NAtional Union of Workers in Hotels

7/17/2019 NAtional Union of Workers in Hotels

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ATIONAL UNION OF WORKERS IN

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND ALLIED

INDUSTRIES—MANILA PAVILLION

HOTEL CHAPTER,Petitioner,

- versus -

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS

COMMISSION and ACESITE

PHILIPPINES HOTEL

CORPORATION, Respondents.

G.R. No. 17!"#

Present:

YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.,

Chairperson,

ASTRIA-!ARTINE",C#ICO-NA"ARIO,NAC#RA, andREYES, JJ.

Pro$u%&ated:Septe$'er (), *))+

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E C I S I O N

CHICO$NA%ARIO, J.:

This is a Petition or Revie/ on Certiorari under Ru%e 01 o the Ru%es o Court,assai%in& the e2ision3dated () !a4 *))5 rendered '4 the Court o Appea%s inCA-G.R. SP No. 67353, /hi2h air$ed the Reso%ution* dated 1 !a4 *))7 othe Nationa% 8a'or Re%ations Co$$ission 9N8RC in N8RC NCR CC No.

)))()5-)1 NC!; NCR NS )6-366-)1, dis$issin& or %a2< o $erit the2o$p%aint or unair %a'or pra2ti2e i%ed '4 petitioner Nationa% nion o =or<ersin #ote%s, Restaurants and A%%ied Industries-!ani%a Pavi%ion #ote%9N=#RAIN a&ainst !ani%a Pavi%ion #ote% 9the #ote%.

Petitioner N=#RAIN is a %e&iti$ate %a'or or&ani>ation 2o$posed o ran<-and-i%e e$p%o4ees o the #ote%,( /hi%e respondent A2esite Phi%ippines #ote%Corporation is the o/ner and operator o said #ote%.0

The a2tua% ante2edents o the instant Petition are as o%%o/s:

The #ote% entered into a Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent /ith #I-!ANI8APA?I8ION #OTE8 8A;OR NION 9#I!P#8, the e2%usive 'ar&ainin&a&ent o the ran<-and-i%e e$p%o4ees o the #ote%. ;oth parties 2onsented thatthe representation aspe2t and other non-e2ono$i2 provisions o the Co%%e2tive;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent /ere to 'e ee2tive or ive 4ears or unti% () June*))1@ and the e2ono$i2 provisions o the sa$e /ere to 'e ee2tive or three

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4ears or unti% () June *))(. The parties su'seuent%4 re-ne&otiated thee2ono$i2 provisions o the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent and etended theter$ o their ee2tivit4 or another t/o 4ears or unti% () June *))1.1

urin& the 7)-da4 reedo$ period /hi2h pre2eded the epiration o the

Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent, startin& on 3 !a4 *))1 and endin& on ()June *))1, the #ote% and #I!P#8 ne&otiated the etension o theprovisions o the eistin& Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent or t/o 4ears,ee2tive 3 Ju%4 *))1 to () June *))5. The parties si&ned the !e$orandu$ o

A&ree$ent on *) !a4 *))1 and the e$p%o4ees ratiied it on *5 !a4 *))1.7

On *3 June *))1, N=#RAIN /as a22orded '4 the 8a'or Re%ations ivisiono the epart$ent o 8a'or and E$p%o4$ent 9O8E the status o a %e&iti$ate%a'or or&ani>ation.5 Thereater, N=#RAIN eer2ised the ri&ht to 2ha%%en&ethe $aBorit4 status o the in2u$'ent union, #I!P#8, '4 i%in& a Petition or

Certii2ation E%e2tion on *+ June *))1.+

On 1 Ju%4 *))5, the Industria% Re%ations ivision o the O8E a%%o/ed there&istration o the !e$orandu$ o A&ree$ent ee2uted 'et/een #I!P#8and the #ote%, etendin& the ee2tivit4 o the eistin& Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin&

