Part one: Labor relations policy: Formulation and historical development

1987 constitution

 Article II

SECTION 2. The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the
generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the
policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.

SECTION 10. The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.

SECTION 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights
of workers and promote their welfare.

 Article III:

SECTION 8. The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors,
to form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.

 Article IX- B

SECTION 2. (1) The civil service embraces all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities, and
agencies of the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original
charters.

(2) Appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be
determined, as far as practicable, and, except to positions which are policy-determining, primarily
confidential, or highly technical, by competitive examination.

(3) No officer or employee of the civil service shall be removed or suspended except for cause
provided by law.

(4) No officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any
electioneering or partisan political campaign.

(5) The right to self-organization shall not be denied to government employees.

(6) Temporary employees of the Government shall be given such protection as may be provided
by law.

 Article 12:

SECTION 12. The State shall promote the preferential use of Filipino labor, domestic materials
and locally produced goods, and adopt measures that help make them competitive.

 Article III:

SECTION 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except
upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise as prescribed by
law.

(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be inadmissible for
any purpose in any proceeding.

SECTION 14. (1) No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of
law.

(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is
proved, and shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature
and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet the
witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses
and the production of evidence in his behalf. However, after arraignment, trial may proceed
notwithstanding the absence of the accused provided that he has been duly notified and his failure
to appear is unjustifiable.
Labor Code of the Philippines

 Art. 3. Declaration of basic policy.

The State shall afford protection to labor, promote full employment, ensure equal work
opportunities regardless of sex, race or creed and regulate the relations between workers and
employers. The State shall assure the rights of workers to self-organization, collective bargaining,
security of tenure, and just and humane conditions of work.

 Art. 211. Declaration of Policy.

A. It is the policy of the State:

a. To promote and emphasize the primacy of free collective bargaining and

negotiations, including voluntary arbitration, mediation and conciliation, as modes
of settling labor or industrial disputes;

b. To promote free trade unionism as an instrument for the enhancement of

democracy and the promotion of social justice and development;

c. To foster the free and voluntary organization of a strong and united labor
movement;

d. To promote the enlightenment of workers concerning their rights and obligations

as union members and as employees;

e. To provide an adequate administrative machinery for the expeditious settlement

of labor or industrial disputes;

f. To ensure a stable but dynamic and just industrial peace; and

g. To ensure the participation of workers in decision and policy-making processes

affecting their rights, duties and welfare.

B. To encourage a truly democratic method of regulating the relations between the employers
and employees by means of agreements freely entered into through collective bargaining,
no court or administrative agency or official shall have the power to set or fix wages, rates
of pay, hours of work or other terms and conditions of employment, except as otherwise
provided under this Code. (As amended by Section 3, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)

 Art. 275. Tripartism and tripartite conferences.

a. Tripartism in labor relations is hereby declared a State policy. Towards this end, workers
and employers shall, as far as practicable, be represented in decision and policy-making
bodies of the government.

b. The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized representatives may, from
time to time, call a national, regional, or industrial tripartite conference of representatives
of government, workers and employers for the consideration and adoption of voluntary
codes of principles designed to promote industrial peace based on social justice or to align
labor movement relations with established priorities in economic and social development.
In calling such conference, the Secretary of Labor and Employment may consult with
accredited representatives of workers and employers. (As amended by Section 32,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
Cases:
1. Associacion de agricultures v talisay
2. PAL v PALEA
3. PLDT v NLRC

Statutory Source and Interpretation

Cases:
1. BF Goodrich Confidential v BF Goodrich Phils
2. Caltex Filipino Managers & Supervisors v CIR
Definitions

Art. 212. Definitions.

a. “Commission” means the National Labor Relations Commission or any of its divisions,
as the case may be, as provided under this Code.

b. “Bureau” means the Bureau of Labor Relations and/or the Labor Relations Divisions in
the regional offices established under Presidential Decree No. 1, in the Department of
Labor.

c. “Board” means the National Conciliation and Mediation Board established under
Executive Order No. 126.

d. “Council” means the Tripartite Voluntary Arbitration Advisory Council established under
Executive Order No. 126, as amended.

e. “Employer” includes any person acting in the interest of an employer, directly or

indirectly. The term shall not include any labor organization or any of its officers or
agents except when acting as employer.

