G.R. No. 85333 February 26, 1990 CARMELITO L. PALACOL, PALACOL, ET AL., !. P"RA FERRER#CALLE$A, %&re'(or o) (*e +ureau o) Labor Rea(&o-!, MANILA CC+PI ALE FORCE "NION, a-/ COCA#COLA +OTTLER +OTTLER PILIPPINE, INC., Fa'(! Ma-&a CC+PI ae! For'e "-&o- (*e "-&o-, a! (*e 'oe'(&e bar4a&-&-4 a4e-( o) a re4uar !ae!e-, re4uar *eer!, a-/ re&e) *eer! o) (*e Ma-&a P a-( a-/ Me(ro Ma-&a ae! O))&'e o) (*e re!o-/e-( Co'a#Coa +o((er! P*&&&-e!, I-'. (*e Coa-y 'o-'u/e/ a -e7 'oe'(&e bar4a&-&-4 a4reee-( 7&(* (*e a((er. aary &-'rea!e 4&e- &- u !u 7a! ao-4 (*e be-e)&(! 4ra-(e/ (o (*e eoyee!. T*e re!&/e-( o) (*e "-&o- !ub&((e/ (o (*e Coa-y (*e ra(&)&'a(&o- by (*e u-&o- eber! o) (*e -e7 C+A a-/ au(*or&a(&o- )or (*e Coa-y (o /e/u'( u-&o- /ue! eu&ae-( (o P10.00 eery ay/ay or P20.00 eery o-(* a-/, &- a//&(&o-, 10: by 7ay o) !e'&a a!!e!!e-(, )ro (*e C+A u#!u ay 4ra-(e/ (o (*e u-&o- eber!. A! ebo/&e/ &- (*e boar/ re!ou(&o- o) (*e "-&o-, (*e uro!e o) (*e !e'&a a!!e!!e-( !ou4*( (o be e&e/ &! ;(o u( u a 'ooera(&e a-/ 're/&( u-&o-< ur'*a!e e*&'e! a-/ o(*er &(e! -ee/e/ )or (*e be-e)&( o) (*e o))&'er! a-/ (*e 4e-era eber!*&< a-/ )or (*e aye-( )or !er&'e! re-/ere/ by u-&o- o))&'er!, 'o-!u(a-(! a-/ o(*er!.= T*ere 7a! a!o a- a//&(&o-a ro&!o !(a(&-4 (*a( (*e ;a((er o) ao'a(&o- > !*a be a( (*e /&!'re(&o- o) our &-'ube-( "-&oPre!&/e-(. T*e au(*or&a(&o- a-/ C+A Ra(&)&'a(&o- 7a! ob(a&-e/ by (*e "-&o- (*rou4* a !e're( re)ere-/u *e/ &- !eara(e o'a eber!*& ee(&-4! o- ar&ou! /a(e! T*e "-&o- 'o-!&!(! o) 800 eber!. 6?2 eber! or&4&-ay au(*or&e/ (*e 10: !e'&a a!!e!!e-(, 7*&e 1?3 oo!e/ (*e !ae. ub!eue- (y, 1?0 eber! o) (*e "-&o- !ub&((e/ /o'ue-(! (o (*e Coa-y !(a(&-4 (*a( a(*ou4* a (*ou4* (*ey *ae ra(&)&e/ (*e -e7 C+A, (*ey are 7&(*/ra7&-4 or /&!#au(*or&&-4 /&!#au(*or&&-4 (*e /e/u'(&o- o) a-y aou-( )ro (*e&r (*e&r C+A u !u. 185 o(*er u-&o- eber! !ub&((e/ !&&ar /o'ue-(! e@re!!&-4 (*e !ae &-(e-(. T*e!e eber!, -uber&-4 355 &- a 1?0 185, a//e/ (o (*e or&4&-a oo!&(or! o) 1?3, (ur-e/ (*e (&/e &)aor o) /&!