GR L 1500; (July, 1948) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-1500; July 30, 1948
PEPSICOLA, INC., petitioner, vs. THE NATIONAL LABOR UNION, respondent.
FACTS
The National Labor Union filed a petition with the Court of Industrial Relations (CIR) on behalf of workers at Pepsicola, Inc., seeking, among others, an 80% wage increase and the reinstatement with back wages of 12 workers allegedly dismissed due to their union activities. Pepsicola contested the CIR’s jurisdiction, arguing that at the time of a threatened strike on January 10, 1947, the union lacked the minimum 31 members registered with the Department of Labor. It also contended the dismissals were for just cause due to the workers’ detrimental conduct. The CIR assumed jurisdiction, ordered the reinstatement of the 12 workers with back wages, and granted a modest increase in the minimum daily wage from P4.00 to P4.50, while denying the general 80% increase. Pepsicola appealed via certiorari.
ISSUE
1. Whether the Court of Industrial Relations had jurisdiction over the case.
2. Whether the dismissal of the 12 workers was lawful.
RULING
The Supreme Court denied the petition and affirmed the CIR decision.
1. On jurisdiction, the Court held that the determinative date for conferring jurisdiction upon the CIR is the date of the filing of the petition (February 17, 1947), not the date of the earlier strike threat. By the filing date, the union had 43 registered members, satisfying the legal requirement. The Court rejected the argument that jurisdiction required an actual or imminent strike at the precise time of filing, reasoning that the underlying industrial dispute persisted.
2. On the dismissal, the Court found no substantial evidence to support Pepsicola’s claim that the workers were dismissed for just cause related to misconduct. It upheld the CIR’s finding that the dismissals were due to union activities, which constituted an unfair labor practice. The Court also rejected Pepsicola’s claim that the workers were merely temporary employees, noting that they had been continuously employed from construction through production, which indicated permanent employment status.
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