Description:

The right to freedom of association is a right guaranteed not only by the municipal laws of the Philippines, like the 1987 Constitution and the Labor Code, but also by international conventions like ILO Convention 87. Anchored on the exercise of this right, workers in the country have, over the years, formed and joined labor unions. These labor unions exist for the purpose of “collective bargaining, mutual aid, cooperation, protection and other lawful purposes” . In other words, individual workers, by forming or joining labor organizations, submit to the collective wisdom of the organization.

This formation of labor organizations will lead to the creation of rights, interests and obligations between the union, represented by its officers, and the individual members. In order to have harmony in the organization, there must be a convergence of these rights, interests and obligations. It can be presumed that a “convergent” relationship between the union and the members would mean that the organization is likely to be more accountable. But when, during the interplay of rights, interests, and obligations, the union and the members do not meet, an issue on accountability would then arise.

This study took a closer look at the manners and methods in which the union leadership manages the affairs of the union, centering more on the issues of accountability, transparency inadequacies and effectiveness. It attempted to identify problem areas and good practices in labor organization administration, which may be a basis for future policies on labor relations, and aims to strengthen the regulatory capacity of the Department in ensuring that pseudo labor organization are eliminated.

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Title: Problem Areas in Labor Organization Administration: A Study on Union Leadership and Accountability 

Researcher: Benjamin M. Dalumpines III