#au(*or&a(&o- )or (*e !e'&a a!!e!!e-(, 7&(* a (o(a o) 528 ob Be'(or! a-/ a rea&-/er o) 2?2 !uor(er!. T*e 'oa-y )&e/ a- a'(&o- )or &-(erea/er 7&(* (*e +ureau o) Labor Rea(&o-! &- or/er (o re!oe (*e 'o-)&'(&-4 'a&! o) (*e ar(&e! 'o-'er-e/. P e(&(&o-er!, 7*o are re4uar ra-#a-/#)&e eoyee! o) (*e Coa-y a-/ bo-a )&/e eber! o) (*e "-&o-, )&e/ a o(&o-D'oa&-( )or &-(ere-(&o- (*ere&- &- (7o 4rou! o) 161 a- / 9, re!e'(&ey. T*ey 'a&e/ (o be ao-4 (*o!e u-&o- eber! 7*o e&(*er /&/ -o( !&4- a-y &-/&&/ua 7r&((e- au(*or&a(&o-, or *a&-4 !&4-e/ o-e, !ub!eue-(y 7&(*/re7 or re(ra'(e/ (*e&r !&4-a(ure! (*ere)ro.
"-&o- 'ou-(ere/ (*a( (*e /e/u'(&o-! -o( o-y *ae (*e ouar &-/or!ee-( a-/ aroa o) (*e 4e-era eber!*&, bu( &e7&!e 'o&e/ 7&(* (*e e4a reu&ree-(! o) Ar(&'e 21 - a-/ o o) (*e Labor Co/e &- (*a( (*e boar/ re!ou(&o- o) (*e "-&o- &o!&-4 (*e ue!(&o-e/ !e'&a a!!e!!e-( *a/ bee- /uy aroe/ &- a 4e-era eber!*& ee(&-4 a-/ (*a( (*e 'oe'(&o- o) a !e'&a )u-/ )or abor e/u'a(&o- a-/ re!ear'* &! a-/a(e/. Me/#Arb&(er Ma-a!e! T. Cru rue/ &- )aor o) e(&(&o-er! &- a- or/er /a(e/ February 15, 1988 7*ereby *e /&re'(e/ (*e Coa-y (o re&( (*e aou-( &( *a/ e( &- (ru!( /&re'(y (o (*e ra-# a-/#)&e er!o--e 7&(*ou( /eay. Aeae/ (o +LR, reer!e/. I!!ue
R"LING 'o-&-'e/ (*a( (*e /e/u'(&o- o) (*e 10: !e'&a a!!e!!e-(by (*e "-&o- 7a! -o( a/e &- a''or/a-'e 7&(* (*e reu&ree-(! ro&/e/ by a7. T*e r&-'&e ;(*a( eoyee! are ro(e'(e/ b y a7 )ro u-7arra-(e/ ra'(&'e! (*a( /&&-&!* (*e&r 'oe-!a(&o- 7&(*ou( (*e&r -o7- e/4e a-/'o-!e-(= &! &- a''or/ 7&(* (*e 'o-!(&(u(&o-a r&-'&e o) (*e (a(e a))or/&-4 )u ro(e'(&o- (o abor. (*e )a&ure o) (*e "-&o- (o 'oy !(r&'(y 7&(* (*e reu&ree-(! !e( ou( by (*e a7 &-a&/a(e! (*e ue!(&o-e/ !e'&a a!!e!!e-(. ub!(a-(&a'o&a-'e &! -o( e-ou4* &- &e7 o) (*e )a'( (*a( (*e !e'&a a!!e!!e-( 7& /&&-&!* (*e 'oe-!a(&o- o) (*e u-&o- eber!. T*e&r e@re!! 'o-!e-( &! reu&re/, a-/ (*&! 'o-!e-( u!( be ob(a&-e/ &- a''or/a-'e 7&(* (*e !(e! ou(&-e/ by a7, 7*&'* u!( be )oo7e/ (o (*e e((er. No !*or('u(! are ao7e/. *e/ o'a eber!*& ee(&-4! o- !eara(e o''a!&o-!, o - /&))ere-( /a(e! a-/ a( ar&ou! e-ue!, 'o-(rary (o (*e e@re!! reu&ree-( (*a( (*ere u!