The Rotary Balita no. 711 (December 18, 1952)

Judge Arsenio Roldan speaking extemporaneously on "Actual Labor Problems and Their Solutions." As guest speaker at the luncheon meeting held at the National Fastener Corporation of the Philippines, Presiding Judge Arsenio Roldan of the Court of Industrial Relations, declared that harmonious labor-management relations can only be attained if just recognition is given to the rights of labor and measures are provided to see to it that employers are not unnecessarily harrassed in the conduct of their business. He admitted that the CIR has too much power to intervene between the parties brought before them. He put the blame on Congress for having failed to pass an adequate labor law. In the absence to such a law the CIR functions as an investigator, prosecutor and mediator at the same time. The CIR, he said, is often asked to decide on the question of layoffs, suspensions and dismissals. There are no laws that govern these matters. There are even cases that the court could hardly decide, he added. Judge Roldan mentioned that last year there was a plan of Congress to cut the powers of the CIR and adopt the system of collective bargaining as enforced in the United States. He said that in his talks with American labor leaders, this method has not been successful as a method of achieving industrial peace in the U. S. He corrected the wrong impression that the CIR is only interested in compulsory arbitration. He denied that it is the only means in bringing about an amicable labor- management relations. He cited the four steps taken by the CIR to compose the differences between capital and labor, namely: voluntary arbitration, conciliation, mediation, and compulsory arbitration, Judge Roldan said that the CIR allow parties in industrial conflict to talk and reach an amicable settlement. In fact, the CIR encourages this, so that they will not be overburdened with work. But, there are cases that cannot be settled outside of the court and the system that the CIR has inaugurated is the most ideal under present conditions, he continued. He observed that because the country is just beginning her labor movements, more cases have been brought to CIR by labor unions than by the management. He pointed out that the CIR is instrumental in giving recognition to some rights not granted by the management. He mentioned the granting of overtime pay, vacation and sick leave with pay, more compensation for night work and job security. No worker can be dismissed anytime provided he is on the payroll, if unskilled after three months and for the skilled after one year. He called the Minimum Wage Law as the "Controversial Law" because up to now there is a controversy. But regardless of how he feels about it he is duty-bound to enforce it. Dr. Carl H. Bobleter, counselor of the Austrian office, earlier, spoke of the country's desire to establish trade relations with the Philippines. He mentioned the cultural ties between the two countries tracing back the studies of Dr. Jose Rizal under Blumentritt who was an Austrian. After the luncheon all the guests proceeded to the plant where they were shown the process of "zipper" manufacturing.