Title
Wesleyan University - Phils. vs. Wesleyan University - Faculty and Staff Association
Case
G.R. No. 181806
Decision Date
Mar 12, 2014
A non-profit university’s unilateral changes to leave credits and retirement benefits, violating a CBA and established practices, were invalidated by courts.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 181806)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Parties and CBA
    • Petitioner Wesleyan University-Philippines is a non-stock, non-profit educational institution.
    • Respondent Wesleyan University-Philippines Faculty and Staff Association is the sole and exclusive bargaining agent of rank-and-file faculty and staff.
  • Collective Bargaining Agreement and Memorandum
    • December 2003: parties signed a five-year CBA effective June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2008, covering vacation leave, sick leave, separation and retirement benefits.
    • August 16, 2005: petitioner issued a Memorandum revising guidelines on vacation and sick leave credits (earned at 1.25 days/month, not automatic) and vacation leave commutation (monetized after two years).
  • Grievance and Arbitration Proceedings
    • August 25, 2005: respondent’s letter rejected unilateral changes as violative of Sections 1 and 2, Article XII of the CBA (15 days VL/SL annually and commutation rules).
    • February 8, 2006: Labor Management Committee meeting; petitioner advised respondent to file grievance and announced a “one-retirement policy.”
    • November 2, 2006: Voluntary Arbitrator’s Decision declared the Memorandum and one-retirement policy contrary to law, ordered reinstatement of previous leave scheme and dual retirement benefits under CBA and PERAA Plan.
  • Court of Appeals Proceedings
    • September 25, 2007: CA Decision affirmed the Voluntary Arbitrator for lack of consent to unilateral amendments.
    • February 5, 2008: CA Resolution denied petitioner’s motion for reconsideration.

Issues:

  • Whether the CA gravely erred in finding respondent’s affidavits as substantial evidence of a long-standing two-retirement-benefits practice.
  • Whether the CA gravely erred in ruling that a consistent company practice of granting two retirement benefits had been established.
  • Whether the CA gravely erred in placing on petitioner the burden to prove the absence of any Board resolution authorizing dual retirement benefits.
  • Whether the CA gravely erred in revoking the August 16, 2005 Memorandum as contrary to existing CBA policy.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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