Facts:

• The case involves the National Labor Union, Inc. and its members as petitioners against the Philippine Match Factory and the Court of Industrial Relations as respondents.
• On August 31, 1939, the union chapter at the Philippine Match Company demanded the dismissal of general foreman Pablo Pabalan.
• The factory manager, Mr. During, requested specific charges against Pabalan for investigation.
• The union initially failed to provide specific allegations but later outlined four charges.
• The company's attorneys investigated and found the charges lacked merit, including an alleged assault by Pabalan against an employee named Dineros.
• While the investigation was ongoing, the union's officers resigned en masse, seemingly to preempt an unfavorable decision and facilitate a general strike.
• On September 16, 1939, the union declared a general strike, paralyzing operations for fifteen days.
• The company reported the strike to the Department of Labor, leading to a conference that failed to resolve the dispute.
• The Secretary of Labor referred the case to the Court of Industrial Relations on September 21, 1939.
• The petitioners initially objected to the court's jurisdiction but later withdrew their objection.
• On October 11, 1939, fifteen strikers sought readmission, but the company manager refused.
• The petitioners filed a motion in the Court of Industrial Relations to compel readmission.
• On November 6, 1939, the court denied both the petition for Pabalan's dismissal and the petition for the strikers' readmission.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Court of Industrial Relations ruled against the petitioners on both issues.
• The court denied the petition for the dismissal of Pablo Pabalan.
• The court also deni...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The court found the charges against Pabalan to be unsubstantiated and deemed the union's actions leading to the strike unjustified.
• The court emphasized that the law recognizes the right to strike in a negative sense, providing mechanisms to avoid strikes through lawful means.
• The creation of the Court of Industrial Relations aimed to prevent strikes by offering a platform for resolving lab...continue reading