f. “Employee” includes any person in the employ of an employer. The term shall not be
limited to the employees of a particular employer, unless the Code so explicitly states. It
shall include any individual whose work has ceased as a result of or in connection with
any current labor dispute or because of any unfair labor practice if he has not obtained
any other substantially equivalent and regular employment.

g. “Labor organization” means any union or association of employees which exists in whole
or in part for the purpose of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers
concerning terms and conditions of employment.

h. “Legitimate labor organization” means any labor organization duly registered with the
Department of Labor and Employment, and includes any branch or local thereof.

i. “Company union” means any labor organization whose formation, function or

administration has been assisted by any act defined as unfair labor practice by this
Code.

j. “Bargaining representative” means a legitimate labor organization whether or not

employed by the employer.

k. “Unfair labor practice” means any unfair labor practice as expressly defined by the Code.

l. “Labor dispute” includes any controversy or matter concerning terms and conditions of
employment or the association or representation of persons in negotiating, fixing,
maintaining, changing or arranging the terms and conditions of employment, regardless
of whether the disputants stand in the proximate relation of employer and employee.

m. “Managerial employee” is one who is vested with the powers or prerogatives to lay down
and execute management policies and/or to hire, transfer, suspend, lay-off, recall,
discharge, assign or discipline employees. Supervisory employees are those who, in the
interest of the employer, effectively recommend such managerial actions if the exercise
of such authority is not merely routinary or clerical in nature but requires the use of
independent judgment. All employees not falling within any of the above definitions are
considered rank-and-file employees for purposes of this Book.

n. “Voluntary Arbitrator” means any person accredited by the Board as such or any person
named or designated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement by the parties to act as
their Voluntary Arbitrator, or one chosen with or without the assistance of the National
Conciliation and Mediation Board, pursuant to a selection procedure agreed upon in the
Collective Bargaining Agreement, or any official that may be authorized by the Secretary
of Labor and Employment to act as Voluntary Arbitrator upon the written request and
agreement of the parties to a labor dispute.

o. “Strike” means any temporary stoppage of work by the concerted action of employees as
a result of an industrial or labor dispute.
 p. “Lockout” means any temporary refusal of an employer to furnish work as a result of an
industrial or labor dispute.

q. “Internal union dispute” includes all disputes or grievances arising from any violation of
or disagreement over any provision of the constitution and by laws of a union, including
any violation of the rights and conditions of union membership provided for in this Code.

r. “Strike-breaker” means any person who obstructs, impedes, or interferes with by force,
violence, coercion, threats, or intimidation any peaceful picketing affecting wages, hours
or conditions of work or in the exercise of the right of self-organization or collective
bargaining.

s. “Strike area” means the establishment, warehouses, depots, plants or offices, including
the sites or premises used as runaway shops, of the employer struck against, as well as
the immediate vicinity actually used by picketing strikers in moving to and fro before all
points of entrance to and exit from said establishment. (As amended by Section 4,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Omnibus Rules Implementing: Book V RULE I

Definition of Terms
SECTION 1. Definition of terms. —
(a) "Commission" means the National Labor Relations Commission.cralaw

(b) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Labor Relations and/or the Industrial Relations Division in the
Regional Offices of the Department of Labor and Employment.cralaw

(c) "Board" means the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.cralaw

(d) "Code" means the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended.cralaw

(e) "Employer" includes any person acting in the interest of an employer, directly or indirectly. The
term shall not include any labor organization or any of its officers or agents except when acting
as employer.cralaw

(f) "Employee" includes any person in the employ of a particular employer. The term shall not be
limited to the employees of a particular employer, unless the Code so explicitly states. It shall
include any individual whose work has ceased as a result of or in connection with any current
labor dispute or because of any unfair labor practice if he has not obtained any other substantially
equivalent and regular employment.cralaw

(g) "Labor Organization" means any union or association of employees which exists in whole or
in part for the purpose of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning terms and
conditions of employment.cralaw

(h) "Local Union" means any labor organization operating at the enterprise level.cralaw

(i) "National Union/Federation" means any labor organization with at least ten (10) locals or
chapters each of which must be a duly recognized collective bargaining agent.cralaw
(j) "Legitimate Labor Organization" means any labor organization duly registered with the
Department of Labor and Employment and includes any branch, local or affiliate thereof.cralaw