( be a 4e-era eber!*& ee(&-4. T*e 'o-(e-(&o- o) (*e "-&o- (*a( ;(*e o'a eber!*& ee(&-4! are re'&!ey (*e ery 4e-era ee(&-4! reu&re/ by a7= &! u-(e-abe be'au!e (*e a7 7ou/ -o( *ae !e'&)&e/ a 4e-era eber!*& ee(&-4 *a/ (*e e4&!a(&e &-(e-( bee- (o ao7 o'a ee(&-4! &- &eu o) (*e a((er. !ub&((e/ o-y &-u(e! o) (*e o'a eber!*& ee(&-4! 7*e- 7*a( &! reu&re/ &! a 7r&((ere!ou(&o- a/o(e/ a( (*e 4e-era ee(&-4. T*e &-u(e! !ub&((e/ (o (*e Coa-y 'o-(a&-e/ -o &!( o) (*e eber! re!e-( a-/ -o re'or/ o) (*e o(e! 'a!(. a-/7r&((e- au(*or&a(&o- 7*&'* 'o&e/ 7&(* (*e a7 &! a&/. o7eer, &(! 7&(*/ra7a ea-! -o au(*or&a(&o- 7a! 4&e-.
Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila FIRST DIVISION G.R. No. 85333 February 26, 1990 CARME!TO . PAACO, ET A., petitioners, vs. PURA FERRER"CAE#A, $%re&'or o( ')e *ureau o( abor Re+a'%o-, MAN!A CC*P! SAES FORCE UN!ON, a COCA"COA *OTTERS /P!!PP!NES, !NC., respondents. Wellington B. Lachica for petitioners. Adolpho M. Guerzon for respondent Union.
GANCACO, J.: an a special assess!ent be validl" deducted b" a labor union fro! the lu!p#su! pa" of its !e!bers, $ranted under a collective bar$ainin$ a$ree!ent %&'(, not)ithstandin$ a subse*uent disauthori+ation of the sa!e b" a !aorit" of the union !e!bers- This is the !ain issue for resolution in the instant petition for certiorari. 's $leaned fro! the records of the case, the pertinent facts are as follo)s On October /0, /123, the respondent Manila &PI Sales Force 4nion %hereinafter referred to as the 4nion(, as the collective bar$ainin$ a$ent of all re$ular sales!en, re$ular helpers, and relief helpers of the Manila Plant and Metro Manila Sales Office of the respondent oca#ola &ottlers %Philippines(, Inc. %hereinafter referred to as the o!pan"( concluded a ne) collective bar$ainin$ a$ree!ent )ith the latter. 1 '!on$ the co!pensation benefits $ranted to the e!plo"ees )as a $eneral salar" increase to be $iven in lu!p su! includin$ reco!putation of actual co!!issions earned based on the ne) rates of increase.