A&ree$ent or another t/o 4ears.6

Ater the %apse o the 7)-da4 reedo$ period, 'ut pendin& the disposition othe Petition or Certii2ation E%e2tion i%ed '4 N=#RAIN, #I!P#8 servedthe #ote% /ith a /ritten de$and dated *+ Ju%4 *))13) or the dis$issa% o (7

e$p%o4ees o%%o/in& their epu%sion ro$ #I!P#8 or a%%e&ed a2ts odis%o4a%t4 and vio%ation o its Constitution and '4-%a/s. An Investi&ationReport33 /as atta2hed to the said /ritten de$and, statin& that the (7e$p%o4ees, /ho /ere $e$'ers o #I!P#8, Boined N=#RAIN, in vio%ationo Se2tion *, Arti2%e I? o the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent, /hi2h providedor a union se2urit4 2%ause that reads: 3*

Se2tion *. IS!ISSA8 PRSANT TO NION SECRITY C8ASE. A22ordin&%4, ai%ure to Boin the NION /ithin the period spe2iied in thei$$ediate%4 pre2edin& se2tion or ai%ure to $aintain $e$'ership /ith theNION in &ood standin& either throu&h resi&nation or epu%sion ro$ theNION in a22ordan2e /ith the NIONs Constitution and '4-%a/s due todis%o4a%t4, Boinin& another union or non-pa4$ent o NION dues sha%% 'e a&round or the NION to de$and the dis$issa% ro$ the #OTE8 o thee$p%o4ee 2on2erned. The de$and sha%% 'e a22o$panied '4 the NIONsinvesti&ation report and the #OTE8 sha%% a2t a22ordin&%4 su'Be2t to eistin&%a/s and Burispruden2e on the $atter, provided, ho/ever, that the NION



















sha%% ho%d the #OTE8 ree and har$%ess ro$ an4 and a%% %ia'i%ities that $a4arise shou%d the dis$issed e$p%o4ee uestion in an4 $anner the dis$issa%.The #OTE8 sha%% not, ho/ever, 'e 2o$pe%%ed to a2t on an4 su2h NIONde$and i $ade /ithin a period o sit4 97) da4s prior to the epir4 date othis a&ree$ent. 9E$phasis provided

On 3 Au&ust *))1, the #ote% issued is2ip%inar4 A2tion Noti2es3( 9Noti2es tothe (7 e$p%o4ees identiied in the /ritten de$and o #I!P#8. The Noti2esdire2ted the (7 e$p%o4ees to su'$it a /ritten ep%anation or their a%%e&eda2ts o dis%o4a%t4 and vio%ation o the union se2urit4 2%ause or /hi2h#I!P#8 sou&ht their dis$issa%.

The #ote% 2a%%ed the 2ontendin& unions and the e$p%o4ees 2on2erned or are2on2i%iator4 2oneren2e in an atte$pt to avoid the dis$issa% o the (7e$p%o4ees. The re2on2i%iator4 2oneren2es a2i%itated '4 the #ote% /ere he%d

on 1 Au&ust *))1 and 3 Septe$'er *))1.30 #o/ever, N=#RAIN pro2eededto i%e a Noti2e o Stri<e 'eore the Nationa% Con2i%iation and !ediation ;oard9NC!; on + Septe$'er *))1 on the &round o unair %a'or pra2ti2e under

Arti2%e *0+, para&raphs 9a and 9' o the 8a'or Code.31 The Se2retar4 o8a'or intervened and 2ertiied the 2ase or 2o$pu%sor4 ar'itration /ith theN8RC. The 2ase /as do2<eted as N8RC NCR CC No. )))()5-)1 NC!;NCR NS )6-366-)1, entit%ed IN RE: Labor Dispute at Manila Pavilion Hotel .37

N=#RAIN asserted that the #ote% 2o$$itted unair %a'or pra2ti2e /hen itissued the Noti2es to the (7 e$p%o4ees /ho s/it2hed a%%e&ian2e ro$#I!P#8 to N=#RAIN. urin& the re2on2i%iator4 2oneren2e he%d on 1