(k) "Company Union" means any labor organization whose formation, function or administration
has been assisted by any act defined as unfair labor practice by the Code.cralaw

(l) "Bargaining Representative" means a legitimate labor organization or any

duly authorized officer or agent of such organization whether or not employed by the
employer.cralaw

(m) "Unfair Labor Practice" means any unfair labor practice as expressly defined in the
Code.cralaw
(n) "Labor or Industrial Dispute" includes any controversy or matter concerning terms or conditions
of employment or the association or representation of persons in negotiating the fixing,
maintaining, changing or arranging of terms and conditions of employment regardless of whether
or not the disputants stand in the proximate relationship of employers and employees.cralaw

(o) "Managerial Employee" is one who is vested with powers or prerogatives to lay down and
execute management policies and/or to hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, discharge, assign
or discipline employees. Supervisory employees are those who, in the interest of the employer,
effectively recommend such managerial actions if the exercise of such authority is not merely
routinary or clerical in nature but require the use of independent judgment. All employees not
falling within any of the above definitions are considered rank-and-file employees for purposes of
this Book.cralaw

(p) "Voluntary Arbitrator" means any person accredited by the Board as such, or any person
named or designated in the collective bargaining agreement, by the parties to act as their
voluntary arbitrator, or one chosen, with or without the assistance of the National Conciliation and
Mediation Board, pursuant to a selection procedure agreed upon in the collective bargaining
agreement, or any official that may be authorized by the Secretary of Labor and Employment to
act as voluntary arbitrator upon the written request and agreement of the parties to a labor
dispute.cralaw

(q) "Strike" means any temporary stoppage of work by the concerted action of employees as a
result of a labor or industrial dispute.cralaw

(r) "Strike-Breaker" means any person who obstructs, impedes, or interferes with by force,
violence, coercion, threats or intimidation any peaceful picketing by employees during any labor
controversy affecting wages, hours or conditions of work or in the exercise of the right of self-
organization or collective bargaining.cralaw

(s) "Strike Area" means the establishment, warehouse, depots, plants or offices, including the
sites or premises used as run-away shops, of the employer struck against, as well as the
immediate vicinity actually used by picketing strikers in moving to and fro before all points of
entrance to and exits from said establishment.cralaw

(t) "Lockout" means the temporary refusal of an employer to furnish work as a result of a labor or
industry dispute.cralaw
(u) "Internal Union Dispute" includes all disputes or grievances arising from any violation of or
disagreement over any provision of the constitution and by-laws of a union, including any violation
of the rights and conditions of union membership provided for in this Code.cralaw

(v) "Appeal" means the elevation by an aggrieved party of any decision, order or award of a lower
body to a higher body, by means of a pleading which includes the assignment of errors,
memorandum of arguments in support thereof, and the reliefs prayed for. A mere notice of appeal,
therefore, does not constitute the appeal as herein defined and understood, and shall not stop
the running of the period for perfecting an appeal.cralaw

(w) "Perfection of an Appeal" includes the filing within the prescribed period, of the memorandum
of appeal containing, among others, the assignment of error/s, the argument in support thereof,
the reliefs sought and posting of the appeal bond.cralaw

(x) "Certification Election" means the process of determining, through secret ballot, the sole and
exclusive bargaining agent of the employees in an appropriate bargaining unit, for purposes of
collective bargaining.cralaw
(y) "Consent Election" means the election voluntarily agreed upon by the parties to determine the
issue of majority representation of all the workers in the appropriate collective bargaining
unit.cralaw

(z) "Run-Off" refers to an election between the labor unions receiving the two (2) higher number
of voters when a certification election which provides for three (3) or more choices results in no
choice receiving a majority of the valid votes cast, where the total number of votes for all
contending unions is at least fifty percent (50%) of the number of votes cast.cralaw

(aa) "Registration of Agreement" refers to the filing of the collective bargaining agreement with
the Regional Office or the Bureau accompanied by verified proof of posting and ratification and
payment of fee.cralaw

(bb) "Organized Establishment" refers to a firm or company where there is a recognized or

certified exclusive bargaining agent.cralaw

(cc) "Registration Proceedings" refer to proceedings involving the application for registration of
labor organizations.cralaw

