RULE XIII : Picketing, Strikes and Lockouts

SECTION 1. Grounds for strike and lockout. — A strike or lockout may be declared in cases of bargaining deadlocks and unfair labor practices. Violations of collective bargaining agreements, except flagrant and/or malicious refusal to comply with its economic provisions, shall not be considered unfair labor practice and shall not be strikeable. No strike or lockout may be declared on grounds involving inter-union and internal union disputes or on issues brought to voluntary or compulsory arbitration.

SECTION 2. Who may declare a strike or lockout. — Any certified or duly recognized bargaining representative may declare a strike in cases of bargaining deadlocks and unfair labor practices. The employer may declare a lockout in the same cases. In the absence of a certified or duly recognized bargaining representative, any legitimate labor organization in the establishment may declare a strike but only on grounds of unfair labor practices.

SECTION 3. Notice of strike or lockout. — In cases of bargaining deadlocks, a notice of strike or lockout shall be filed with the regional branch of the Board at least thirty (30) days before the intended date thereof, a copy of said notice having been served on the other party concerned. In cases of unfair labor practices, the period of notice shall be fifteen (15) days. However, in case of unfair labor practice involving the dismissal from employment of union officers duly elected in accordance with the union constitution and by-laws which may constitute union-busting where the existence of the union is threatened, the fifteen-day cooling-off period shall not apply and the union may take action immediately after the strike vote is conducted and the results thereof submitted to the Department of Labor and Employment.

SECTION 4. Contents of notice. — The notice shall state, among others, the names and addresses of the employer and the union involved, the nature of the industry to which the employer belongs, the number of union members and of the workers in the bargaining unit, and such other relevant data as may facilitate the settlement of the dispute, such as a brief statement or enumeration of all pending labor disputes involving the same parties.

In cases of bargaining deadlocks, the notice shall, as far as practicable, further state the unresolved issues in the bargaining negotiations and be accompanied by the written proposals of the union, the counter-proposals of the employer and the proof of a request for conference to settle the differences. In cases of unfair labor practices, the notice shall, as far as practicable, state the acts complained of and the efforts taken to resolve the dispute amicably.

Any notice which does not conform with the requirements of this and the foregoing sections shall be deemed as not having been filed and the party concerned shall be so informed by the regional branch of the Board.

SECTION 5. Disclosure of information. — In collective bargaining, the parties shall, at the request of either of them, make available such up-to-date financial information on the economic situation of the undertaking, which is normally submitted to relevant government agencies, as is material and necessary for meaningful negotiations. Where the disclosure of some of this information could be prejudicial to the undertaking, its communication may be made conditioned upon a commitment that it would be regarded as confidential to the extent required. The information to be made available may be agreed upon between the parties to collective bargaining.

SECTION 6. Conciliation. — Upon receipt of the notice, the regional branch of the Board shall exert all efforts at mediation and conciliation to enable the parties to settle the dispute amicably. The regional branch of the Board shall also encourage the parties to submit the dispute to voluntary arbitration.

During the proceedings, the parties shall not do any act which may disrupt or impede the early settlement of the dispute. They are obliged, as part of their duty to bargain collectively in good faith, to participate fully and promptly in the conciliation meetings called by the regional branch of the Board. The regional branch of the Board shall have the power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of the parties to the meetings.

Information and statements given at conciliation proceedings shall be treated as privileged communications. Conciliators and similar officials shall not testify in any court or body regarding any matter taken up at conciliation proceedings conducted by them.

SECTION 7. Strike or lockout vote. — A decision to declare a strike must be approved by a majority of the total union membership in the bargaining unit concerned obtained by secret ballot in meetings or referenda called for the purpose. A decision to declare a lockout must be approved by a majority of the board of directors of the employer corporation or association or the partners in a partnership obtained by a secret ballot in a meeting called for the purpose.

The regional branch of the Board may, at its own initiative or upon the request of any affected party, supervise the conduct of the secret balloting. In every case, the union or the employer shall furnish the regional branch of the Board the notice of meetings referred to in the preceding paragraph at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meetings as well as the results of the voting at least seven (7) days before the intended strike or lockout, subject to the cooling-off period provided in this Rule.

SECTION 8. Declaration of strike or lockout. — Should the dispute remain unsettled after the lapse of the requisite number of days from the filing of the notice or strike or lockout and of the results of the election required in the preceding section, the labor union may strike or the employer may lock out its workers. The regional branch of the Board shall continue mediating and conciliating.

SECTION 8-a. Improved offer balloting. — In case of a strike, the regional branch of the Board shall, at its own initiative or upon the request of any affected party, conduct a referendum by secret balloting on the improved offer of the employer on or before the 30th day of the strike. When at least a majority of the union members vote to accept the improved offer, the striking workers shall immediately return to work and the employer shall thereupon readmit them upon the signing of the agreement.

In case of a lockout, the regional branch of the Board shall also conduct a referendum by secret balloting on the reduced offer of the union on or before the 30th day of the lockout. When at least a majority of the board of directors or trustees or the partners holding the controlling interest in the case of a partnership vote to accept the reduced offer, the workers shall immediately return to work and the employer shall thereupon readmit them upon the signing of the agreement.

SECTION 9. Hiring of replacements. — The mere participation of a worker in a lawful strike shall not constitute sufficient ground for termination of his employment even if a replacement had been hired by the employer during such lawful strike. But any union officer who knowingly participates in an illegal strike and any worker or union officer who knowingly participates in the commission of illegal acts during a strike may be declared to have lost his employment status.

SECTION 10. Prohibition regarding the employment of replacements. — No public official employee, including officers and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Integrated National Police, or any armed person shall —

(a) Bring in, introduce or escort, in any manner, any individual who seeks to replace strikers in entering or leaving the premises of a strike area, or

(b) Work in place of the strikers.

Nothing herein shall be interpreted to prevent the aforementioned officials, employees or peace officers from taking any measure necessary to maintain peace and order and/or protect life and property.

SECTION 11. Peaceful picketing. — Workers shall have the right to peaceful picketing. 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.

No person shall obstruct, impede or interfere with, by force, violence, coercion, threats or intimidation, any peaceful picketing by workers during any labor controversy or in the exercise of the right to self-organization or collective bargaining or shall aid or abet such obstruction or interference. No employer shall use or employ any person to commit such acts nor shall any person be employed for such purpose.

SECTION 12. Injunctions. — No court or entity shall enjoin any picketing, strike or lockout, except as provided in Articles 218 and 264 of the Code.

The Commission shall have the power to issue temporary injunctions in such cases but only after due notice and hearing and in accordance with its rules. The reception of evidence for the application of a writ of injunction may be delegated by the Commission to any Labor Arbiter who shall submit his recommendations to the Commission for its consideration and resolution. Where the parties are not residents of Manila, the Labor Arbiter shall conduct hearings in such places as he may determine to be accessible to the parties and their witnesses.

Any ex parte restraining order issued by the Commission, or its Chairman or Vice-Chairman when the Commission is not in session and as prescribed by its rules, shall be valid for a period not exceeding 20 days.

SECTION 13. Criminal prosecution. — The regular courts shall have jurisdiction over any criminal action under Article 273 of the Code.

SECTION 14. Definition of "export-oriented industries." — For the purpose of paragraph (g) of Article 264 of the Code, "export-oriented industries" means firms exporting 50 percent or more of their products worth at least $1 million or those annually exporting at least $10 million worth of their products or those exporting manufactured or processed goods with high value or labor value added as distinguished from traditional exports.