CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II | ATTY.

EDWIN BELLEN

TOPIC:
CASE:

RIGHTOFASSOCIATION
SSSEMPLOYEESASSOCIATION,ETAL(SSSEA)VSCA
175SCRA686(1989)
G.R.No.85279
July28,1989
Cortes,J.

FACTS:
OnJune1987,SSSfiledwiththeRTCQCacomplaintfordamageswithaprayerfora
writofpreliminaryinjunctionagainstpetitions.AllegedthatonJune9,1987,officers
andmembersofSSSEAstagedanillegalstrikeandbarricadedtheentrancestotheSSS
building,whichpreventednonstrikingemployeesfromreportingforworkandSSS
membersfromtransactingwiththe
SSS.ThePublicSectorLaborManagementCouncilorderedthestrikerstoreturntowork
butthestrikersrefused.SSSsuffereddamagesasaresultofthestrike.
- SSEAwentonstrikeafterSSSfailedtomeetthefollowingdemands:
1. ImplementationoftheprovisionsoftheoldSSSSSSEAcollective
bargainingagreement(CBA)oncheckoffofuniondues
2. Paymentofaccruedovertimepay,nightdifferentialpayandholidaypay
3. Conversionoftemporcontractualemployeeswith6monthsormoreof
serviceintoregularandpermanentemployeesandtheirentitlementtothe
samesalaries,allowancesandbenefitsgiventootherregularemployeesofthe
SSS
4. Paymentofthechildren'sallowanceofPhP30
SSSEAallegedthatSSSdeductedcertainamountsfromthesalariesofemployeesand
committedactsofdiscriminationandunfairlaborpractices.
OnJune11,1987CourtorderedaTROonthependingresolutionoftheapplication
forawritofpreliminaryinjunction.WhiletheSSEAfiledamotiontodismissthe
petitionontheallegedlackofjurisdictionofthetrialcourt,whichSSSopposed
OnJul22,1987MotiontodismisswasdeniedandconvertedtheTROintoan
injunctionuponthepostingofabondandfindingthatthestrikewasillegal.
OnAug1987MotionforreconsiderationwasfiledbySSSEAbutwasdenied
OnOct21,19873rdDivisionoftheSupremeCourtremandedthecasetotheCA,

whichtheSSSEApetitionedagainstbutwasdeniedbytheCourt.CAheldthatSSS
employeesdonothavetherighttostrikeandmaybeenjoinedbytheRTCfrom
continuingwiththeirstrike.
OnJune291988Petitionwasdeniedforbeingmootandacademic
OnFebruary6,1989SCissuedaTROenjoiningSSSEAfrompursuingthenoticeof
striketheyfiledwiththeDepartmentofLaborandEmployment(DOLE)on25Jan1989
SSSEAposition:RTChadnojurisdictiontohearthecasefiledbySSSandtoissuea
TROandapreliminaryinjunctionasthisbelongedtoDOLEortheNationalLabor
RelationsCommission(NLRC)
SSSposition:SSSemployeesaregovernmentemployeesandarecoveredbycivil

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II | ATTY. EDWIN BELLEN

servicelaws,rulesandregulationsandnottheLaborCode,DOLEortheNLRCandthus
donothavetherighttostrike
ISSUE:
I.
II.

WhetherornottheemployeesofSSShavetherighttostrike?
WhetherornottheRTCcanenjoinSSSEAfromstrikingandorderthe
strikingemployeestoreturntowork?

RULING:
I. WONtheemployeesofSSShavetherighttostrike?NO.
1) Constitutionissilentastowhetheritrecognizestherighttostrikeofgovernment
employees
2) RecordsoftheConstitutionalCommissionshowthatinrecognizingtherightof
governmentemployeestoorganize,theommissionersintendedtolimittheright
totheformationofunionsonly,withouttheinclusionoftherighttostrike
(ConstitutionalCommissionerEulogioLerum)
3) Intheabsenceofanylegislationallowinggovernmentemployeestostrike,
recognizingtheirrighttodoso,orregulatingtheexerciseoftheright,theyare
prohibitedfromstriking,byexpressprovisionofMemorandumCircularNo.6
andasimpliedinE.O.No.180.
MemorandumCircularNo.61987oftheCivilServiceCommissionstates:
PriortoenactmentbyCongressofapplicablelawsconcerningstrikebygovernment
employees...enjoinsunderpainofadministrativesanctions,allgovernmentofficersand
employeesfromstagingstrikes,demonstrations,massleaves,walkoutsandotherforms
ofmassactionwhichwillresultintemporarystoppageordisruptionofpublicservice.
E.O.No.180Providingguidelinesfortheexerciseoftherighttoorganizeofgovernment
employees,creatingaPublicSectorLaborManagementCouncil,andforotherpurposes
provides:
VI.PeacefulConcertedActivitiesandStrikes
Sec.14.TheCivilServicelawsandrulesgoverningconcertedactivitiesandstrikes
inthegovernmentserviceshallbeobserved,subjecttoanylegislationthatmaybe
enactedbyCongress.
II. WONtheRTCcanenjoinSSSEAfromstrikingandorderthestrikingemployeesto
returntowork?YES.
1) ThetermsandconditionsofemploymentintheGovernment,includingany
politicalsubdivisionorinstrumentalitythereofaregovernedbylaw.(LaborCode
andtheCivilServiceCode)
2) SSSisagovernmentcontrolledcorporationwhichwascreatedunderRA1161
andthus,itsemployeesareconsideredpartofthecivilserviceandareunderthe