(dd) "Cancellation Proceeding" is the process leading to the revocation of the registration
certificate of a labor organization after due process.cralaw

(ee) "Hearing Officers" are officers appointed/designated in the Regional Office and authorized to
hear and decide cases under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6715 and whose decision is
appealable to the Commission.cralaw

(ff) "Union Accounts Examiners" are officials in the Bureau or the Industrial Relations Division in
the Regional Office empowered to audit books of accounts of the union.cralaw

(gg) "Representation Officer" refer to a person duly authorized to conduct and supervise
certification elections in accordance with Rule VI of this Book.cralaw

(hh) "Term of Office" means the tenure of office of elected officials of a labor organization which
is for a fixed period of five (5) years.cralaw
(ii) "Cabo" refers to a person or group or persons or to a labor group which, in the guise of a labor
organization, supplies workers to an employer, with or without any monetary or other
consideration whether in the capacity of an agent of the employer or as an ostensible independent
contractor.cralaw

(jj) "Collective Bargaining Agreement" refers to the negotiated contract between a legitimate labor
organization and the employer concerning wages, hours of work and all other terms and
conditions of employment in a bargaining unit, including mandatory provisions for grievances and
arbitration machineries.cralaw

(kk) "Med-Arbiter" is an official in the Regional Office authorized to hear, conciliate, mediate and
decide representation cases, internal union and inter-union disputes.cralaw

(ll) "Administrator" refers to the Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment

Administration or the National Conciliation and Mediation Board as the context so indicates.

Employer and Employee

“Employer” includes any person acting in the interest of an employer, directly or indirectly. The
term shall not include any labor organization or any of its officers or agents except when acting
as employer.

“Employee” includes any person in the employ of an employer. The term shall not be limited to
the employees of a particular employer, unless the Code so explicitly states. It shall include any
individual whose work has ceased as a result of or in connection with any current labor dispute
or because of any unfair labor practice if he has not obtained any other substantially equivalent
and regular employment.
Case: Feati v Bautista
Labor Organization: Legitimate Labor Org
“Labor organization” means any union or association of employees which exists in whole or in
part for the purpose of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning terms and
conditions of employment.

“Legitimate labor organization” means any labor organization duly registered with the Department
of Labor and Employment, and includes any branch or local thereof.
Cases:
1. Airline Pilots Assoc v CIR
2. Lopez Sugar v Sec of Labor
“Labor dispute” includes any controversy or matter concerning terms and conditions of
employment or the association or representation of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining,
changing or arranging the terms and conditions of employment, regardless of whether the
disputants stand in the proximate relation of employer and employee.

Definition:
1. San Miguel Corp Employees union v Bersamira
2. Gold City Integrated Post Service v NLRC
Test for Determining Labor Dispute
1. RCPI v Phil Comm Electronics and Electricity Workers Federation
Dispute Settlement Methodology
Labor Relations Policy

Art. 211 a. To promote and emphasize the primacy of free collective bargaining and negotiations,
including voluntary arbitration, mediation and conciliation, as modes of settling labor or industrial
disputes;

Collective Bargaining
1. Kiok Loy v NLRC
Trade Unionism
b. To promote free trade unionism as an instrument for the enhancement of democracy
and the promotion of social justice and development;

c. To foster the free and voluntary organization of a strong and united labor movement;

Article 212: (g)

“Labor organization” means any union or association of employees which exists in whole or in
part for the purpose of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning terms and
conditions of employment.
Worker Enlightenment:
211 (d) To promote the enlightenment of workers concerning their rights and obligations as union
members and as employees;
Art 241. (p) It shall be the duty of any labor organization and its officers to inform its members on
the provisions of its constitution and by-laws, collective bargaining agreement, the prevailing labor
relations system and all their rights and obligations under existing labor laws.

For this purpose, registered labor organizations may assess reasonable dues to finance labor
relations seminars and other labor education activities.
Any violation of the above rights and conditions of membership shall be a ground for cancellation
of union registration or expulsion of officers from office, whichever is appropriate. At least thirty
percent (30%) of the members of a union or any member or members specially concerned may
report such violation to the Bureau. The Bureau shall have the power to hear and decide any
reported violation to mete the appropriate penalty.