On the sa!e da", the president of the 4nion sub!itted to the o!pan" the ratification b" the union !e!bers of the ne) &' and authori+ation for the o!pan" to deduct union dues e*uivalent to P/5.55 ever" pa"da" or P05.55 ever" !onth and, in addition, /56 b" )a" of special assess!ent, fro! the &' lu!p#su! pa" $ranted to the union !e!bers. The last one a!on$ the afore!entioned is the subect of the instant petition. 's e!bodied in the &oard Resolution of the 4nion dated Septe!ber 01, /123, the purpose of the special assess!ent sou$ht to be levied is 7to put up a cooperative and credit union8 purchase vehicles and other ite!s needed for the benefit of the officers and the $eneral !e!bership8 and for the pa"!ent for services rendered b" union officers, consultants and others.7 2 There )as also an additional proviso statin$ that the 7!atter of allocation ... shall be at the discretion of our incu!bent 4nion President.7 This 7'uthori+ation and &' Ratification7 )as obtained b" the 4nion throu$h a secret referendu! held in separate local !e!bership !eetin$s on various dates. 3 The total !e!bership of the 4nion )as about 255. Of this nu!ber, 930 !e!bers ori$inall" authori+ed the /56 special assess!ent, )hile /3: opposed the sa!e. Subse*uentl" ho)ever, one hundred sevent" %/35( !e!bers of the 4nion sub!itted docu!ents to the o!pan" statin$ that althou$h the" have ratified the ne) &', the" are )ithdra)in$ or disauthori+in$ the deduction of an" a!ount fro! their &' lu!p su!. ;ater, /2< other union !e!bers sub!itted si!ilar docu!ents e=pressin$ the sa!e intent. These !e!bers, nu!berin$ :<< in all %/35 > /2<(, added to the ori$inal oppositors of /3:, turned the tide in favor of disauthori+ation for the special assess!ent, )ith a total of <02 obectors and a re!ainder of 030 supporters. 5 On account of the above#!entioned disauthori+ation, the o!pan", bein$ in a *uandar" as to )ho! to re!it the pa"!ent of the *uestioned a !ount, filed an action for interpleader )ith the &ureau of ;abor Relations in order to resolve the conflictin$ clai!s of the parties concerned. Petitioners, )ho are re$ular ran?#and#file e!plo"ees of the o!pan" a nd bona fide !e!bers of the 4ni on, filed a !otion@co!plaint for intervention therein in t)o $roups of /9/ and 1A, respectivel". The" clai!ed to be a!on$ those union !e!bers )ho either did not si$n an" individual )ritten authori+ation, or havin$ si$ned one, subse*uentl" )ithdre) or retracted their si$natures therefro!. Petitioners assailed the /56 special assess!ent as a violation of 'rticle 0A/%o( in relation to 'rticle 000%b( of the ;abor ode. 'rticle 000%b( provides as follo)s 'RT. 000. Appearances and Fees. — === === === %b( No attorne"Bs fees, ne$otiation fees or si!ilar char$es of an" ?ind arisin$ fro! an" collective bar$ainin$ ne$otiations or conclusion of the collective a$ree!ent shall be i!posed on an" individual !e!ber of the contractin$ union8 Provided, ho)ever, that attorne"Bs fees !a" be char$ed a$ainst union funds in an a!ount to be a$reed upon b"
the parties. 'n" contract, a$ree!ent or arran$e!ent of an" sort to the contrar" shall be null and void. On the other hand, 'rticle 0A/%o( !andates that 'RT. 0A/. Rights and conditions of membership in a labor organization. — === === === %o( Other than for !andator" activities under the ode, no special assess!ents, attorne"Bs fees, ne$otiation fees or an" other e=traordinar" fees !a" be chec?ed off fro! an" a!ount due to an e!plo"ee )ithout an individual )ritten authori+ation dul" si$ned b" the e!plo"ee. The authori+ation should specificall" state the a!ount, purpose and beneficiar" of the deduction8 's authorit" for their contention, petitioners cited Galadores . !ra"ano, 6 )herein it )as ruled that no chec?