Larry T.

Laraya
Current Trends in Industrial Relations

Unionism in the Public Sector

Under EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 180 June 1, 1987, “PROVIDING GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, CREATING A PUBLIC SECTOR LABOR-
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES “, Section 5 and 6 of Article II, stated that:

“II. Protection of the Right to Organize

Sec. 5. Government employees shall not be discriminated against in respect of their

employment by reason of their membership in employees' organizations or
participation in the normal activities of their organization. Their employment shall not
be subject to the condition that they shall not join or shall relinquish their membership
in the employees' organizations.

Sec. 6. Government authorities shall not interfere in the establishment, functioning or

administration of government employees' organizations through acts designed to place
such organizations under the control of government authority.

The ratification of ILO C. 151 is important since it elaborates the rights affirmed in
Conventions (C.) 87 and 98 specifically for public sector workers. At present, the rights
to organize, collectively bargain, settle disputes and undertake ordinary union activities
are not guaranteed for public sector workers.”

What is C151 and why is it so important?

ILO Convention 151, first adopted in 1978, protects public employees against anti-union discrimination
and undue interference, and guarantees public employees’ organizations appropriate facilities to enable
them to carry out their functions promptly and efficiently.

The Convention also promotes negotiations in determining terms and conditions of employment as well
as in settling disputes. It is hoped that with the Convention’s ratification, public employees’
organizations in the Philippines will have a greater role in processes relating to key issues such as
salaries, gender and parity, anti-harassment measures, protection at the workplace, family
responsibilities, maternity, prevention of occupational risks, and many others.

But, what does this victory mean for civil servants in the Philippines?

This major step has the potential to strengthen democracy and good governance in the Philippines, a
view endorsed by President Duterte, who signed the C151 ratification during the 2017 National Labour
Day celebrations.

As stated by Senator Joel Villanueva, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human
Resources Development, the Convention finally gives adequate protection to the country’s 2.3 million
civil servants, specifically against acts of anti-union discrimination in respect to their employment. He
also stressed the importance of ILO Convention 151 in enabling the public servants to be effective
partners in development.

In my point of view, ratification of Convention 151 does not automatically guarantee the full trade union
rights of public sector employees. There must be an enabling law to be passed by Congress to amend
Executive Order 180 and a legislation that subscribes to the principles of the Convention, which is the
next campaign struggle and undertaking of the trade union movement!