Au&ust *))1, respondents ?i2e President, Nor$a A>ores, stated herpreeren2e to dea% /ith #I!P#8, /hi%e '%a$in& N=#RAIN or the %a'orpro'%e$s o the #ote%. On 3 Septe$'er *))1, the Resident !ana&er o the#ote%, ;ernardo Corpus, Jr., i$p%ored N=#RAINs $e$'ers to /ithdra/their Petition or Certii2ation E%e2tion and reair$ their $e$'ership in#I!P#8. The Noti2es and the state$ents $ade '4 the oi2ers o therespondent and the #ote% /ere a%%e&ed%4 intended to inti$idate and 2oer2e thee$p%o4ees in the eer2ise o their ri&ht to se%-or&ani>ation. N=#RAIN

2%ai$ed that it /as entit%ed to $ora% da$a&es in the a$ount o P1),))).))and ee$p%ar4 da$a&es o P*),))).))35

Respondent 2ountered that it $ere%4 2o$p%ied /ith its 2ontra2tua% o'%i&ations/ith #I!P#8 /hen it issued the assai%ed Noti2es, and 2%ariied that none othe (7 e$p%o4ees /ere dis$issed '4 the #ote%. It urther denied thatrespondents ?i2e President Nor$a A>ores and the #ote%s Resident !ana&er ;ernardo Corpus, Jr. $ade the state$ents attri'uted to the$, purported%4













epressin& their preeren2e or #I!P#8 durin& the re2on2i%iator42oneren2es. Thus, respondent insisted that it did not 2o$$it unair %a'orpra2ti2e, nor /as it %ia'%e or $ora% and ee$p%ar4 da$a&es.3+

In a Reso%ution36 dated 1 !a4 *))7, the N8RC pronoun2ed that the #ote% /as

not &ui%t4 o unair %a'or pra2ti2e. Dirst%4, the N8RC adBud&ed that theee2ution o the !e$orandu$ o A&ree$ent 'et/een respondent and#I!P#8, etendin& the ee2tivit4 o the eistin& Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin&

A&ree$ent, /as entered into /ith the vie/ o respondin& to the e$p%o4eese2ono$i2 needs, and not intended to interere /ith or restrain the eer2ise othe ri&ht to se%-or&ani>ation o N=#RAINs $e$'ers. Se2ond%4, the N8RCdeter$ined that the issuan2e o the Noti2es dire2tin& the (7 e$p%o4ees toep%ain /h4 the4 shou%d not 'e dis$issed /as in 2o$p%ian2e /ith theCo%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent provisions re&ardin& the union se2urit42%ause. Even thereater, the #ote% had not a2ted i$proper%4 as it did not/ron&u%%4 ter$inate an4 o the (7 e$p%o4ees. Third%4, the N8RC interpretedthe state$ents $ade '4 the oi2ia%s o respondent and the #ote% durin& there2on2i%iator4 2oneren2es en2oura&in& the /ithdra/a% o the Petition orCertii2ation E%e2tion and the reair$ation '4 the (7 e$p%o4ees o their$e$'ership in #I!P#8 as proposed so%utions to avoid the dis$issa% othe said e$p%o4ees. The N8RC 2on2%uded that these state$ents did not2onstitute unair %a'or pra2ti2e or the4 2ou%d not have 2oer2ed or in%uen2edeither o the 2ontendin& unions, 'oth o /ho$ did not a&ree in the su&&ested2ourse o a2tion or to an4 other $anner o sett%in& the dispute. Dina%%4, the

N8RC de2%ared that the 2%ai$ or $ora% and ee$p%ar4 da$a&es oN=#RAIN %a2<ed sui2ient a2tua% and %e&a% 'ases.

N=#RAIN i%ed a !otion or Re2onsideration o the ore&oin& N8RCReso%ution. It /as denied '4 the N8RC in another Reso%ution dated () June*))7.*) Thus, N=#RAIN i%ed a Petition or Certiorari 'eore the Court o

Appea%s, do2<eted as C.A. G.R. SP No. 67353.

