In Manila yesterday (Wednesday), thousands of government employees staged a mass walkout in a pay dispute.

Although such action is illegal, an estimated 200,000 civil servants quit their desks. However, another 300,000 refused to join the protest.

Hardest hit was Manila's international airport where most flights came to a halt due to the lack of civil aviation workers. While passengers milled in the terminal, military men helped a skeleton crew man the control tower.

The walkout was to support a five percent wage increase back-dated to July. The government said it did not have enough money and offered an increase as from this week.

After further bargaining overnight, a formula was reached and leaders of government employees immediately called off the strike and appealed for a return to work.