#offs fro! an" a!ount due e!plo"ees !a" be effected )ithout individual )ritten authori+ations dul" si$ned b" the e!plo"ees specificall" statin$ the a!ount, purpose, and beneficiar" of the d eduction. In its ans)er, the 4nion countered that the deductions not onl" have the popular indorse!ent and approval of the $eneral !e!bership, but li?e)ise co!plied )ith the le$al re*uire!ents of 'rticle 0A/ %n( and %o( of the ;abor ode in that the board resolution of the 4nion i!posin$ the *uestioned special assess!ent had been dul" approved i n a $eneral !e!bership !eetin$ and that the collection of a special fund for labor education and research is !andated. 'rticle 0A/%n( of the ;abor ode states that C 'RT. 0A/. Rights and conditions of membership in a labor organization. — === === === %n( No special assess!ent or other e=traordinar" fees !a" be levied upon the !e!bers of a labor or$ani+ation unless authori+ed b" a )ritten resolution of a !aorit" of all the !e!bers at a $eneral !e!bership !eetin$ dul" called for the purpose. The secretar" of the or$ani+ation shall record the !inutes of the !eetin$ includin$ the list of all !e!bers present, the votes cast, the purpose of the special assess!ent or fees and the recipient of such assess!ents or fees. The record shall be attested to b" the president8 Med#'rbiter Manases T. ru+ ruled in favor of petitioners in an order dated Februar" /<, /122 )hereb" he directed the o!pan" to re!it the a!ount it had ?ept in trust directl" to the ran?#and#file personnel )ithout dela". On appeal to the &ureau of ;abor Relations, ho)ever, the order of the Med#'rbiter )as reversed and set aside b" the respondent#Director in a resolution dated 'u$ust /1, /122 upholdin$ the clai!
of the 4nion that the special assess!ent is authori+ed under 'rticle 0A/ %n( of the ;abor ode, and that the 4nion has co!plied )ith the re*uire!ents therein. ence, the instant petition. Petitioners alle$e that the respondent#Director co!!itted a $rave abuse of d iscretion a!ountin$ to lac? or e=cess of urisdiction )hen she held 'rticle 0A/ %n( of the ;abor ode to be the applicable provision instead of 'rticle 000%b( in relation to 'rticle 0A/%o( of the sa!e la). 'ccordin$ to petitioners, a cursor" e=a!ination and co!parison of the t)o provisions of 'rticle 0A/ reveals that para$raph %n( cannot prevail over para$raph %o(. The reason advanced is that a special assess!ent is not a !atter of !aor polic" affectin$ the entire union !e!bership but is one )hich concerns the individual ri$hts of union !e!bers. Petitioners further assert that assu!in$ arguendo that 'rticle 0A/%n( should prevail over para$raph %o(, the 4nion has nevertheless failed to co!pl" )ith the procedure to le$iti!i+e the *uestioned special assess!ent b" %/( presentin$ !ere !inutes of local !e!bership !eetin$s instead of a )ritten resolution8 %0( failin$ to call a $eneral !e!bership !eetin$8 %:( havin$ the !inutes of three %:( local !e!bership !eetin$s recorded b" a union director, and not b" the union secretar" as re*uired8 %A( failin$ to have the list of !e!bers present included in the !inutes of the !eetin$s8 and %<( failin$ to present a record of the votes cast. 4 Petitioners concluded their ar$u!ent b" citin$Galadores. 'fter a careful revie) of the records of this case, Ee are convinced that the deduction of the /56 special assess!ent b" the 4nion )as not !ade in accordance )ith the re*uire!ents provided b" la). Petitioners are correct in citin$ the rulin$ of this ourt in Galadores )hich is applicable to the instant case. The principle 7that e!plo"ees are protected b" la) fro! un)arranted practices that di!inish their co!pensation )ithout their ?no)n ed$e and consent 7 8 is in accord )ith the constitutional principle of the State affordin$ full protection to labor. 