In the $eanti$e, on 37 June *))7, the Certii2ation E%e2tion or re&u%ar ran<and i%e e$p%o4ees o the #ote% /as he%d, /hi2h #I!P#8 /on. It /as

a22ordin&%4 2ertiied as the e2%usive 'ar&ainin& a&ent or ran< and i%ee$p%o4ees o the #ote%.*3

On () !a4 *))5, the Court o Appea%s pro$u%&ated its e2ision** in C.A. G.R.SP No. 67353, upho%din& the Reso%ution dated 1 !a4 *))7 o the N8RC inN8RC NCR CC No. )))()5-)1 NC!; NCR NS )6-366-)1. It de2%ared thatthe #ote% had a2ted prudent%4 /hen it issued the Noti2es to the (7 e$p%o4eesater #I!P#8 de$anded their dis$issa%. It 2%ariied that these Noti2es did













not a$ount to the ter$ination o the e$p%o4ees 2on2erned 'ut $ere%4 sou&httheir ep%anation on /h4 the union se2urit4 2%ause shou%d not 'e app%ied tothe$. The appe%%ate 2ourt a%so &ave 2reden2e to the denia% '4 the oi2ers othe respondent and the #ote% that the4 $ade state$ents avorin& #I!P#8over N=#RAIN durin& the re2on2i%iator4 2oneren2es. The Court o Appea%surther noted that the unha$pered or&ani>ation and re&istration oN=#RAIN ne&ated its a%%e&ation that the #ote% reuired its e$p%o4ees not to

Boin a %a'or or&ani>ation as a 2ondition or their e$p%o4$ent.

N=#RAINs !otion or Re2onsideration o the aore$entioned e2ision othe Court o Appea%s /as denied '4 the sa$e 2ourt in a Reso%ution dated *0

Au&ust *))5.*(

#en2e, the present Petition, in /hi2h N=#RAIN $a<es the o%%o/in&assi&n$ent o errors:

I

T#E CORT OD APPEA8S GA?E !ORE PRO;ATI?E ?A8E TORESPONENT #OTE8S GENERA8 AN NS=ORN ENIA8?ERSS T#AT OD PETITIONERS S=ORN TESTI!ONYNARRATING RESPONENTS #OTE8S ?IO8ATION ODPETITIONERS RIG#T TO SE8D ORGANI"ATION. SC# A R8INGCONTRAICTS EFISTING JRISPRENCE SC# AS !ASAGANACONCRETE PROCTS INC. ?. N8RC, G.R. NO. 3)7637,

SEPTE;!ER (, 3666@ JRS ;SINESS CORPORATION ?. N8RC, *07SCRA 001 3661H@ and ASNCION ?. N8RC, (7* SCRA 17 *))3H.

II

T#E CORT OD APPEA8S ERRE IN R8ING T#AT RESPONENT#OTE8 IS NOT GI8TY OD NDAIR 8A;OR PRACTICE CONTRARY

TO ARTIC8E *0+ OD T#E 8A;OR COE AN T#E SPRE!ECORTS R8ING IN PROGRESSIN?E E?E8OP!ENT

CORPORATION ?. CIR, +) SCRA 0(0 3655H and INS8AR 8IDE

ASSRANCE CO. 8TC E!P8OYEES ASSOCIATION-NAT ?. T#EINS8AR 8IDE ASSRANCE CO. 8T., (5 SCRA *00 3653H.*0

The instant Petition %a2<s $erit, and $ust a22ordin&%4 'e denied.

N=#RAIN $aintains that the respondent 2o$$itted unair %a'or pra2ti2e/hen 93 the #ote% issued the Noti2es to the (7 e$p%o4ees, or$er $e$'ers







o #I!P#8, /ho s/it2hed a%%e&ian2e to N=#RAIN@ and 9* the oi2ers othe respondent and the #ote% a%%e&ed%4 uttered state$ents durin& there2on2i%iator4 2oneren2es indi2atin& their preeren2e or #I!P#8 and theirdisapprova% o N=#RAIN. This ar&u$ent is spe2ious.

