Art. 223. Appeal.

Decisions, awards, or orders of the Labor Arbiter are final and executory unless
appealed to the Commission by any or both parties within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of such
decisions, awards, or orders. Such appeal may be entertained only on any of the following grounds:

a. If there is prima facie evidence of abuse of discretion on the part of the Labor Arbiter;

b. If the decision, order or award was secured through fraud or coercion, including graft and
corruption;

c. If made purely on questions of law; and

d. If serious errors in the findings of facts are raised which would cause grave or irreparable
damage or injury to the appellant.

In case of a judgment involving a monetary award, an appeal by the employer may be perfected only
upon the posting of a cash or surety bond issued by a reputable bonding company duly accredited by
the Commission in the amount equivalent to the monetary award in the judgment appealed from.

In any event, the decision of the Labor Arbiter reinstating a dismissed or separated employee, insofar as
the reinstatement aspect is concerned, shall immediately be executory, even pending appeal. The
employee shall either be admitted back to work under the same terms and conditions prevailing prior to
his dismissal or separation or, at the option of the employer, merely reinstated in the payroll. The
posting of a bond by the employer shall not stay the execution for reinstatement provided herein.

To discourage frivolous or dilatory appeals, the Commission or the Labor Arbiter shall impose reasonable
penalty, including fines or censures, upon the erring parties.

In all cases, the appellant shall furnish a copy of the memorandum of appeal to the other party who shall
file an answer not later than ten (10) calendar days from receipt thereof.

The Commission shall decide all cases within twenty (20) calendar days from receipt of the answer of
the appellee. The decision of the Commission shall be final and executory after ten (10) calendar days
from receipt thereof by the parties.

Any law enforcement agency may be deputized by the Secretary of Labor and Employment or the
Commission in the enforcement of decisions, awards or orders.

Art. 242. Rights of legitimate labor organizations. A legitimate labor organization shall have the right:

a. To act as the representative of its members for the purpose of collective bargaining;

b. To be certified as the exclusive representative of all the employees in an appropriate

bargaining unit for purposes of collective bargaining;

c. To be furnished by the employer, upon written request, with its annual audited financial
statements, including the balance sheet and the profit and loss statement, within thirty (30)
calendar days from the date of receipt of the request, after the union has been duly recognized
by the employer or certified as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of the
 employees in the bargaining unit, or within sixty (60) calendar days before the expiration of the
existing collective bargaining agreement, or during the collective bargaining negotiation;

d. To own property, real or personal, for the use and benefit of the labor organization and its
members; e. To sue and be sued in its registered name; and

f. To undertake all other activities designed to benefit the organization and its members,
including cooperative, housing, welfare and other projects not contrary to law.

Notwithstanding any provision of a general or special law to the contrary, the income and the properties
of legitimate labor organizations, including grants, endowments, gifts, donations and contributions they
may receive from fraternal and similar organizations, local or foreign, which are actually, directly and
exclusively used for their lawful purposes, shall be free from taxes, duties and other assessments. The
exemptions provided herein may be withdrawn only by a special law expressly repealing this provision.

Art. 261. Jurisdiction of Voluntary Arbitrators or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators. The Voluntary Arbitrator
or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide all
unresolved grievances arising from the interpretation or implementation of the Collective Bargaining
Agreement and those arising from the interpretation or enforcement of company personnel policies
referred to in the immediately preceding article. Accordingly, violations of a Collective Bargaining
Agreement, except those which are gross in character, shall no longer be treated as unfair labor practice
and shall be resolved as grievances under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. For purposes of this
article, gross violations of Collective Bargaining Agreement shall mean flagrant and/or malicious refusal
to comply with the economic provisions of such agreement.

The Commission, its Regional Offices and the Regional Directors of the Department of Labor and
Employment shall not entertain disputes, grievances or matters under the exclusive and original
jurisdiction of the Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators and shall immediately dispose
and refer the same to