Criminal and civil liabilities arising from violations of above rights and conditions of membership
shall continue to be under the jurisdiction of ordinary courts.

Art. 277. Miscellaneous provisions.

a. All unions are authorized to collect reasonable membership fees, union dues,
assessments and fines and other contributions for labor education and research, mutual
death and hospitalization benefits, welfare fund, strike fund and credit and cooperative
undertakings. (As amended by Section 33, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Sections 1-3 rule X book V

RULE X
Labor Education and Research
SECTION 1. Enlightenment of unionists as a duty. — It shall be the duty of every legitimate labor
organization to enlighten its members on their rights and obligations as unionists and as
employees.cralaw

SECTION 2. Special fund for labor education and research. — Every legitimate labor organization
shall, for the above purpose, maintain a special fund for labor education and research. Existing
strike funds may be transformed into labor education and research funds, in whole or in part. The
union may also periodically assess and collect a reasonable amount from its members for such
fund.cralaw

SECTION 3. Mandatory seminars. — It shall be mandatory for every legitimate labor organization
to conduct seminars and similar activities on existing labor laws, collective agreements, company
rules and regulations, and other relevant matters. The union seminars and similar activities may
be conducted independently or in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment,
the Asian Labor Education Center, the Institute of Labor and Manpower Studies, and other labor-
education groups.cralaw

Cases:
1. Davao Integrated Port v Olvida
2. Victoria v Inciong

Machinery Dispute Settlement

Art 211(e) To provide an adequate administrative machinery for the expeditious settlement of
labor or industrial disputes;
Industrial Peace
211 f. To ensure a stable but dynamic and just industrial peace; and

Art. 273. Study of labor management relations. The Secretary of Labor shall have the power
and it shall be his duty to inquire into:

a. the existing relations between employers and employees in the Philippines;

b. the growth of associations of employees and the effect of such associations upon
employer-employee relations;

c. the extent and results of the methods of collective bargaining in the determination of
terms and conditions of employment;
 d. the methods which have been tried by employers and associations of employees for
maintaining mutually satisfactory relations;

e. desirable industrial practices which have been developed through collective bargaining
and other voluntary arrangements;

f. the possible ways of increasing the usefulness and efficiency of collective bargaining for
settling differences;

g. the possibilities for the adoption of practical and effective methods of labor-management
cooperation;

h. any other aspects of employer-employee relations concerning the promotion of harmony

and understanding between the parties; and

i. the relevance of labor laws and labor relations to national development.

The Secretary of Labor shall also inquire into the causes of industrial unrest and take all
the necessary steps within his power as may be prescribed by law to alleviate the same,
and shall from time to time recommend the enactment of such remedial legislation as in
his judgment may be desirable for the maintenance and promotion of industrial peace.

Worker Participation in Decision Making

211. g To ensure the participation of workers in decision and policy-making processes affecting
their rights, duties and welfare.
277. g The Ministry shall help promote and gradually develop, with the agreement of labor
organizations and employers, labor-management cooperation programs at appropriate levels of
the enterprise based on the shared responsibility and mutual respect in order to ensure industrial
peace and improvement in productivity, working conditions and the quality of working
life. (Incorporated by Batas Pambansa Bilang 130, August 21, 1981)
Right test
Case:
PAL v NLRC

Wage Fixing
Art 211B
B. To encourage a truly democratic method of regulating the relations between the employers
and employees by means of agreements freely entered into through collective bargaining,
no court or administrative agency or official shall have the power to set or fix wages, rates
of pay, hours of work or other terms and conditions of employment, except as otherwise
provided under this Code. (As amended by Section 3, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)

Article 263. g

When, in his opinion, there exists a labor dispute causing or likely to cause a strike or lockout in
an industry indispensable to the national interest, the Secretary of Labor and Employment may
assume jurisdiction over the dispute and decide it or certify the same to the Commission for
compulsory arbitration. Such assumption or certification shall have the effect of automatically
enjoining the intended or impending strike or lockout as specified in the assumption or
certification order. If one has already taken place at the time of assumption or certification, all
striking or locked out employees shall immediately return-to-work and the employer shall
immediately resume operations and readmit all workers under the same terms and conditions
prevailing before the strike or lockout. The Secretary of Labor and Employment or the
Commission may seek the assistance of law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with
this provision as well as with such orders as he may issue to enforce the same.