The re2ords 2%ear%4 sho/ that the Noti2es /ere issued ater #I!P#8 servedthe #ote% /ith a %etter dated *+ Ju%4 *))1, de$andin& the dis$issa% o (7 o itsor$er $e$'ers /ho Boined N=#RAIN. In its %etter, #I!P#8 a%%e&ed that ithad ound these $e$'ers &ui%t4 o dis%o4a%t4 and de$anded their dis$issa%pursuant to the union se2urit4 2%ause in the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent.#ad the #ote% tota%%4 i&nored this de$and, as N=#RAIN su&&ests it shou%dhave done, the #ote% /ou%d have 'een su'Be2ted to a suit or its ai%ure to2o$p%4 /ith the ter$s o the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent.

nion se2urit4 is a &eneri2 ter$ /hi2h is app%ied to and 2o$prehends

2%osed shop, union shop, $aintenan2e o $e$'ership or an4 other or$o a&ree$ent /hi2h i$poses upon e$p%o4ees the o'%i&ation to a2uire orretain union $e$'ership as a 2ondition ae2tin& e$p%o4$ent.*1 Arti2%e *0+9eo the 8a'or Code re2o&ni>es the ee2tivit4 o a union shop 2%ause:

Art. *0+. Unfair labor practices of employers.

9e To dis2ri$inate in re&ard to /a&es, hours o /or<, and other ter$s and2onditions o e$p%o4$ent in order to en2oura&e or dis2oura&e $e$'ership inan4 %a'or or&ani>ation. Nothin& in this Code or in an4 other %a/ sha%% prevent

the parties ro$ reuirin& $e$'ership in a re2o&ni>ed 2o%%e2tive 'ar&ainin&a&ent as a 2ondition or e$p%o4$ent, e2ept o those e$p%o4ees /ho area%read4 $e$'ers o another union at the ti$e o the si&nin& o the 2o%%e2tive'ar&ainin& a&ree$ent . 9E$phasis supp%ied.

The %a/ a%%o/s stipu%ations or union shop and 2%osed shop as a $eans oen2oura&in& /or<ers to Boin and support the union o their 2hoi2e in theprote2tion o their ri&hts and interests vis--vis the e$p%o4er. ;4 thuspro$otin& unionis$, /or<ers are a'%e to ne&otiate /ith $ana&e$ent on aneven p%a4in& ie%d and /ith $ore persuasiveness than i the4 /ere toindividua%%4 and separate%4 'ar&ain /ith the e$p%o4er.*7 In ?i%%ar v.In2ion&,*5 this Court he%d that e$p%o4ees have the ri&ht to disai%iate ro$ their union and or$ a ne/ or&ani>ation o their o/n@ ho/ever, the4 $ust suer the2onseuen2es o their separation ro$ the union under the se2urit4 2%ause othe Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent.









In the present 2ase, the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent in2%udes a unionse2urit4 provision.*+ To avoid the 2%ear possi'i%it4 o %ia'i%it4 or 'rea2hin& theunion se2urit4 2%ause o the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent and to prote2t itso/n interests, the on%4 sensi'%e option %et to the #ote%, upon its re2eipt o thede$and o #I!P#8 or the dis$issa% o the (7 e$p%o4ees, /as to 2ondu2tits o/n inuir4 so as to $a<e its o/n indin&s on /hether there /as sui2ient&round to dis$iss the said e$p%o4ees /ho dee2ted ro$ #I!P#8. Theissuan2e '4 the respondent o the Noti2es reuirin& the (7 e$p%o4ees tosu'$it their ep%anations to the 2har&es a&ainst the$ /as the reasona'%e and%o&i2a% irst step in a air investi&ation. It is i$portant to note that the #ote% didnot ta<e urther steps to ter$inate the (7 e$p%o4ees. Instead, it arran&ed orre2on2i%iator4 2oneren2es 'et/een the 2ontendin& unions in order to avertthe possi'i%it4 o dis$issin& the (7 e$p%o4ees or vio%ation o the unionse2urit4 2%ause o the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent.

