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Trade or Labor unions in the Philippines are organizations sanctioned by Labor Code of the
Philippines as an acknowledgment of Filipino workers' freedom to self-organize. Trade unions aim
the following:
1. To promote enlightenment among Filipino workers concerning their wages, hour of work,
and other legal rights.
2. To raise awareness on their obligations as union members and employees.
They serve as legitimate entities that negotiate with employers in policy-making with regard
to terms and conditions of employment. These negotiations formally take place in the process of
Collective Bargaining Agreement an agreement in writing or writings between an employer
and a trade union setting forth the terms and conditions of employment or containing provisions
in regard to rates of pay, hours of work or other working conditions of employees.
**Please study Labor Code of the Philippines, Book Five: Labor Relations, Title III: Bureau of Labor
Relations, Article 231: Registry of unions and file of collective bargaining agreements
Trade unions are granted with a right to go on a strike, a temporary stoppage of work by the
employees when there is a labor dispute are defined as situation when there are controversies
surrounding negotiations and arranging of the terms and condition of employment. The union,
however, must file a notice of strike or the employer must file a notice of lockout with the
Ministry. But when a strike or lockout is deemed to compromise national interests or interests of
the Filipino public (for instance, the case of health workers), the Secretary of Labor and
Employment has the authority to prohibit it and deliberately enforce resumption of regular
operations.
List of Trade Union in the Philippines:
Cola, Pfizer, Boie Takeda, Smithkline Beecham, Astra Seneca, Hi-Eisai Pharmaceutical, Bayer
Philippines, Johnson & Johnson, Interphil Laboratories, Globe Telecom, among others.