Merlinda Jacinto, et al. v. CA, CSC, and Sec.
of Education, Culture the right to strike, the Constitution itself qualifies its exercise with the
and Sports
FACTS:
1. Petitioners are public school teachers from various schools in
Metropolitan Manila. They incurred unauthorized absences in
connection with the mass actions then staged.
2. DECS Sec. Cariño immediately issued a return-to-work order,
but it was ignored by petitioners so Sec. Cariño issued formal
charges and preventive suspension orders against them.
3. They were administratively charged with gross misconduct;
gross neglect of duty, etc. for joining unauthorized mass actions;
ignoring report-to-work directives; etc.
4. During the investigation, petitioners did not file their answers or
controvert the charges against them. As a consequence, Sec.
Cariño, in his decisions found them guilty as charged and
imposed the penalty of dismissal except Jacinto which is and
Agustin who were meted only six (6) months suspension.
5. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB): dismissed the appeals
for lack of merit
6. CSC: set aside the Orders of the MSPB; found the petitioners
(except Merlinda Jacinto) guilty of Conduct Prejudicial to the
Best Interest of the Service; imposed upon them the penalty of
six (6) months suspension without pay; and automatically
reinstated them to the service without payment of back salaries;
the CSC found her guilty of Violation of Reasonable Office
Rules and Regulations; imposed upon her the penalty of
reprimand; and automatically reinstated her in the service
without payment of back salaries
7. CA: Affirmed decision of CSC. Hence, this petition.
ISSUE: Whether civil servants are guilty of grave misconduct in
participating in mass actions.— YES
HELD: The terms and conditions of employment in the government,
including any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof and
government-owned and controlled corporations with original charters
are governed by law and employees therein shall not strike for the
purpose of securing changes. Workers in the public sector do not enjoy
proviso “in accordance with law.” This is a clear manifestation that the
state may, by law, regulate the use of this right, or even deny certain
sectors such right. The Civil Service law and rules governing concerted
activities and strikes in the government service shall be observed.
Government employees may, therefore, through their unions or associations,
either petition the Congress for the betterment of the terms and conditions of
employment which are within the ambit of legislation or negotiate with the
appropriate government agencies for the improvement of those which are not
fixed by law. If there be any unresolved grievances, the dispute may be
referred to the Public Sector Labor-Management Council for appropriate
action. But employees in the civil service may not resort to strikes, walkouts
and other temporary work stoppages, like workers in the private sector, to
pressure the Government to accede to their demands.
The teachers have given cause for their suspension, for being absent in
their classes and joining in the mass actions. They were not fully
innocent of the charges against them although they were eventually
found guilty only of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service
and not grave misconduct or other offense warranting their dismissal
from the service; “being found liable for a lesser offense is not
equivalent to exoneration.” In the case of Merlinda Jacinto, there was a
finding that there was no proof that she joined the unlawful mass
actions.
Petition is DENIED and the assailed Decision of the Court of Appeals
is affirmed with modification.