Case Digest (G.R. No. 200469)
Facts:
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) v. Hon. Bienvenido S. Hernandez, Labor Arbiter, National Labor Relations Commission, Lemuel B. Alegado, Danilo S. Lopez, Fortunato L. Madrona, etc., G.R. No. 71818, August 19, 1986, Supreme Court En Banc, Narvasa, J., writing for the Court.
Petitioning MWSS, a government-owned and controlled corporation created by Republic Act No. 6234, was sued in what was styled a class action by Lemuel B. Alegado, Danilo S. Lopez and Fortunato L. Madrona on behalf of roughly 2,500 workers, alleging willful failure to pay wage differentials, allowances and other monetary benefits owed to contractual employees. The complaint was filed with the Arbitration Branch, National Capital Region of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
In its answer, MWSS asserted that (1) as a government-owned and controlled corporation the NLRC had no jurisdiction over disputes involving its employees and (2) the complainants’ terms and conditions of employment were governed by their respective contracts. On June 5, 1985 the Labor Arbiter rendered judgment against MWSS. The Arbiter accepted that controversies involving regular employees of a GOCC fall under the civil service rules and outside NLRC competence, but concluded the complainants were non-regular or contractual employees whose disputes, particularly monetary claims, were within the NLRC’s jurisdiction; he read Article 277 of the Labor Code and PD 807 (Civil Service Decree) to allow NLRC cognizance over monetary claims.
The Labor Arbiter’s June 5, 1985 Decision and his July 8, 1985 Order directing execution prompted MWSS to seek relief from the Supreme Court by certiorari and prohibition to annul the Arbiter’s decision and all further proceedings in Case No. NCR‑9‑3164‑84. The Supreme...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Does the National Labor Relations Commission have jurisdiction over employment disputes between MWSS and its employees?
- Are employees of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System governed by the Civil Service Law and rules rather than by the Labor Code, irrespective of their being regular or...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
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Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)