GR 170830 - Phimco Vs Pila (Labor)

PHIMCO INDUSTRIES, INC., G.R. No.
170830
versus PHIMCO INDUSTRIES LABOR ASSOCIATION (PILA)
Principle:
Right to Strike is merely a statutory right, hence it should be done in accordance with
law.
A strike is the most powerful weapon of workers in their struggle with management in the course of
setting their terms and conditions of employment. It is premised on the concept of economic war between
labor and management, it is a weapon that can either breathe life to or destroy the union and its members,
and one that must also necessarily affect management and its members.
The decision to declare a strike must be exercised responsibly and must always rest on rational
basis, free from emotionalism, and unswayed by the tempers and tantrums of hot heads; it must focus on
legitimate union interests. To be legitimate, a strike should not be antithetical to public welfare, and must be
pursued within legal bounds. The right to strike as a means of attaining social justice is never meant to
oppress or destroy anyone, least of all, the employer.
Since strikes affect not only the relationship between labor and management but also the general
peace and progress of the community, the law has provided limitations on the right to strike.
FACTS:
PHIMCO and PILA negotiated for the renewal CBA when it was about to expire on December 14, 1994. The
negotiation resulted in a deadlock on economic issues, mainly due to disagreements on salary increases and
benefits. PILA faithfully complied with the procedural requirements for staging a strike. On April 21, 1995, PILA
staged a strike.
On May 3, 1995, PHIMCO filed with the NLRC a petition for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining
order (TRO), to enjoin the strikers from preventing through force, intimidation and coercion the ingress and egress of
non-striking employees into and from the company premises. On May 15, 1995, the NLRC issued an ex-parte TRO,
effective for a period of twenty (20) days, or until June 5, 1995.
On June 23, 1995, PHIMCO sent a letter to thirty-six (36) union members, directing them to explain within
twenty-four (24) hours why they should not be dismissed for the illegal acts they committed during the strike. On June
26, 1995, the thirty-six (36) union members were informed of their dismissal.
On July 6, 1995, PILA filed a complaint for unfair labor practice and illegal dismissal (illegal dismissal case)
with the NLRC.
On August 28, 1995, PHIMCO filed a Petition to Declare the Strike Illegal. PHIMCO claimed that the strikers
prevented ingress to and egress from the PHIMCO compound, thereby paralyzing PHIMCOs operations.
LA Mayor found the strike illegal; the respondents committed prohibited acts during the strike by blocking
the ingress to and egress from PHIMCOs premises and preventing the non-striking employees from reporting for
work.
On March 5, 1998, PILA and its officers and members appealed LA Mayors decision to the NLRC.
The NLRC set aside the LA ruling and did not give weight to PHIMCOs evidence, and relied instead on the
respondents evidence showing that the union conducted a peaceful moving picket.
The NLRC rendered its Decision in the consolidated cases, ruling totally in the unions favor. It dismissed
the appeal of the illegal dismissal case, and denied PHIMCOs motion for reconsideration in the illegal strike case.
PHIMCO filed a petition for certiorari before CA which was dismissed, hence the instant petition.
ISSUE:
RULING:
Whether or not the strike was illegal.
YES.
In the present case, while the respondents fully satisfied the legal procedural requirements; a strike notice
was filed on March 9, 1995; a strike vote was reached on March 16, 1995; notification of the strike vote was filed with
the DOLE on March 17, 1995; and the actual strike was launched only on April 25, 1995, the picketing that
respondent PILA officers and members undertook as part of their strike activities effectively blocked the free ingress
to and egress from PHIMCOs premises, thus preventing non-striking employees and company vehicles from entering
the PHIMCO compound. In this manner, the picketers violated Article 264(e) of the Labor Code.
Requisites of a valid strike

For a strike to be valid, it must comply with Article 263 of the Labor Code, which requires that: (a) a notice of
strike be filed with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 30 days before the intended date thereof, or 15
days in case of unfair labor practice; (b) a strike vote be approved by a majority of the total union membership in the
bargaining unit concerned, obtained by secret ballot in a meeting called for that purpose; and (c) a notice be given to
the DOLE of the results of the voting at least seven days before the intended strike.
These requirements are mandatory, and the unions failure to comply renders the strike illegal. The 15
to 30-day cooling-off period is designed to afford the parties the opportunity to amicably resolve the dispute with the
assistance of the NCMB conciliator/mediator, while the seven-day strike ban is intended to give the DOLE an
opportunity to verify whether the projected strike really carries the imprimatur of the majority of the union members.
Despite the validity of the purpose of a strike and compliance with the procedural requirements, a strike may
still be held illegal where the means employed are illegal. The means become illegal when they come within the
prohibitions under Article 264(e) of the Labor Code which provides:
No person engaged in picketing shall commit any act of violence, coercion or intimidation
or obstruct the free ingress to or egress from the employer's premises for lawful purposes, or
obstruct public thoroughfares.

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PHIMCO INDUSTRIES, INC., G.R. No.

Whether or not the strike was illegal.

Requisites of a valid strike

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