WHAT IS UNIONISM?

Generally, a union is considered as a democratic organization among

employers and employees in a workplace who choose to join and participate together
to achieve common goals. Through this, employees can work collectively to improve
working conditions which covers their wages, benefits, hours of work, job safety,
resolving certain disagreements between employers and employees and finding good
ways to get the work done. Thus, unionism is basically protecting the integrity of each
individual involved in the workforce; improving safety standards and so on. Unions are
established where there is an existence of good relationship between the employer-
and employee. As mentioned, its basic concerned are the protection of the rights of
the employees, the advancement of their economic welfare and the developments of
their terms and conditions of work. Consequently, without a union, workers’ right will
be easily violated. Below are the tables and images that illustrate how the trade unions
have performed in the Philippines.
 Figure 1. Conceptual Framework for Assessing CNAs/CBAs in the Philippine Setting (An
adaptation of input-output method)

This part of the paper seeks to answer the following questions:

What do I know about this issue?

What have I experienced about this?

Who are affected most by this and how?

How has the issue arisen?

Why do employees join unions?

1. For higher wages and benefits-power. Also strength numbers help unions

 Professional bargainers employed by the union may negotiate more skillfully.

2. For greater job security

 It provides members with a sense of independence from management’s power

to arbitrarily hire, promote or fire.

3. Influence over work-rules

  Workers can help determine the conditions under which they work and have an
effective channel through which they can protest conditions they believe are not fair.

 It provides rules that define channels in which workers’ complaints and

concerns can be registered

4. Compulsory membership once a person enters into an organization or becomes an

employee through Labor management agreements with union security arrangements

5. Dissatisfaction with management

 Upset with the way their supervisor handles problems, upset over how a co-
worker has been disciplined, etc.

Advantages of Unionism

As a factor to influence legislation that will further protect and uplift employees
welfare;

As a watchdog of the people for preventing graft and corruption;

As a mechanism to promote peaceful relationship between the management

and the rank and file;
 As an agent of change in bringing about a more efficient and effective delivery
of public service;

As a negotiating agent for improved terms and conditions of work, particularly

those that are not fixed by law;

As a force to compel management to observe the democratic processes

relating to merit system; and

As a partner of management policy formulating as well as policy implementation

and monitoring.

Primarily, the ultimate foundation of this issue if found on Articles 3 and 243 of the
Labor Code. It is a piece of social legislation referring to a broad category of laws that
protect or promote the welfare of society or segments of it in furtherance of social
justice.

In Article 3, under the declaration of the policy, it states that the State shall
afford protection to labor, promote full employment, ensure equal work, opportunities
regardless of sex, race or creed, and regulate the relations between workers and
employers. The state shall assure the rights of workers to self-organization, collective
bargaining security of tenure, and just and humane conditions of work.

Furthermore, Article 243 of the said Labor Code states that all employed
persons in commercial, industrial and agricultural enterprises and in religious,
charitable, medical or educational institutions whether operating or profit or not, shall
have the right to self-organizations and to form, join or assist labor organizations if
their own choosing for purposes of collective bargaining. Ambulant, intermittent and
itinerant worker, self-employed people, rural workers and those without any definite
employees may form labor organizations for their mutual aid and protection.

Seven Rights of Workers (Article III, Section 3)

1. Right to organize;

2. Right to conduct collective bargaining or negotiation with the management;

3. Right to engage in peaceful concerted activities, including strike in

accordance with law;
 4. Right to enjoy security of tenure;

5. Right to work under humane conditions;

6. Right to receive a living wage; and

7. Right to participate in policy and decision-making processes affecting their

rights and benefits as may be provided by law.

Accordingly, both articles have provided the legal ascendancy to make any
worker free to self-organize, but the question is, why is it so hard to achieve?

With the present weakness of unions compared to their strengths years ago,
the defense of workers’ rights has become more and more difficult. For the past
several years, there are been no improvement in workers’ economic rights, while union
and human rights continue to be violated with impunity.