9 The respondent#4nion brushed aside the defects pointed out b" petitioners in the !anner of co!pliance )ith the le$al re*uire!ents as 7insi$nificant technicalities.7 On the contrar", the failure of the 4nion to co!pl" strictl" )ith the re*uire!ents set out b" the la) invalidates the *uestioned special assess!ent. Substantial co!pliance is not enou$h in vie) of the fact that the special assess!ent )ill di!inish the co!pensation of the union !e!bers. Their e=press consent is re*uired, and this consent !ust be obtained in accordance )ith the steps outlined b" la), )hich !ust be follo)ed to the letter. No shortcuts are allo)ed. The applicable provisions are clear. The 4nion itself ad!its that both p ara$raphs %n( and %o( of 'rticle 0A/ appl". Para$raph %n( refers to 7lev"7 )hile para$raph %o( refers to 7chec?#off7 of a special assess!ent. &oth provisions !ust be co!plied )ith. 4nder para$raph %n(, the 4nion !ust sub!it to the o!pan" a )ritten resolution of a !aorit" of all the !e!bers at a $eneral !e!bership !eetin$ dul" called for the purpose. In addition, the secretar" of the or$ani+ation !ust record the !inutes of
the !eetin$ )hich, in turn, !ust include, a!on$ others, the list of all the !e!bers present as )ell as the votes cast. 's earlier outlined b" petitioners, the 4nion obviousl" failed to co!pl" )ith the re*uire!ents of para$raph %n(. It held local !e!bership !eetin$s o n separate occasions, on different dates and at various venues, contrar" to the e=press re*uire!ent that there !ust be a $eneral !e!bership !eetin$. The contention of the 4nion that 7the local !e!bership !eetin$s are precisel" the ver" $eneral !eetin$s re*uired b" la)7 10 is untenable because the la) )ould not have specified a $eneral !e!bership !eetin$ had the le$islative intent been to allo) local !eetin$s in lieu of the latter. It sub!itted onl" !inutes of the local !e!bership !eetin$s )hen )hat is re*uired is a )ritten resolution adopted at the $eneral !eetin$. E orse still, the !inutes of three of those local !eetin$s held )ere recorded b" a union director and not b" the union secretar". The !inutes sub!itted to the o!pan" contained no list of the !e!bers present and no record of the votes cast. Since it is *uite evident that the 4nion did not co!pl" )ith the la) at ever" turn, the onl" conclusion that !a" be !ade therefro! is that there )as no valid lev" of the special assess!ent pursuant to para$raph %n( of 'rticle 0A/ of the ;abor ode. Para$raph %o( on the other hand re*uires an individual )ritten authori+ation dul" si$ned b" ever" e!plo"ee in order that a special assess!ent !a" be validl" chec?ed#off. ven assu!in$ that the special assess!ent )as validl" levied pursuant to p ara$raph %n(, and $rantin$ that individual )ritten authori+ations )ere obtained b" the 4nion, nevertheless there can be no valid chec?#off considerin$ that the !aorit" of the union !e!bers had alread" )ithdra)n their individual authori+ations. ' )ithdra)al of individual authori+ations is e*uivalent to no authori+ation at all. ence, the rulin$ in Galadores that 7no chec?#offs fro! an" a!ounts due e!plo"ees !a" be effected )ithout an individual )ritten authori+ation si$ned b" the e!plo"ees ... 7 is applicable. The 4nion points out, ho)ever, that said disauthori+ations are not valid for bein$ collective in for!, as the" are 7!ere bunches of rando!l" pr ocured si$natures, under loose sheets of paper.7 11 The contention deserves no !erit for the si!ple reason that the docu!ents containin$ the disauthori+ations have the si$natures of the union !e!bers. The ourt finds these retractions to be valid. There is nothin$ in the la) )hich re*uires that the disauthori+ation !ust be in individual for!. Moreover, it is )ell#settled that 7all doubts in the i!ple!entation and interpretation of the provisions of the ;abor ode ... shall be resolved in favor of labor.7 12 'nd as previousl" stated, labor in this case refers to the union !e!bers, as e!plo"ees of the o!pan". Their !ere desire to establish a separate bar$ainin$ unit, albeit unproven, cannot be construed a$ainst the! in relation to the le$alit" of the *uestioned special assess!ent. On the contrar", the sa!e !a" even be ta?en to reflect their dissatisfaction )ith their bar$ainin$ representative, the respondent#4nion, as sho)n b" the circu!stances of the instant petition, and )ith $ood reason. The Med#'rbiter correctl" ruled in his Order that The !andate of the !aorit" ran? and file have %sic( to be respected considerin$ the" are the ones directl" affected and the realities of the hi$h standards of survival no)ada"s. To i$nore the !andate of the ran? and file )ould enure to destabili+in$