In line with the national concern for and the highest respect accorded to the right of patients to
life and health, strikes and lockouts in hospitals, clinics and similar medical institutions shall, to
every extent possible, be avoided, and all serious efforts, not only by labor and management but
government as well, be exhausted to substantially minimize, if not prevent, their adverse effects
on such life and health, through the exercise, however legitimate, by labor of its right to strike
and by management to lockout. In labor disputes adversely affecting the continued operation of
such hospitals, clinics or medical institutions, it shall be the duty of the striking union or locking-
out employer to provide and maintain an effective skeletal workforce of medical and other health
personnel, whose movement and services shall be unhampered and unrestricted, as are
necessary to insure the proper and adequate protection of the life and health of its patients,
most especially emergency cases, for the duration of the strike or lockout. In such cases,
therefore, the Secretary of Labor and Employment may immediately assume, within twenty four
(24) hours from knowledge of the occurrence of such a strike or lockout, jurisdiction over the
same or certify it to the Commission for compulsory arbitration. For this purpose, the contending
parties are strictly enjoined to comply with such orders, prohibitions and/or injunctions as are
issued by the Secretary of Labor and Employment or the Commission, under pain of immediate
disciplinary action, including dismissal or loss of employment status or payment by the locking-
out employer of backwages, damages and other affirmative relief, even criminal prosecution
against either or both of them.

The foregoing notwithstanding, the President of the Philippines shall not be precluded from
determining the industries that, in his opinion, are indispensable to the national interest, and
from intervening at any time and assuming jurisdiction over any such labor dispute in order to
settle or terminate the same.

Rationale Policy
Case:
1. Caltex Fil v CIR
Tripartism
Article 275

a. Tripartism in labor relations is hereby declared a State policy. Towards this end, workers
and employers shall, as far as practicable, be represented in decision and policy-making
bodies of the government.

b. The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized representatives may, from
time to time, call a national, regional, or industrial tripartite conference of representatives
of government, workers and employers for the consideration and adoption of voluntary
codes of principles designed to promote industrial peace based on social justice or to align
labor movement relations with established priorities in economic and social development.
In calling such conference, the Secretary of Labor and Employment may consult with
accredited representatives of workers and employers. (As amended by Section 32,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Part 2: Right to self-organization

Basis of right

1987 Constitution

Article III. SECTION 8. The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private
sectors, to form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be
abridged.

Article XIII. SECTION 3. The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas,
organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment
opportunities for all.

It shall guarantee the rights of all workers to self-organization, collective bargaining and
negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including the right to strike in accordance with law.
They shall be entitled to security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and a living wage. They
shall also participate in policy and decision-making processes affecting their rights and benefits
as may be provided by law.

The State shall promote the principle of shared responsibility between workers and employers
and the preferential use of voluntary modes in settling disputes, including conciliation, and shall
enforce their mutual compliance therewith to foster industrial peace.

The State shall regulate the relations between workers and employers, recognizing the right of
labor to its just share in the fruits of production and the right of enterprises to reasonable returns
on investments, and to expansion and growth.

1935. Article III section (6). The right to form associations or societies for purposes not contrary
to law shall not be abridged.
1973 Article IV SEC. 7. The right to form associations or societies for purposes not contrary to
law shall not be abridged.

Cases:
1. Metrolab Industries v Roldan
2. Singer Sewing Machine Co v Drilon

Extent and Scope of Right

Cases:
1. Reyes v Trajano
2. Knitjoy v Calleja
3. General Rubber and Footwear Corp v BLR
Workers with right to self organization
1987 Constitution Art III SECTION 8. The right of the people, including those employed in the
public and private sectors, to form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to
law shall not be abridged.
All employees

Art. 243. Coverage and employees’ right to self-organization. All persons employed in
commercial, industrial and agricultural enterprises and in religious, charitable, medical, or
educational institutions, whether operating for profit or not, shall have the right to self-organization
and to form, join, or assist labor organizations of their own choosing for purposes of collective
bargaining. Ambulant, intermittent and itinerant workers, self-employed people, rural workers and
those without any definite employers may form labor organizations for their mutual aid and
protection. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 70, May 1, 1980)

