MIASCOR employees.

“Kasi po kung ang pinarating sa kanya ay tong isolated case ng pagnanakaw, naniniwala po ako na hindi ganun ka-sama yung ating presidente para sabihin na ipasara yung buong kumpanya ng MIASCOR at papabayaan po niyang mapahamak o mawalang ng hanap buhay yung 4,000. (If it’s the isolated case of luggage theft that was raised to the concern of the President, we believe that our President isn’t heartless to neglect the 4,000 employees.)

“Baka po hindi nakakarating yung tamang information sa Pangulo” (the President might be mislead with wrong information), Bernardo added.

Following Manila International Airport Authority’s (MIAA) decision of terminating airport services contract with Miascor due to the luggage theft incident at Clark International Airport, over 4,000 MIASCOR employees are facing possible unemployment by April 21, 2018.

“Yung anim na nagkakasala, dapat sila lang yun. Tinanggal na nga po sila sa MIASCOR, kinasuhan din ng MIASCOR, bakit naman po kasi lahat (kami) idadamay” (We should not be treated the same way with how the six involved are treated. They got sacked from MIASCOR already with cases filed against them. We don’t understand why all of us must suffer for their actions) said 43 y/o Bong Opon, MIASCOR’s Aircraft Maintenance Personnel.

Almost 100 of the 4,000 about to be relieved from MIASCOR include employees who are eyeing retirement in the company. One of them is Mang Ernie, 52 y/o MIASCOR ground service crew who has been serving in MIAA for more than two decades, “Kami po ay umaapila sampu ng 4,000 na empleyado ng MIASCOR, dahil nga po sa napaka lupit na hatol sa mga empliyado ng MIASCOR.” (In behalf of the 4,000 employees of MIASCOR, we appeal against this very hard verdict for the employees of MIASCOR) he said.

“Kami po ay umaapila na bigyan pa ng pangalawang pagkakataon na kami, sa MIASCOR na makapag trabaho pa, na makapag-retiro, para naman sa kinabukasan ng mga anak namin” (we ask for second chance to be able to get our jobs back in MIASCOR) Mang Ernie added.

There are other airport ground handling contractors operating in MIAA in which sacked MIASCOR employees may apply in but with the likes of Mang Ernie and Bob who are considered over aged to qualify for a new job, finding  a new source of income will be a challenge come April 20, 2018.