industrial peace and har!on" )ithin the ran? and file and the e!plo"erBs fold, )hich )e cannot countenance. Moreover, it )ill be recalled that precisel" union dues are collected fro! the union !e!bers to be spent for the purposes a lluded to b" respondent. There is no reason sho)n that the re$ular union dues bein$ no) i!ple!ented is n ot sufficient for the alle$ed e=penses. Further!ore, the ran? and file have spo?en in )ithdra)in$ their consent to the special assess!ent, believin$ that their re$ular union dues are ade*uate for the purposes stated b" the respondent. Thus, the ran? and file havin$ spo?en and, as )e have earlier !entioned, their senti!ents should be respected. Of the stated purposes of the special assess!ent, as e!bodied in the board resolution of the 4nion, onl" the collection of a special fund for labor and education research is !andated, as correctl" pointed out b" the 4nion. The t)o other purposes, na!el", the purchase of vehicles and other ite!s for the benefit of the union officers and the $eneral !e!bership, and the pa"!ent of services rendered b" union officers, consultants and others, should be supported b" the re$ular union dues, there bein$ no sho)in$ that the latter are not sufficient to cover the sa!e. The last stated purpose is contended b" petitioners to fall under the covera$e of 'rticle 000 %b( of the ;abor ode. The contention is i!pressed )ith !erit. 'rticle 000 %b( prohibits attorne"Bs fees, ne$otiations fees and si!ilar char$es arisin$ out of the conclusion of a collective bar$ainin$ a$ree!ent fro! bein$ i!posed on an" individual union !e!ber. The collection of the special assess!ent partl" for the pa"!ent for services rendered b" union officers, consultants and others !a" not be in the cate$or" of 7attorne"Bs fees or ne$otiations fees.7 &ut there is no *uestion that it is an e=action )hich falls )ithin the cate$or" of a 7si!ilar char$e,7 and, therefore, )ithin the covera$e of the prohibition in the afore!entioned article. There is an additional proviso $ivin$ the 4nion President unli!ited discretion to allocate the proceeds of the special assess!ent. Such a proviso !a" open the door to abuse b" the officers of the 4nion considerin$ that the total a!ount of the special assess!ent is *uite considerable C P/,503,91A.:: collected fro! those unio n !e!bers )ho ori$inall" authori+ed the deduction, and P/,093,29:.:1 fro! those )ho did not authori+e the sa!e, or subse*uentl" retracted their authori+ations. 13 The for!er a!ount had alread" been re!itted to the 4nion, )hile the latter is bein$ held in trust b" the o!pan". The ourt, therefore, sta?es do)n the *uestioned special assess!ent for bein$ a violation of 'rticle 0A/, para$raphs %n( and %o(, and 'rticle 000 %b( of the ;abor ode. ERFOR, the instant petition is hereb" GR'NTD. The Order of the Director of the &ureau of ;abor Relations dated 'u$ust /1, /122 is hereb" RVRSD and ST 'SID, )hile the order of the Med#'rbiter dated Februar" /3, /122 is reinstated, and the respondent oca#ola &ottlers %Philippines(, Inc. is hereb" ordered to i!!ediatel" re!it the a!ount of P/,093,29:.:1 to the respective union !e!bers fro! )ho! the said a!ount )as )ithheld. No pronounce!ent as to costs. This decision is i!!ediatel" e=ecutor". SO ORDRD. #arasa$ Gri%o&A'uino and Medialdea$ ((.$ concur.
)ruz$ (.$ too* no part.
