To unionize or not to unionize

A certification election between two unions competing to be the exclusive bargaining agent of the rank-and-file employees of a company was held and conducted by the Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR). Some 348 workers were deemed qualified voters but only 240 actually took part in the election. Out of the 240 employees who cast their votes, 141 were all members of the same religious group.

During the elections, the employees found three options to choose from in the ballots: they had a choice between two unions or “no union.” However, the votes of the 141 employees were excluded from the final count since they were not members of any union and refused to participate in the previous certification elections. They were prohibited from joining or forming any labor organizations because of their religion.