The case of National Association of Trade Unions (NATU)-Republic Planters Bank

Supervisors Chapter vs. Ruben D. Torres, G.R. No. 93468:

Facts:
On March 17, 1989, NATU filed a petition for certification election to determine the
exclusive bargaining representative of respondent Bank's employees occupying
supervisory positions¹. The Bank moved to dismiss the petition on the ground that the
supposed supervisory employees were actually managerial and/or confidential
employees thus ineligible to join, assist or form a union.

Issue:
The issue was whether the supposed supervisory employees were actually managerial
and/or confidential employees and thus ineligible to join, assist or form a union.

Doctrine and Ruling:

The court held that managerial employees are not eligible to join, assist or form any
labor organization. Supervisory employees shall not be eligible for membership in the
collective bargaining unit of the rank-and-file employees but may join, assist or form
separate collective bargaining units and/or legitimate labor organizations of their own. It
is the same reason that impelled this Court to consider the position of confidential
employees as included in the disqualification. Therefore, the court ruled that
Department Managers, Assistant Managers, Branch Managers, Cashiers and
Controllers are declared managerial employees.