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II | ATTY. EDWIN BELLEN

laws,rulesandregulationsofthecivilservice.
3) ThestrikestagedbytheSSSEAisprohibitedbylawandrecoursetothecourtsby
SSSisappropriate.
4) EO180veststhepowertosettledisputesbetweengovernmentemployeesandthe
governmenttothePublicSectorLaborManagementCouncilbutdoesnotgrantit
thepowertoissueTROsandinjunctions.
5) SSSEAandanyotherorganizationofgovernmentemployeesshouldseekredress
fromtheCongressasthelegislatureisvestedwiththepowertoamendchartersof
GOCCs.
NoreversibleerrorhavebeencommittedbytheCourtofAppeals,theinstant
petitionisDENIEDandthedecisionoftheappellatecourtisaffirmed.
RelevantProvisions
1987ConstitutionArticleIIIBillofRightsSec.8
Therightofthepeople,includingthoseemployedinthepublicandprivatesectors,to
formunions,associations,orsocietiesforthepurposesnotcontrarytolawshallnotbe
abridged.
1987ConstitutionArticleXIIIonSocialJusticeandHumanRightsSec.3Par.2
Itshallguaranteetherightsofallworkerstoselforganization,collectivebargainingand
negotiations,andpeacefulconcertedactivities,includingtherighttostrikeinaccordance
withlaw.Xxx
1987ConstitutionArticleIXConstitutionalCommissions(B),Sec.2(1)
Thecivilserviceembracesallbranches,subdivisions,instrumentalities,andagenciesof
theSec.4,RuleIIIoftheRulesandRegulationstoGoverntheExerciseoftheRight
ofGovernmentEmployeestoSelfOrganization
Thetermsandconditionsofemploymentinthegovernment,includinganypolitical
subdivisionorinstrumentalitythereofandgovernmentownedandcontrolled
corporationswithoriginalchartersaregovernedbylawandemployeesthereinshallnot
strikeforthepurposeofsecuringchangesthereof.Government,includinggovernment
ownedorcontrolledcorporationswithoriginalcharters.
1987ConstitutionArticleIXConstitutionalCommissions(B),Sec.2(5)
TheCongressshallprovideforthestandardizationofcompensationofgovernment
officialsandemployees,includingthoseingovernmentownedorcontrolledcorporations
withoriginalcharters,takingintoaccountthenatureoftheresponsibilitiespertainingto,
andthequalificationsrequiredfor,theirpositions.
IndustrialPeaceAct(RA875)expresslybannedstrikesbygovernmentemployees
butwaslatterrepealedbytheLaborCode,whichwassilentonthematter

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II | ATTY. EDWIN BELLEN

Sec.11.ProhibitionAgainstStrikesintheGovernment.Thetermsandconditionsof
employmentintheGovernment,includinganypoliticalsubdivisionorinstrumentality
thereof,aregovernedbylawanditisdeclaredtobethepolicyofthisActthatemployees
thereinshallnotstrikeforthepurposeofsecuringchangesormodificationintheirterms
andconditionsofemployment.Suchemployeesmaybelongtoanylabororganization
whichdoesnotimposetheobligationtostrikeortojoininstrike:Provided,however,
Thatthissectionshallapplyonlytoemployeesemployedingovernmentalfunctionsand
notthoseemployedinproprietaryfunctionsoftheGovernmentincludingbutnotlimited
togovernmentalcorporations.
RightafterthedisputebetweenSSSandSSSEA,arulewaspromulgatedgoverning
therightofgovernmentemployeestoselforganize:
Sec.4,RuleIIIoftheRulesandRegulationstoGoverntheExerciseoftheRightof
GovernmentEmployeestoSelfOrganization
Thetermsandconditionsofemploymentinthegovernment,includinganypolitical
subdivisionorinstrumentalitythereofandgovernmentownedandcontrolled
corporationswithoriginalchartersaregovernedbylawandemployeesthereinshallnot
strikeforthepurposeofsecuringchangesthereof.