Case:
1. Alliance of Nationalist, et al v Samahang
2. Kapatiran sa Meat and Canning Division v Calleja

Non profit Organization

Case:
1. FEU- Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Inc v Trajano
2. Kapatiran sa Meat and Canning Division v Calleja
Employees of Government Corporations
Art. 244. Right of employees in the public service. Employees of government corporations
established under the Corporation Code shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively
with their respective employers. All other employees in the civil service shall have the right to form
associations for purposes not contrary to law. (As amended by Executive Order No. 111,
December 24, 1986)

Supervisors

Art. 245. Ineligibility of managerial employees to join any labor organization; right of
supervisory employees. Managerial employees are not eligible to join, assist or form any labor
organization. Supervisory employees shall not be eligible for membership in a labor organization
of the rank-and-file employees but may join, assist or form separate labor organizations of their
own. (As amended by Section 18, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art 212. (M) “Managerial employee” is one who is vested with the powers or prerogatives to lay
down and execute management policies and/or to hire, transfer, suspend, lay-off, recall,
discharge, assign or discipline employees. Supervisory employees are those who, in the interest
of the employer, effectively recommend such managerial actions if the exercise of such authority
is not merely routinary or clerical in nature but requires the use of independent judgment. All
employees not falling within any of the above definitions are considered rank-and-file employees
for purposes of this Book.

Test: Cases
1. Toyota Motor Phils corp v. Toyta Motor Ph corp Labor Union
 2. Dunlop Slazenger ph inc. v Secretary of Labor
3. Paper Industries Corp v Laguesma
Aliens

Art. 269. Prohibition against aliens; exceptions. All aliens, natural or juridical, as well as
foreign organizations are strictly prohibited from engaging directly or indirectly in all forms of trade
union activities without prejudice to normal contacts between Philippine labor unions and
recognized international labor centers: Provided, however, That aliens working in the country with
valid permits issued by the Department of Labor and Employment, may exercise the right to self-
organization and join or assist labor organizations of their own choosing for purposes of collective
bargaining: Provided, further, That said aliens are nationals of a country which grants the same
or similar rights to Filipino workers. (As amended by Section 29, Republic Act No. 6715, March
21, 1989)

Security guards
Case:
1. United Pepsi Cola Supervisors Union v Laguesma

Workers with no right to self-organization

Managerial and Confidential Employees

Art. 245. Ineligibility of managerial employees to join any labor organization; right of
supervisory employees. Managerial employees are not eligible to join, assist or form any labor
organization. Supervisory employees shall not be eligible for membership in a labor organization
of the rank-and-file employees but may join, assist or form separate labor organizations of their
own. (As amended by Section 18, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 82. Coverage. The provisions of this Title shall apply to employees in all establishments and
undertakings whether for profit or not, but not to government employees, managerial employees,
field personnel, members of the family of the employer who are dependent on him for support,
domestic helpers, persons in the personal service of another, and workers who are paid by results
as determined by the Secretary of Labor in appropriate regulations.

As used herein, “managerial employees” refer to those whose primary duty consists of the
management of the establishment in which they are employed or of a department or subdivision
thereof, and to other officers or members of the managerial staff.

“Field personnel” shall refer to non-agricultural employees who regularly perform their duties away
from the principal place of business or branch office of the employer and whose actual hours of
work in the field cannot be determined with reasonable certainty.

Cases:

1. Pepsi- cola v secretary of Labor

2. United Pepsi- Cola Supervisors Union v Laguesma
3. San Miguel Corp Supervisors v Laguesma

Worker/ Member of Cooperative

Case:
1. Cooperative Rural Bank of Davao v Ferrer- Calleja

Non-employees
Art. 243. Coverage and employees’ right to self-organization. All persons employed in
commercial, industrial and agricultural enterprises and in religious, charitable, medical, or
educational institutions, whether operating for profit or not, shall have the right to self-organization
and to form, join, or assist labor organizations of their own choosing for purposes of collective
bargaining. Ambulant, intermittent and itinerant workers, self-employed people, rural workers and
those without any definite employers may form labor organizations for their mutual aid and
protection. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 70, May 1, 1980)

