Title
Aboitiz Power Renewables, Inc. vs. Aboitiz Power Renewables, Inc.
Case
G.R. No. 237036
Decision Date
Jul 8, 2020
APRI implemented a redundancy program due to declining steam production, offering separation pay. Employees alleged illegal dismissal and union busting, but the Supreme Court upheld the program's validity, citing compliance with legal requirements and lack of evidence for unfair labor practice.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 237036)

Facts:

Parties Involved:

  • Petitioners: Aboitiz Power Renewables, Inc.-Tiwi Consolidated Union (APRI-TCU), APRI Tiwi Employees Labor Union (APRI-TIELU), and APRI-Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant Professional/Technical Employees Union-Dialogwu (APRI-TGPPPTEU-D), representing employees who were allegedly illegally dismissed.
  • Respondents: Aboitiz Power Renewables, Inc. (APRI) and its officers, including Michael B. Pierce, Atty. Martin John Yasay, Juan Felipe Alfonso, Arnel Sumagui, Wilfredo G. Sarmago, and Roberto L. Urbano.

Background:

  • APRI operates the Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant in Tiwi, Albay.
  • On September 16, 2013, APRI announced a redundancy program due to declining steam production and the adoption of the Oracle Enterprise Business Suite, which streamlined operations.
  • Affected employees were informed of their termination effective October 20, 2013, and were given separation pay, including a one-time special assistance of P400,000.00.
  • Some employees voluntarily resigned, while others filed complaints for illegal dismissal, unfair labor practice, and other claims, alleging that the redundancy program was a pretext for union busting.

Key Allegations:

  1. APRI failed to comply with the notice requirement for redundancy.
  2. The redundancy program lacked justification and evidence of overstaffing.
  3. The criteria for selecting employees for redundancy were not disclosed.
  4. The timing of the redundancy program coincided with ongoing union negotiations, suggesting union busting.

Issue:

  1. Whether the Court of Appeals (CA) erred in upholding the validity of APRI's redundancy program.
  2. Whether the CA erred in upholding the validity of the dismissal of the petitioners' officers and members.
  3. Whether the CA erred in dismissing the claim of unfair labor practice in the form of union busting.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)


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