This Court, in !a%a4an& Sa$ahan n& !an&&a&a/a sa !. Greenie%d v.Ra$os*6 2%ear%4 stated the &enera% ru%e: the dis$issa% o an e$p%o4ee '4 the2o$pan4 pursuant to a %a'or unions de$and in a22ordan2e /ith a unionse2urit4 a&ree$ent does not 2onstitute unair %a'or pra2ti2e. An e$p%o4er isnot 2onsidered &ui%t4 o unair %a'or pra2ti2e i it $ere%4 2o$p%ied in &ood aith/ith the reuest o the 2ertiied union or the dis$issa% o e$p%o4ees epe%%edro$ the union pursuant to the union se2urit4 2%ause in the Co%%e2tive;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent.() In the 2ase at 'ar, there is even %ess possi'i%it4 osustainin& a indin& o &ui%t or unair %a'or pra2ti2e /here respondent did not

dis$iss the (7 e$p%o4ees, despite the insisten2e o #I!P#8, the so%e'ar&ainin& a&ent or the ran< and i%e e$p%o4ees o the #ote%, on the 'asis othe union se2urit4 2%ause o the Co%%e2tive ;ar&ainin& A&ree$ent. The on%4 a2tattri'uted to the respondent is its issuan2e o the Noti2es /hi2h, 2ontrar4 to'ein& an unair %a'or pra2ti2e, even aorded the e$p%o4ees invo%ved a 2han2eto 'e heard.

The 2ases 2ited '4 N=#RAIN are not app%i2a'%e to the present 2ase &iventheir diverse a2tua% 'a2<&rounds. In Pro&ressive eve%op$ent Corporation v.Court o Industria% Re%ations,(3 the Court de2%ared the e$p%o4er &ui%t4 o unair

%a'or pra2ti2e or sin&%in& out its /or<ers /ho reused to Boin the e$p%o4erspreerred union '4 not &ivin& the$ /or< assi&n$ents and re&u%ar status, andeventua%%4 dis$issin& said e$p%o4ees. The e$p%o4er /as ound &ui%t4 o unair %a'or pra2ti2e in Insu%ar 8ie Assuran2e Co., 8td., E$p%o4ees Asso2iation-NAT v. Insu%ar 8ie Assuran2e Co., 8td.,(* or 93 the dis$issa% o so$e o itsstri<in& e$p%o4ees /ithout even &ivin& the$ an opportunit4 to ep%ain theirside@ and 9* the a2ts o dis2ri$ination, in2%udin& the de%a4ed reinstate$ent o













stri<in& e$p%o4ees and the oerin& o 'ri'es, 'onuses, and /a&e in2reases to%o4a% e$p%o4ees ater reusin& to 'ar&ain /ith the union. None o these a2ts/ere attri'uted to the respondent in the present 2ase.

N=#RAIN 2%ai$ed that durin& the re2on2i%iator4 2oneren2es, respondents

?i2e President Nor$a A>ores epressed her preeren2e to dea% /ith#I!P#8, /hi%e '%a$in& N=#RAIN or the #ote%s %a'or pro'%e$s@ and the#ote%s Resident !ana&er ;ernardo Corpus, Jr. i$p%ored N=#RAINs$e$'ers to /ithdra/ their Petition or Certii2ation E%e2tion and reair$ their$e$'ership in #I!P#8. ;eore the Court o Appea%s, respondent deniedthat su2h state$ents /ere $ade and that the oi2ers o the respondent andthe #ote% /ere $ere%4 $isuoted. urin& the re2on2i%iator4 2oneren2es,/herein the oi2ers o the respondent and the #ote% a2ted as $ediators, oneo the proposa%s %aid on the ta'%e to sett%e the dispute 'et/een the unions andpre2%ude the dis$issa% o the (7 e$p%o4ees /as or N=#RAIN to /ithdra/its Petition or Certii2ation E%e2tion and, in return, or #I!P#8 to re-a22eptthe e$p%o4ees /ithout san2tions.