Case: 1. Singer Sewing Machine Co. v Drilon

Fiduciary Employees
Case: 1. Metrolab Industries v. Roldan Confessor
Party Protected
Case: 1. Mactan Workers Union v Aboitiz

Sanctions for Violation of right

Art. 246. Non-abridgment of right to self-organization. It shall be unlawful for any person to
restrain, coerce, discriminate against or unduly interfere with employees and workers in their
exercise of the right to self-organization. Such right shall include the right to form, join, or assist
labor organizations for the purpose of collective bargaining through representatives of their own
choosing and to engage in lawful concerted activities for the same purpose for their mutual aid
and protection, subject to the provisions of Article 264 of this Code. (As amended by Batas
Pambansa Bilang 70, May 1, 1980)

Art. 248. Unfair labor practices of employers. It shall be unlawful for an employer to commit
any of the following unfair labor practice:

a. To interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their right to self-
organization;

b. To require as a condition of employment that a person or an employee shall not join a

labor organization or shall withdraw from one to which he belongs;

c. To contract out services or functions being performed by union members when such will
interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights to self-
organization;

d. To initiate, dominate, assist or otherwise interfere with the formation or administration of

any labor organization, including the giving of financial or other support to it or its
organizers or supporters;

e. To discriminate in regard to wages, hours of work and other terms and conditions of
employment in order to encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization.
Nothing in this Code or in any other law shall stop the parties from requiring membership
in a recognized collective bargaining agent as a condition for employment, except those
employees who are already members of another union at the time of the signing of the
collective bargaining agreement. Employees of an appropriate bargaining unit who are
not members of the recognized collective bargaining agent may be assessed a
reasonable fee equivalent to the dues and other fees paid by members of the recognized
collective bargaining agent, if such non-union members accept the benefits under the
collective bargaining agreement: Provided, that the individual authorization required
under Article 242, paragraph (o) of this Code shall not apply to the non-members of the
recognized collective bargaining agent;

f. To dismiss, discharge or otherwise prejudice or discriminate against an employee for

having given or being about to give testimony under this Code;

g. To violate the duty to bargain collectively as prescribed by this Code;

h. To pay negotiation or attorney’s fees to the union or its officers or agents as part of the
settlement of any issue in collective bargaining or any other dispute; or

i. To violate a collective bargaining agreement.

The provisions of the preceding paragraph notwithstanding, only the officers and agents of
corporations, associations or partnerships who have actually participated in, authorized or ratified
unfair labor practices shall be held criminally liable. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 130,
August 21, 1981)

UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

Art. 249. Unfair labor practices of labor organizations. It shall be unfair labor practice for a
labor organization, its officers, agents or representatives:

a. To restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their right to self-organization.

However, a labor organization shall have the right to prescribe its own rules with respect
 to the acquisition or retention of membership;

b. To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an employee,

including discrimination against an employee with respect to whom membership in such
organization has been denied or to terminate an employee on any ground other than the
usual terms and conditions under which membership or continuation of membership is
made available to other members;

c. To violate the duty, or refuse to bargain collectively with the employer, provided it is the
representative of the employees;

d. To cause or attempt to cause an employer to pay or deliver or agree to pay or deliver

any money or other things of value, in the nature of an exaction, for services which are
not performed or not to be performed, including the demand for fee for union
negotiations;

e. To ask for or accept negotiation or attorney’s fees from employers as part of the
settlement of any issue in collective bargaining or any other dispute; or

f. To violate a collective bargaining agreement.

The provisions of the preceding paragraph notwithstanding, only the officers, members of
governing boards, representatives or agents or members of labor associations or organizations
who have actually participated in, authorized or ratified unfair labor practices shall be held
criminally liable. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 130, August 21, 1981)

ART. 288. Penalties. - Except as otherwise provided in this Code, or unless the acts complained
of hinge on a question of interpretation or implementation of ambiguous provisions of an existing
collective bargaining agreement, any violation of the provisions of this Code declared to be
unlawful or penal in nature shall be punished with a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos
(P1,000.00) nor more than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than
three months nor more than three years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of
the court.

In addition to such penalty, any alien found guilty shall be summarily deported upon completion
of service of sentence.

Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any criminal offense punished in
this Code, shall be under the concurrent jurisdiction of the Municipal or City Courts and the Courts
of First Instance.