GR L 1412; (July, 1948) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-1412; July 26, 1948
CALTEX (PHILIPPINES) INC., petitioner, vs. NATIONAL LABOR UNION, respondent.
FACTS
The National Labor Union filed a petition before the Court of Industrial Relations (CIR) against Caltex (Philippines) Inc., seeking, among other demands, the payment of higher wages for night shift workers compared to day shift workers. The CIR decided in favor of the union, ordering Caltex to pay its night shift workers a 50% increase over the regular day shift wages. Caltex challenged this decision, leading to this petition for certiorari.
ISSUE
Whether the Court of Industrial Relations had the authority to order an increase in wages for night shift workers, and whether such night work constituted “overtime” under Commonwealth Act No. 444 (the Eight-Hour Labor Law).
RULING
The petition is denied. The Supreme Court affirmed the CIR’s decision, citing its identical ruling in *The Shell Company of Philippine Islands, Limited vs. National Labor Union* (G.R. No. L-1309). The Court held that: (1) In a dispute between management and labor over wages, the CIR has the statutory authority to fix fair and reasonable wages to peacefully settle the dispute and avoid a strike; this power applies to both day and night shift wages. (2) The night shift required by Caltex (and Shell) for some workers is not “overtime” as defined under Commonwealth Act No. 444 , but constitutes a complete and independent work shift separate from the day shift. Therefore, the provisions of CA No. 444 cannot be invoked against the workers’ demand for at least a 50% increase over regular day wages for night work.
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