Facts:

• The case involves the interpretation of a union shop clause in a collective bargaining agreement.
• The petitioners were employees of Central Azucarera de Pilar and members of the Allied Workers Association (AWA).
• The workers dissolved the AWA chapter and formed the Central Azucarera de Pilar Allied Workers Association (CAPAWA), which became the new collective bargaining agent.
• A collective bargaining agreement was entered into between CAPAWA and Central, which included a union shop clause.
• The union shop clause stated that new employees who are not members of CAPAWA must become members within 30 days or be immediately dismissed.
• Some members of CAPAWA formed the Industrial, Commercial, and Agricultural Workers Organization (ICAWO) and demanded recognition as the sole collective bargaining agency.
• Central refused and the members of ICAWO went on strike.
• CAPAWA demanded the dismissal of the ICAWO members, leading to their dismissal and the filing of a complaint for unfair labor practice.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Court ruled in favor of the petitioners and ordered their reinstatement.
• The Court interpreted the union shop clause and held that it did not establish a true or complete "closed shop" that would authorize the dismissal of employees who cease to be members of the union.
• The Court emphasized that for an employer to be bound to dismiss employees for non-union membership, the stipulation must be clear and unequivocal.
• In this case, the union shop clause on...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Court based its decision on the interpretation of the union shop clause and the principle of strict construction.
• It held that an undertaking to dismiss employe...continue reading