Sti%%, N=#RAIN asserts that the s/orn testi$on4 si&ned '4 its si union$e$'ers that the oi2ers o the respondent and the #ote% did utter theoendin& state$ents deserve $ore 2reden2e than the uns/orn denia% orespondent.

N=#RAIN has the 'urden o provin& its a%%e&ation that Nor$a A>ores and;ernardo Corpus, Jr. did $a<e the state$ents 'ein& attri'uted to the$. The'urden o proo rests upon the part4 /ho asserts the air$ative o anissue.(( And in %a'or 2ases, the uantu$ o proo ne2essar4 is su'stantia%eviden2e, or su2h a$ount o re%evant eviden2e /hi2h a reasona'%e $ind$i&ht a22ept as adeuate to Busti4 a 2on2%usion,(0 /hi2h N=#RAIN ai%ed todis2har&e in the present 2ase.

ndou'ted%4, the $e$'ers o N=#RAIN /ou%d o/e their %o4a%t4 to theirunion, a natura% 'ias /hi2h so$e/hat puts into uestion their 2redi'i%it4 as/itnesses, espe2ia%%4 sin2e the su22ess o this 2ase /ou%d a%so redound totheir 'eneit. The a2t that si $e$'ers o the union si&ned a sin&%e state$ent,instead o ea2h $e$'er presentin& their sin2ere and individua% narrations oevents, &ives the i$pression that it /as si&ned in a perun2tor4 $anner and$otivated '4 a sense o union so%idarit4. The se%-servin& state$ent si&ned '4si o N=#RAINs $e$'ers have ver4 %itt%e /ei&ht, even i $ade underoath, a'sent an4 other independent eviden2e /hi2h indi2ates that the oi2erso the respondent and the #ote% $ade su2h hosti%e and 2oer2ive utteran2es







that tend to interere or in%uen2e the e$p%o4ees eer2ise o the ri&ht to se%-or&ani>ation.

In the 2ase at 'ar, the N8RC ound, and the Court o Appea%s air$ed, thatthe oi2ers o the respondent and the #ote% did not $a<e state$ents that

/ou%d have 2onstituted unair %a'or pra2ti2e. Dindin&s o a2t o the N8RC are&iven $u2h /ei&ht and are 2onsidered 2on2%usive '4 this Court. It is on%4/hen su2h indin&s are not su'stantia%%4 supported '4 the re2ords that thisCourt /i%% step in and $a<e its independent eva%uation o thea2ts. (1 Considerin& the epertise o these a&en2ies in $atters pertainin& to%a'or disputes, the indin&s o ad$inistrative a&en2ies o the epart$ent o8a'or are &enera%%4 a22orded not on%4 respe2t, 'ut a%so ina%it4.(7

Even the surroundin& 2ir2u$stan2es /ou%d 2ontradi2t N=#RAINsa%%e&ation that the respondent interered /ith or 2oer2ed its e$p%o4ees in their

2hoi2e o union $e$'ership. In their Rep%4 'eore the N8RC, N=#RAINad$itted that 'eore issuin& its Noti2es, the respondent $aintained a neutra%stand in the dispute 'et/een #I!P#8 and N=#RAIN. (5 Neither did therespondent threaten the (7 e$p%o4ees /ho shited their a%%e&ian2e toN=#RAIN /ith an4 or$ o reprisa%@ the4 /ere not dis$issed or theirai%iation /ith N=#RAIN. The re2ords are 'eret o an4 instan2e that /ou%dsho/ that respondent rode rou&hshod over its e$p%o4ees reedo$ to de2ide/hi2h union to Boin.

In a%%, respondent had not 2o$$itted an4 a2t /hi2h /ou%d 2onstitute unair%a'or pra2ti2e.

IN ?IE= OD T#E DOREGOING, the instant Petition is ENIE. The assai%ede2ision dated () !a4 *))5 o the Court o Appea%s in CA-G.R. SP No.67353 is here'4 ADDIR!E. Costs a&ainst petitioner N=#RAIN.

SO ORERE.







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NAtional Union of Workers in Hotels